Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Thursday joked that his party is "bat-[expletive] crazy" while speaking at a Washington Press Club Foundation dinner. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, a former Republican presidential candidate, mocked the efforts of the remaining candidates, calling the party "bat-[expletive] crazy."

While GOP candidates brawled at a debate Thursday in Houston, the South Carolina senator directed wisecracks at his party and at Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.


"The most dishonest person in America is a woman who is about to be president. How could that be? My party has gone bat-[expletive] crazy," he said at a Washington Press Club Foundation dinner.

Graham's comedy routine was performed in part while wearing a "Make America Great Again" baseball hat in the style of Donald Trump. Graham mockingly "endorsed" the real estate mogul with the tongue-in-cheek wish the "hope the Graham magic still exists," a reference to the failure of Graham's presidential bid to ignite interest.

Graham also assailed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his lack of standing among his peers.

"A good Republican would defend Ted Cruz after tonight. That ain't happening. If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody could convict you," Graham said.

Of the controversy over whether Cruz is eligible for the presidency because of his Canadian birth, Graham said, "I will say that our Canadian is better than [Democrats'] Kenyan," making reference to President Barack Obama's father's Kenyan background.

"I know exactly when Ted is going to drop out of the race. March 12. That's Canadian week in Myrtle Beach, [S.C.], when all of our Canadian friends get 10 percent off."

Graham called Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a "boy wonder," and said of Trump, "Our party and our country is going to have to up its game. You're going to have to ask him hard questions, and I don't mean to turn a funny thing into a serious thing, but anytime Mitt Romney thinks you should turn over your taxes, we've probably given [Trump] a pass."

Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., during her banquet address, said of rallies of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., "I haven't seen that many white voters since the Oscars."

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined Graham in questioning Cruz's Canadian roots, saying, "It would be fun to spend more time with Ted Cruz, don't you think? Somewhere where he feels right at home. A Justin Bieber concert, a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, a maple syrup tasting."