Former U.S. Senate candidate Matt Lieberman told Newsmax on Sunday that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham will be remembered not only as a staunch conservative, but as a bipartisan champion of freedom whose friendships crossed party lines.
Lieberman, whose late father, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, served alongside Graham and the late Sen. John McCain as the Senate's "Three Amigos," told Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend" that Graham was a "fun, funny, good guy" whose commitment to human rights defined much of his career.
"It's a sad day. May he rest in peace," Lieberman said of Graham, who died Saturday night after what was described as a brief and sudden illness.
Lieberman said that Graham, McCain, and his father developed a close friendship during frequent overseas trips focused on foreign policy and national security.
"They all had great senses of humor. They all enjoyed laughing. None of them took themselves particularly seriously, which is unusual in a line of work that's filled with stuffed shirts," he said.
Beyond his personality, Lieberman said Graham consistently advocated for people living under authoritarian governments.
"He was a champion for human rights," Lieberman said. "He was a steadfast champion for people around the world, despite the color of their skin, whatever their religion, nationality. He was a strong voice for people who wanted freedom."
Lieberman said he last saw Graham nearly two years ago at a memorial service for his father in Washington.
"He was a charming, really wonderful guy," Lieberman said. "If you can put politics aside, as a person, person to person, he was a wonderful guy."
Asked whether Graham's willingness to work with Democrats would become part of his legacy, Lieberman said the South Carolina Republican never allowed political disagreements to define his personal relationships.
"I can tell you that as a person and just person-to-person on Capitol Hill, I know that he continued to carry that civility and good humor that actually is needed to get anything done in Washington," he said.
Lieberman also said Americans should remember that politics is only one part of life.
"Life is about more than politics," he said. "People are able to get along. People are able to find common ground. People are able to enjoy each other. That's a good thing despite politics sometimes."
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