Republican Senators Slam Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) for Military Holds.
As Wednesday night wore on, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) , a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), a former commander in the U.S. Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard, continued to bring up new nominations and appeared to become increasingly frustrated. They noted that they were bringing up the nominations “one by one” as Tuberville had once called for, and they asked why he wouldn’t allow them to go forward. Tuberville did not answer.
“I do not respect men who do not honor their word,” Ernst said.
Sullivan said “China is smiling” as the United States holds up its own military heroes. “As an American,” Sullivan said, “it almost wants to make you weep.”
Sullivan led a group of five Republicans on the Senate floor late Wednesday evening and forced Tuberville to block votes on 61 nominees. The action was a significant turn, as Tuberville was confronted by members of his own party who argued his hold is damaging the military at a precarious time.
"There is growing bitterness within the ranks of our military," Sullivan said on the Senate floor Wednesday. "The men and women who've served our country so well for decades -- probably the most combat-experienced generation since World War II -- have made huge sacrifices, multiple deployments, and now their careers are being punished over a policy dispute they had nothing to do with and no power to resolve.
"And the idea that some of these officers are supposedly woke or desk jockeys, it's ridiculous," Sullivan added.
Sullivan, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee, also said Tuberville was "100% wrong" in his belief that his hold has not hurt the military's ability to be ready for a war.
After Tuberville objected to confirming Air Force Maj. Gen. Laura Lenderman as deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces, Graham turned to Tuberville while holding up a picture of Lenderman and told him, "You just denied this lady a promotion. You did that."
"Xi Jinping is loving this. So is Putin," Sullivan said as the night wore on, referring to the Chinese and Russian leaders. "How dumb can we be, man?"
“I do not respect men who do not honor their word,” Ernst said.
Sullivan said “China is smiling” as the United States holds up its own military heroes. “As an American,” Sullivan said, “it almost wants to make you weep.”
Sullivan led a group of five Republicans on the Senate floor late Wednesday evening and forced Tuberville to block votes on 61 nominees. The action was a significant turn, as Tuberville was confronted by members of his own party who argued his hold is damaging the military at a precarious time.
"There is growing bitterness within the ranks of our military," Sullivan said on the Senate floor Wednesday. "The men and women who've served our country so well for decades -- probably the most combat-experienced generation since World War II -- have made huge sacrifices, multiple deployments, and now their careers are being punished over a policy dispute they had nothing to do with and no power to resolve.
"And the idea that some of these officers are supposedly woke or desk jockeys, it's ridiculous," Sullivan added.
Sullivan, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee, also said Tuberville was "100% wrong" in his belief that his hold has not hurt the military's ability to be ready for a war.
After Tuberville objected to confirming Air Force Maj. Gen. Laura Lenderman as deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces, Graham turned to Tuberville while holding up a picture of Lenderman and told him, "You just denied this lady a promotion. You did that."
"Xi Jinping is loving this. So is Putin," Sullivan said as the night wore on, referring to the Chinese and Russian leaders. "How dumb can we be, man?"
36-40, FVIP
