Posted on 01/14/2025 1:05:33 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
During a contentious hearing, Donald Trump’s pick for defense chief dismissed allegations of past misconduct and tried to clarify his views on women in the military.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday hammered Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, in an early test of Republican loyalty as lawmakers take up the incoming administration’s slate of unconventional and contentious cabinet picks.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and soldier in the Army National Guard, has written and commented extensively on his beliefs that Democrats are “America-wreckers,” that women do not belong in combat, and that international laws meant to limit civilian casualties are a hindrance to successful war-fighting.
His selection also has been plagued by claims of alleged misconduct, ranging from an alleged sexual assault in 2017 to accusations of financial mismanagement, excessive drinking and sexism in his previous jobs — all of which he denies.
“The totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense,” Sen. Jack Reed (Rhode Island), the Senate Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat, said during his opening remarks.
Tuesday’s hearing quickly became a heated, rhetorical battle along partisan lines — marked at times by raised voices — as Democrats repeatedly quoted Hegseth’s divisive past statements and Republicans mounted a vocal defense of his record, offered him opportunities to clarify controversial views, and chastised Democrats for “hypocrisy” and being “ignorant of the facts.”
There was little time overall spent examining the details of Hegseth’s strategy for meeting the complex threats that America faces from Russia, China, Iran and other adversaries.
Prior to his work at Fox, Hegseth led small numbers of troops while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and had presided briefly over two veterans advocacy...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Just watched some of Cuomo on News Nation and he repeated a lot from the confirmation hearing today. He had plenty of criticism about the caliber of questions asked by dems which had nothing to do with DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRY and the missed opportunity of Republicans to take advantage of that and it was Kaine who went on and on about the oath to be faithful to a wife....he was roasted by Cuomo for that.
It will be repeated at 11 pm ET..It was pretty good and worth catching...
He’s definitely too inexperienced, he hasn’t even been bribed by a defense contractor yet LOL.
So why is Hegseth's lack of CEO experience so important to when so many prior Secretaries of Defense also didn't have any?
AND he had Jay Leno on who is buying and cooking food for the fire crews - said he spent $20,000.00 on steaks and other food and would be doing the same tomorrow..looked like he was set up somewhere around the Rose Bowl but I wouldn’t swear to it.
He was interviewed standing by his 1940 American La France fire engine probably manufactured in Elmira, NY, the city of my birth - except that was several years AFTER my birth...had relatives who worked there.
In the same interview was a fire chief from Cal Fire and he was asked by Cuomo what he would like to ask Jay Leno to provide to them and he said, “I’d like a ride in that fire engine.”
Human touches beautiful!
Very good - good work...a mix of everything in our society BEFORE their positions in the Defense Department....
Don't forget money laundering and worldwide election interference.
The dimmocrap objections to Hegseth were utterly predictable and just as utterly non-relevant to effective military leadership.
Biden has 5 more days for pardons....
B-but that would be an insurrection, and undermining democracy!
Of course. What else could they mean./s
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