FOX News Channel Interview With Senator Lindsey Graham
Interview
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MR. CAMERON: And our guest is Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina, who was one of the top if not the top adviser to the Republican nominee, the vanquished John McCain.
You heard the speech from the man who beat the man you supported. Your thoughts?
SEN. GRAHAM: Well, I thought it was a good speech. I thought it was kind of hard on President Bush, quite frankly. But, you know, he's a gifted orator. But the moment spoke for itself.
But the speech itself, you know, the idea that we're going to follow the rule of law, count me in. But if we're going to take terrorists and put them in civilian courts and criminalize the war, count me out. We're going to make hard decisions, count me in. Let's do something about Social Security. But let's leave all options on the table.
So I'm ready to do many of the things that were said in the speech, but I just want to be met halfway.
MR. CAMERON: It's a "rubber meets the road" type of a moment, I suppose. Now that the new president is governing, one of the first orders of business, they've said for weeks -- in fact, he intervened, in many minds, as part of the economic stimulus proposal and getting the TARP going. Tomorrow, the economic stimulus is in a mark-up in your former chamber over on the House side. They want $825 billion.
Does this expression of harmony from Republicans willing to work have a little bit of legs? How long can it last under these circumstances?
SEN. GRAHAM: Well, I think we all want a stimulus package that creates jobs. I don't want a stimulus package to get people in the House reelected. You know, if you can show me a way to build roads and bridges that will help the economy, I will put money in there as a trade-off, but I want tax cuts. I want to relieve the tax burden on businesses, create jobs.
Now, what can I do to our Democratic colleagues on their side of the aisle to help them create jobs? If it doesn't create a job in the short term, it's not a stimulus package, it's a political package.
MR. CAMERON: The Republicans have gone out of their way to say that they're willing to work. You're a very conservative Republican from South Carolina. With John McCain, are you prepared to start cutting deals on more spending to salvage the economy?
SEN. GRAHAM: I think the economy needs a shot in the arm. I'm prepared to spend more now if it will create jobs that will help us collect more money later. I'm not inclined to run up the debt on the next generation who can't afford the debt that we've put on them now. So, show me a way to cut taxes and increase spending that will create jobs, and I will meet you halfway.
MR. CAMERON: Lindsey Graham, senator from South Carolina, thank yo, sir.
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