Quote of the Day: “White men in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.”

As we learned during the last election, sometimes there’s nothing like a recording of a closed-door event with supporters to reveal what politicians really think. In a private event at the all-male Hibernian Society of Charleston, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is considering a presidential run, told the audience:

“I’m trying to help you with your tax status. I’m sorry the government’s so fucked up. If I get to be president, white men in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.”

And the crowd laughed and laughed. Graham confirmed his comments to CNN, but, in a predictable move, says he was just joking around–he’s folksy like that, ya know?–and making fun of the society’s all-male membership. As Melissa asks, what exactly is the punchline then?

Because it’s hard to make a joke about something that is just straight-up true. We know that the GOP’s policies benefit white men above everyone else, and it’s been clear for awhile that Senator Graham personally seems to have a problem with powerful women of color–not to mention a belief that fetuses should have more rights than people.

Here’s the audio clip–with some bonus jokes about Baptists.

Maya Dusenbery is an Executive Director of Feministing.