Billy Graham's Legacy??

An evangelical blogger suggested the following as a major accomplishment of Rev. Billy Graham:

Graham played an important role in the post-WWII politicization of American evangelicalism. His early sermons strongly reflect the anti-communism of the early Cold War, and his relationship with Richard Nixon accelerated the courtship between Republicans and evangelicals in the late 1960s and early 1970s. While Graham himself pulled back from more overt forms of political activism after Watergate and signaled a shift toward political moderation, many evangelicals followed the trail he had blazed during Nixon’s first term.

First of all, "politicization of American evangelicalism" is hardly an achievement worthy of someone serving Christ. Anyone who has ever been politically active knows that politics is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Politics has become little more than verbal aggression against others that do not share your beliefs. It is divisive. It is mean-spirited. It is win by any means necessary. Politics and Christ simply do not mix well. To suggest that God blesses or even endorses a political ideology is blasphemy. God only takes notice of our politics only when it is used as an excuse to hate or mistreat others.

Second, Rev. Graham spoke harshly of the idea that Jesus has a political preference. There were plenty of evangelical leaders that became politically active in the Republican Party but Graham was not one of them. He had a personal friendship with Richard Nixon, not a political axe to grind. It is not accurate to blame Graham for politicizing a major branch of Christianity.

Third, there are so many remarkable accomplishments by Rev. Graham, particularly his leadership in the civil rights movement. Or the millions exposed to Christ through his public ministry. With so much good to draw from, why cheapen his legacy by connecting him to the cynical attempts by some evangelical leaders to politicize Christ?