SUMMERVILLE — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Republicans have plenty of room to negotiate with Democrats but will not compromise to end the government shutdown.

He warned that giving in now to Democratic demands on health care would only perpetuate the pattern of both parties using shutdowns for political leverage.

“There’s plenty of things we can do, but we’re just not doing the government shutdown,” Graham, R-S.C., told The Post and Courier Oct. 27 following a lunchtime speaking appearance in Dorchester County. “If you do it now, it never ends.”

He later put a finer point on it, saying, “You just don’t want to start rewarding taking hostages.”

As the federal shutdown stretches into its fourth week, Graham said Congress must first pass a short-term spending measure to reopen the govern

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