Loyal Republicans

Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have teamed up once again on foreign policy. Two of the most hawkish voices in the Senate, Graham and McCain have often criticized the Obama administration for not taking a more aggressive role in Syria and Libya or against Iran. This has made them many friends (or at least interested people) around the world who have turned to them in concern over the increasingly irresponsible and isolationist rhetoric of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Now, the two men are using their time on the Senate floor to discredit what they see as irresponsible statements made by the two Republican front-runners (without mentioning any names. Graham has endorsed Cruz for the nomination and McCain has remained steadfast in his promise to support whoever wins the Republican nomination.)

Recently PBS reported on their attack on anti-Muslim and isolationist rhetoric. In response to Trump’s comment that he would entertain pulling out of Japan, Korea, and NATO, McCain secured a statement on the Senate floor that keeping troops in South Korea actually saves the government money because of the contributions made by the South Korean government and their assistance in building facilities.

Graham has been extremely vocal this year about his distaste for the xenophobic rhetoric coming from his party. He has released several videos of the types of questions he’s been posing publicly to discredit and distance his party from this rhetoric.

Graham questions on targeting civilians and torture.

Graham thanks Muslim troops for their service.

McCain, who is up for reelection this year and has faced primary challenges from the right for his tendency to work across the aisle has not been as vocal in his opposition; however, earlier this year he redelivered his famous speech against torture first delivered in protest of the Bush administration.

McCain redelivers stirring speech against torture.

McCain and Graham have long been considered the “mavericks” in the Senate, extremely conservative, but willing to work with Democrats on climate change and other issues. Hopefully some day soon, the rest of their party will wake up and realize that torture, carpet bombing, and killing families is not an acceptable foreign policy platform and silence is as bad as condoning such ideas.