Darline Graham pilloried for saying she's 'not that informed on national security'

Critics lambasted Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday for her response to a debate question about national security, which the senator said she was "not that informed on." Debate moderator Greta Van Susteren asked Graham if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the U.S. and why. "I'm just going to be honest here, I'm not that informed on national security," the South Carolina Republican said, paused and followed with, "But I do support the military." Graham referred to her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who "was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military." "My dad was in the Army," she continued. "I'm not a polished politician up here, national security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military." The comments drew the ire of incumbents and former lawmakers. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) appeared to defend the remark, telling CNN's Elex Michaelson that often "when you have a mistake like this, it's in a moment, you're rushed, you're tired, you have more of an emotion." "That's not what this is. This might be just dumb," she continued, later adding that Graham's GOP opponent, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), "is not the sharpest tool in the shed either." Former South Carolina state Rep. Adam Morgan (R) called it a "stunning debate flop." "The main criticism is that she’s not qualified for this 6-year position," he wrote on the social platform X. "Now she reveals …