South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott defended Darline Graham’s Senate qualifications after she admitted national security was not her expertise. During an NBC News interview, Scott said Graham understood national security and was ready to represent South Carolina. The exchange drew attention because Graham had just said the subject was “not my thing.” Graham was appointed to temporarily fill the Senate seat of her late brother, Lindsey Graham, and is now running to keep it.
Meet the Press played Graham’s remarks from a Republican Senate runoff debate against Rep. Ralph Norman in Newberry, South Carolina.
A moderator asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea were national security issues for the United States.
“I’m not that informed on national security,” Graham acknowledged. After emphasizing her support for the military, she added, “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise.”
Scott was then asked whether Graham was qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate.
He called her “the real deal” and emphasized her focus on affordability, record of public service and work during her brief time in the Senate. Scott described Graham as “highly qualified, incredibly competent, ready for prime time.”
The interviewer then asked whether a senator should have a basic understanding of national security.
“Well, the answer is yes, and she does,” Scott replied.
He returned to Graham’s focus on affordability and urged South Carolina Republicans to support her in Tuesday’s GOP runoff.
Tim Scott Faces Online Backlash Over Darline Graham Senate Defense
Scott’s defense drew criticism from users who questioned how his assessment matched Graham’s own remarks.
One response stated, “I watched her, she stated emphatically that she knows NOTHING about National Security, yet Tim Scott said she does.”
Another questioned Scott’s affordability argument: “National security isn’t her ‘thing’ but she should be a United States Senator because she ‘goes to the grocery store’???!!”
A separate user wrote, “‘She’s the real deal’ is not a qualification. She literally said she’s ‘not that informed on national security.’”
The response continued, “The United States Senate is not an internship.”
Another wrote, “If Tim Scott is the standard whether someone is qualified to be a Senator from South Carolina, anybody is qualified.”
South Carolina Republicans will decide between Graham and Norman in Tuesday’s GOP runoff, with Graham’s national security comments becoming a late issue in the race.
