Pentagon officials have been frustrated for months over an Alabama senator’s blockade of more than 300 senior military nominations. But after the Marine Corps chief was hospitalized over the weekend, that frustration is turning into rage.
Gen. Eric Smith had been filling both the No. 1 and No. 2 Marine Corps posts from July until he was finally confirmed as commandant in September. He, along with more than 300 other senior officers, was swept up in the promotions blockade put in place by GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy.
In an interview Wednesday, Tuberville brushed off the comments from the DOD officials.
“They’re looking for someone to blame it on, other than themselves,” he said. “We could have all these people confirmed if they’d have just gone by the Constitution.
“I don’t listen to these people,” he added. “They’re just looking for any possible way to get themselves out of a jam.”
Ideally there would be “some” debate. Though realistically it has largely been hashed out in committee. The problem is, even if the whole Senate dropped everything else they were doing to address this. Two things. It rewards Republicans for bad behavior. Also setting a horrible new precedent that things must now always be passed by cloture. Tying up the whole Senate. It’s win win for Republicans. And keep in mind this is on REPUBLICANS, not just Tuberville. If this were an issue for Republicans. They’ve had years to replace him on committee. Make no mistake, this is what Republicans want. And Democrats cleaning up the Republican mess only hurts Democrats in the long run.