Lindsey Graham: Remark about only helping white men was a joke

COLUMBIA, S.C. – U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s campaign says a remark he made at a private dinner about only helping white men if he became president was a joke taken out of context.

In 20 seconds of clips from the Charleston event several weeks ago provided to The Associated Press, Graham tells the group: “If I get to be president, white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.”

Graham’s campaign says he made the remarks at the Hibernian Society of Charleston at a charity event where politicians are invited to give private speeches that are serious, but also include jokes told at their expense or to poke fun at the group.

CNN first reported the remarks Wednesday.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Lindsey Graham: Remark about only helping white men was a joke."