Jeff Jackson: “A Senator from Alabama is now many months into a blockade of all the generals and admirals in our military who are…”

“A Senator from Alabama is now many months into a blockade of all the generals and admirals in our military who are scheduled to advance in their leadership. This is no longer just a political statement from him. This is a national security issue for all of us. He has taken a personal crusade and made it an impediment to our entire military. We are at 250 nominations blocked so far. By the end of this year, it will be 650. These are our military's top leaders. The notion that all of these positions should remain vacant because one Senator objects to the Defense Department's travel policy regarding servicemembers who get an abortion is a perfect example of letting culture war politics impact our military. This year, we have been treated to countless speeches about whether politics has infected our military and whether that has impacted its readiness. Now, the single clearest example of culture war politics colliding with our military is this blockade of our top military leaders, a blockade built by one man in defense not of our Nation but of his politics on the issue of abortion. The clearest price yet was paid this week as the leader of the Marine Corps retired and then Congress tried to replace him with his appointed successor, General Eric Smith, and the Senator from Alabama blocked that replacement. The Marine Corps is now without a confirmed leader for the first time since 1910.…”