South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham knows where his priorities lie.
As new unsettling details come to light about the scorched earth campaign Graham’s golfing pal, former president Donald Trump staged in his final days in office, Graham is focusing on a more personal crisis: Defending Chick-fil-A.
The senator is backing the company as it runs into opposition from students at Notre Dame University, who are pushing to stop a Chick-fil-A from being opened on campus. The student opposition is due to the fast-food chain’s well-known anti-LGBTQ stance. Chick-fil-A, a hugely popular fast-food franchise with more than 2,600 locations across the U.S., has been a prominent donor to anti-gay causes over the years.
Students wrote an open letter in the campus student newspaper outlining their belief that Chick-fil-A should not be allowed to open as part of the school’s expansion of on-campus dining options. Part of the letter said this:
“We have serious ethical concerns regarding Chick-fil-A and believe that a variety of other restaurants would better fit Notre Dame’s mission and our student body’s needs.”
Graham weighed in on social media, backing the company.
It’s disappointing to hear some ND students and faculty want to ban Chick-fil-A from doing business on campus because they disagree with the values held by the Chick-fil-A founders.
What a dangerous precedent to set.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 14, 2021
He then went even further, perhaps sensing an opportunity to spark an ‘culture war’ that could generate a news cycle or two on Fox News and other far-right media outlets.
I want everyone in South Carolina and across America to know I have Chick fil-A’s back.
I hope we don’t have to, but I will go to war for the principles Chick fil-A stands for.
Great food.
Great service.
Great values.God bless Chick fil-A!
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 14, 2021
Never mind the absurdity of using a phrase such as “go to war” to describe defending a company that makes its money selling fried chicken sandwiches. Graham even went as far as to say “the principles Chick-fil-A stands for.” Those principles, incidentally, including being a hostile opponent to the gay community.
Chick-fil-A’s founders have been outspoken opponents of same-sex marriage, and have donated millions to anti-LGBTQ groups over the years. Company chairman Dan Cathy is a major GOP donor who even reportedly attended former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s controversial private dinners that critics said were blatant wastes of taxpayer dollars.
Graham is being pilloried and ridiculed across twitter for his stance. Much of that probably stems from the fact that he’s shown more energy and resolve standing up for a billion-dollar fast-food company with a history of animosity toward LGBTQ people, than he has against a former president who incited an Insurrection and reportedly considered a coup to stay in power.