Lindsey Graham passed the Kishka test, and then some

There is an idiom known as the Kishka test. It means, when someone, typically a politician, really gets Israel, really understands Israel, even when there is no upside, when he or she truly has Israel in his or her guts, the Kishkas. That support for Israel is authentic and deep within, and not because of political expediency.

You can tell. It’s easy. Those who feel it inside, well, you don’t need to keep getting proof. After a bit, you just know. As with the late United States Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham.

On the other hand, when someone knows better but lies to make the base happy, whenever a person who you think has Israel in his Kishkas, says, “As a Jew, I support you, Israel, but as a friend, I must tell you, blah, blah, blah,” nope. Not in the Kishkas. See opportunistic coward, and presidential hopeful, Rahm Emanuel.

Another example is J. D. Vance. He is the classic not-having-Israel-in-his-Kishkas politician. You always knew it. Then he finally proved it. By publicly berating Israel and Netanyahu, and not is a mild way. But with anger, nastiness, and conspiratorial accusations. See, whereas Rahm knows he is wrong, J. D. actually thinks he is right.

Not having Israel in your guts is one thing. But beating up on Israel and/or its leaders only adds to the increasing Jew-hatred. The selfish villains give license to the anti-Semites on the left and right. Both Emanuel and Vance have done so by writing off the Jews for political reasons. It hurts, of course. Will their cravenness be worth it to them? I doubt it.

But back to Lindsey Graham. He had Israel in his Kishkas, and then some. For decades. He loved Israel. He loved the Jewish people. He fought for Israel. He fought for the Jewish people.

But why? Is it because he had a lot of Jewish constituents? Nope. There are only about 36,000 Jews in South Carolina, 0.67% of the state population. And when he was a member of the House of Representatives, well, lots less.

It was Kishkas. He had Israel in his guts, and he had guts. Lindsey, and he wanted to be called Lindsey, didn’t suffer fools gladly. In fact, he didn’t suffer them at all.

Lindsey Graham, American patriot, and fierce friend of Israel and the Jewish people, has now been laid to rest. And at the worst possible time. Is there ever a good time to lose the best of us?

If he was not an angel sent from heaven, Lindsey earned his wings. And he is already sorely missed.

Rest easy, good friend.