Homeland Security Chief (and former Arizona Governor) Janet Napolitano made a guest appearance in today’s White House Press Briefing, and was asked about the issue of birthright citizenship and efforts to consider repealing the 14th Amendment as a means to reform illegal immigration. The issue has been in the news a fair amount lately, particularly [...]

In an interview on Fox News’ today, Senator Lindsey Graham reaffirmed his desire to repeal the 14th Amendment of the constitution which allows children of illegal immigrants to become naturalized citizens of the U.S. While Graham provides a reasonably well-measured and logical explanation of his interest in changing the constitution, he did reveal, perhaps hyperbolically, a greater concern with people “swimming across the river, having children here.”

If you’ve been reading Mediaite over the last week, you are likely familiar with the latest wedge issue for the upcoming midterm elections: the proposed repeal of the 14th amendment, which provides citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. Republican Senators Jon Kyl and Lindsey Graham have lead the political charge on this seemingly absurd topic, which has drawn criticisms from both Lou Dobbs and Rachel Maddow. Sound confusing? Allow me to introduce you to Jon Stewart…take it away Jon!

The political rhetoric coming from some GOP officials right now on immigration might make one believe that skyrocketing crime rates are a direct result of illegal aliens. But as Rachel Maddow pointed out last night, not only are crime rates way down, but so too are the number of illegals apprehended at the Arizona border. Maddow points out some specific reports that have spread around right-of-center websites that seem to be straight up lies. Yes, its yet another patented “Scaring White People” segment, that is quite effective.

A lot hay has been made by cable pundits and right of center politician of late, regarding the issue of the 14th Amendment, which essential claims that any child born in the United States is automatically a naturalized citizen, regardless of the immigration status of their parents. Recently Senators Lindsey Graham and John Kyl have considered eliminating birthright citizenship, which is the exact sort of controversy custom-made for cable news programming! Et VoilĂ  – today Fox News host Megyn Kelly and Lou Dobbs discussed this very issue!

Senator Lindsey Graham visited On The Record last night to chat with Greta Van Susteren about some “novel ideas” he has for improving the country. His best one? Changing the 14th Amendment to eliminate birthright citizenship and punish children of illegal immigrants who were born on US soil. Novel indeed!

In case you unplugged from all news sources for the holiday weekend, Michael Steele is not only back in the news, but his future role as RNC Chairman is a hot topic of debate. Last Thursday during a fundraiser in Connecticut, an amateur video camera picked up the embattled GOP heavyweight claiming that Afghanistan War was one of “Obama’s choosing,” which lead to a number of cries for his political head. But last night Steele got some support from an unexpected source: the traditionally progressive Roland Martin.

It seems like political sexual attacks are the order of the day. On the heels of Kathleen Parker’s asinine assault on President Obama‘s “manhood” (deliciously deconstructed in a must-read post by Rachel Sklar) and in the context of a debate over the “womanhood” of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, Sen. Lindsey Graham has dropped a hilarious response to those on the right who have accused him of being blackmailed over his supposed secret gayness.

Now that President Obama has decided to accept General McChrystal‘s resignation (replacing him in command with General David Petraeus), the political fallout from this entire story is starting to reveal itself. And today’s emotional comment by Senator Lindsay Graham (R – SC) might be an indication that some on the right see this story as transcending traditional political tropes.

Want a sense of how a national immigration debate may sound to Republicans unwilling to tow the hard right line? Get a load of this. William Sheen, head of ALIPAC, referenced a three year old speech Graham made to the National Council of La Raza during which he noted that to many immigrants America is an idea and “no group owns being an American.” When Sheen repeated this someone in the crowd hollered “neuter Lindsey Graham.”

Even though the media interest in health care continued to ebb since the passing of a historic reform bill earlier last week, the Sunday talk shows still delivered some noteworthy moments. Take Meet the Press for example. Senator Lindsey Graham‘s urging of a civil debate and insistence that “Obama is just as an American as anyone else.” On the same show, NY Senator Chuck Schumer suggestion that the lies about health reform have disappeared since its been passed.

So there can be healthy debate between the two parties without devolving into slurs and name-calling. Who knew? Today on NBC’s Meet The Press, David Gregory sat down with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to talk about the recent health care battle and the nasty attitude that people on both sides of the political spectrum have adopted in this fight.

Politico has set out to find what Tea Partiers think of some of the conservative movement’s top leaders. While most results were predictable– their love of Glenn Beck and suspicion towards John McCain, for starters– Politico also found some surprises in the attitudes towards some of their biggest supporters.

Well, regardless of one’s position on the current state health care reform, there should be some joy in that its finally coming to an end, evidenced by the pitched rhetoric on both sides of the debate. Earlier today we saw WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confident claim of having the votes to pass a bill in the house. And now we see Senator Lindsey Graham present the yin to that yang during an interview with host Jake Tapper on This Week.

As the Republicans scramble for a last minute stop on health care, the Sunday political morning shows were predictably overrun by talk of the Senate. On State of the Union, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was asked about the bill using a football metaphor and he took the opportunity to move the goal line, spinning a possible Obama victory into a long-term loss.

You’d be forgiven for concluding, after a weekend of celebratory headlines, that Congress’s passing of the Health Care bill on Saturday night was the final step in the long slog that saw many ups and downs this summer. Of course, you’d be wrong. Judging from some GOP reactions, it’s going to be a battle, to say the least.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham Thursday blamed the lack of civility in today’s political discourse on 24-hour news cycle, talk radio and voters’ electing confrontational politicians to office. But he saved some of his best shots for Fox News hosts. Asked what he thinks of Glenn Beck, Graham replied, “Only in America can you make that much money crying.” Snap!

Last night Jon Stewart mentioned that Senator Lindsey Graham is featured on a blog called “Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians” This was later picked up by Gawker (and us), and presumably a million other blogs who try to meet post quotas by quickly throwing up a Daily Show clip. Welcome to the Zeitgeist funny blog!