Lindsey Graham: There is Room For Caitlyn Jenner in the Republican Party

Sen. Lindsey Graham insists he backs pro-life issues, traditional marriage, and many of the other items his party supports — and that there is room for Caitlyn Jenner to be a Republican if she wants to be.

"In the eyes of radical Islam, they hate you as much as they hate Caitlyn Jenner," the South Carolina Republican told CNN's Dana Bash in an interview recorded from Joni Ernst's Iowa "Roast and Ride" event Saturday for the network's "State of the Union" show. "They hate us all because we won't agree to their view of religion, so America, we are all in this together."

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Graham's comments were made in response to statements made last week by talk show host Rush Limbaugh,  who said Republicans should not accept the former Bruce Jenner as a Republican or accept transgenderism as being normal.

Graham, who announced his candidacy last week and is running on a platform of strong national defense, particularly in the Middle East, further told Bash that if Jenner "wants to be safe, vote for me."

"I have not walked in her shoes and I don't have all the answers to the mysteries of life, and I can only imagine the torment Bruce Jenner went through," said Graham. I hope he's — I hope she has found peace...If Caitlyn Jenner wants to be a Republican, she is welcome in my party."

But Graham pointed out that doesn't mean he's backing away from traditional GOP standards.

"I am pro life and believe in traditional marriage without animosity, and the courts will rule about traditional marriage," he said. "I will proudly defend the unborn, and if we can't agree on abortion, let's talk about taxes ... we need to do what Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neal did when it came to compromise on the entitlement programs, and we need to fight radical Islam together."

He further told Bash that "nobody wants war," but "if you don't want to defend the nation from radical Islam, don't vote for me."

"If you think we can protect America without some troops having to go back overseas and fight for a very long time most likely, then I am not your guy," he said. "Radical Islam is not going to be defeated by armies over there. We have to be part of the armies ... I don't know how you defend a nation without some of the forces going back to Iraq to help the army."

Graham is also calling for more resources to combat cyberterrorism, such as the attack last week on U.S. government information, and a tougher stance on China and Russia.

China is building up its resources "because they think we are weak," he said, and "Russia is trampling over Ukraine in violation of international law."

Graham also called on his opponents to answer questions about the environmental policy of the Republican Party, and admitted he believes man-made climate change is real.

"We don't have an environmental policy but an energy policy," he said, telling CNN he'd support "business friendly" restrictions, as "it's okay to set lower carbon targets."

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