Lindsey Graham welcomes Caitlyn Jenner to GOP

Lindsey Graham welcomes Caitlyn Jenner to the Republican Party

(Image credit: CNN/YouTube)

last updated 9 June 2015

On Sunday, CNN's Dana Bash asked GOP presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) about negative comments from some conservatives, including an Iowa-based radio host, about Caitlyn Jenner, who has said that she votes Republican. "Here's what I would say to the talk show host," Graham replied. "In the eyes of radical Islam, they hate you as much as they hate Caitlyn Jenner."

More generally, Graham promoted a bigger-tent vision of the Republican Party, including for transgender voters. "I'm a pro-life, traditional marriage kind of guy, but I'm running to be president of the United States," he said. "If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be a Republican, she is welcome in my party." He added that he hasn't "walked in her shoes," adding: "I don't have all the answers to the mysteries of life. I can only imagine the torment that Bruce Jenner went through. I hope he's — I hope she has found peace." Watch the excerpt from Bash's interview below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.