There is nothing inappropriate about honestly evaluating a public figure's legacy after he dies.
Lindsey Graham spent decades in public office. His decisions shaped the nation. His record deserves to be examined, praised where warranted, and criticized where necessary.
What doesn't deserve praise is hypocrisy.
Following Graham's death, The Bulwark published an essay titled The Faustian Tragedy of Lindsey Graham. The argument was straightforward enough: Graham supposedly sacrificed his integrity by aligning himself with Donald Trump in order to preserve his political career.
Whether you agree with that assessment isn't really the issue.
The way they touted the piece is:
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It's difficult to imagine a more callous way to summarize the death of another human being. But what makes the piece especially loathsome isn't the standard Bulwark boorishness.
It's the breathtaking lack of self-awareness.
The publication accusing Lindsey Graham of making a "Faustian bargain" has spent the last few months enthusiastically supporting former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine simply because they believed he offered the best opportunity to defeat a Republican and shift control of the Senate.
This was the same Graham Platner whose campaign collapsed amid multiple allegations of sexual assault, public comments about rape fantasies, explicit discussions of self-gratification, and the revelation of a Nazi tattoo.
Even after many of these facts became public, prominent voices at The Bulwark continued defending him. One of its leading writers, Jonathan Last, even mused publicly that Platner could someday make an excellent presidential candidate.
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There's the Bulwark's understanding of integrity in a nutshell:
Supporting Donald Trump because voters chose him as the leader of your party is an unforgivable compromise.
Supporting a potential Nazi and sexual deviant engulfed in sexual misconduct scandals because he advances your political objectives is enlightened pragmatism.
One is called a "Faustian bargain." The other is called strategy.
Again, the point isn't that Lindsey Graham should be immune from criticism. But The Bulwark isn't either.
If you're going to accuse another person of sacrificing principle for political power, the least you can do is ensure you haven't made the very same calculation yourself.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.
