Is Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Elizabeth Warren, et al, going to sink Lloyd Austin's nomination?

[Wanderlust988]

As an African-American, I'm deeply concerned about the blowback that Biden's defense pick is getting from the most liberal Dems in Congress all because of the waiver. They are saying they won't approve the waiver. Is there any danger that he won't get the waiver to become the Pentagon chief?

Frankly, I'm outraged. I know that they want to stay consistent, but this is politically bad. How is Tammy Duckworth going to go to Illinois and look at black voters in the eye in Chicago and be proud that she helped deep six Biden's choice to be the first ever African-American to be defense secretary? If they have issues with the waiver, then don't show up and vote like Republicans do on tough votes. There is nothing good that can come out of what they're attempting. Black voters have a long memory and we won't allow Democratic politicians to vote against a very qualified African-American patriot and get away with it, even if he's confirmed in the end.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. What do they give as their reasons for

opposing his nomination? Are they just against giving waivers on principle or are there other things they're concerned with?

[SheltieLover]

2. Wondering the same thing.

[Wanderlust988]

3. They're against waivers period

But without the waiver, he can't be defense secretary. So apparently they're totally cool with killing his nomination, even though it's a historic nomination and he's definitely qualified. They're totally fine with pissing off African-American voters I guess and making Biden look bad.

[padah513]

8. My thoughts exactly

It's political suicide.

[LuvNewcastle]

9. It might piss off some black voters --

you would know more about that than I would -- but I would have to know more about why they oppose giving waivers. Maybe Biden could work something out with them; I don't know. I think that the Senate should do their best to give Biden the cabinet he wants, but I think people can understand that just because they don't approve of this particular nominee doesn't mean they would oppose any black nominee. We need more information about this situation.

[Wanderlust988]

11. There's nothing to work out...he either gets it or doesn't

Apparently, he may not even make it out of the committee without Republican support due to this waiver. They feel that a former military person should not be defense secretary, no matter who he is or what qualifications he has. So apparently they are cool with dumbasses like Mark Esper, but not Mattis who actually did a decent job considering. The waiver is just stupid. Either you're qualified or you're not. Austin is supremely qualified. He shouldn't be punished cause he served his country in the Army.

[LuvNewcastle]

14. Well if that's their only problem with him, they

need to get over that. I think having a military man as SecDef would help morale in the services.

[Demsrule86]

7. It doesntt matter. They are as others have poined out blocking a historic nomination and not

for a good reason. Party loyalty matters.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. Well of course it matters.

If two powerful Senators oppose a nomination, it stands to reason that they could very well have legitimate reasons for doing so. I don't think Duckworth and Warren are racists, but I suppose they might oppose this man because there's someone else they want for the job. But to support him just because his nomination would be historic is not a good enough reason in itself to approve someone.

[Wanderlust988]

17. It's not up to them who to nominate

If Biden wants him and he's qualified, then that's good enough. Him being black is a bonus to me. The man is highly respected and very qualified. Warren and Duckworth aren't racists, but they are politically stupid. I really wanna see Duckworth in a Chicago town hall telling voters how and why she voted against Austin. I'd love to see that reaction.

[LuvNewcastle]

18. I agree that if the major obstacle to his confirmation

is his military service, or the fact that he hasn't been retired long enough, then that's not a good reason to hold it up. I don't think Biden would have nominated him if he wasn't qualified, and he should get the cabinet he wants.

[whathehell]

20. They do have the right to approve or disapprove..

I'd like to hear more from them regarding their opposition -- Neither Duckworth or Warren are "politically stupid" in the least.

[brush]

4. They're asking for trouble if you ask me. How many times have...

African American voters saved the party's bacon—as recently in Georgia in winning the two Senate seats and thus the majority in the Senate.

Both of them need to see the bigger picture than their own preference on this and think of the good of the party and the party's most loyal base.

They have to run for re-election too.

[Wanderlust988]

6. Exactly! Duckworth already said she's a firm no

She can very easily be primaried by an African-American in Illinois, where they basically are the majority of the Democratic votes. I don't get her thinking at all. It's a huge political mistake. Is a waiver really the hill to die on? Is is THAT serious? Warren may run for president again. I don't see how killing the Austin nomination helps her out.

[whathehell]

22. You're saying she'll be primaried for objecting to ONE person

of color, regardless of reason?

As an Illinoisan, I think the people of my state are a bit more fair than that.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. She Won't Get Primaried

She got elected by a 15% margin in 2016. She won the primary by 40 points.
I agree with your sentiment on Austin, but she's not going to get primaries out of office.

[Hortensis]

30. Maybe Duckworth's top and bottom lines aren't all about her own ass.

We should be expecting a lot more from our politicians than that they make politically advantageous decisions. Not follow the Republican voters into their moral slough.

[Demsrule86]

5. That would be awful...hope not. Biden deserves the cabinet he wants. And given

our situation, he is the right man for the job. If we dont unite and work together, we will accomplish nothing.

[UCmeNdc]

10. They should give Biden his nominee since he is overly qualified to fill the position.

The only constraint is his lack of time being away from active duty. The GOP president always get the people they want. Why not help President Biden out and give him the people he wants to run the government effectively?

[left-of-center2012]

13. My understanding is ...

A military man has to be retired a certain number of years before he can serve in a civilian position in government such as defense secretary.

If waivers are given and military retirees are not held to that standard what is the point of having that rule?

Seems that their opposition is not racial but to uphold that rule.

[Wanderlust988]

15. But there is a waiver too, so that exists for a reason

And yes it's true, they're not opposing him cause he's black, but the final decision is still the same. A very historic nomination...the first black defense secretary, would not approved cause they opposed a waiver. So please tell me how black people are supposed to feel about that...the base of the party? If the president likes him and he's supremely qualified the job, then that's all the matters...period. The rule is silly...suppose he was retired for 6.5 years instead of 7? It's very arbitrary and makes no sense. Even most senators say it's very arbitrary and doesn't make sense.

Do they really wanna risk black voters sitting on their hands in 2022? Politically, this is not the hill to die on. Be glad we're in the majority and try to do everything to keep it. Killing Austin's nomination will piss off a huge swath of black voters.

[left-of-center2012]

21. We agree their opposition is not racial

Thank you

[JI7]

16. Didn't they say they will vote for the actual Nomination Vote but not for the Waiver ?

and is there anything to show that the waiver would not pass ?

[octoberlib]

19. I'm sorry , I really like General Austin

but this is all on Biden. He knew damn good and well there’d be problems with this pick concerning the waiver. There were other well qualified African American candidates up for this job that he bypassed. Why is that?

I think Austin will get confirmed but Biden made it harder .

[SharonClark]

26. I totally agree. Biden is committed to a diverse

cabinet but he could have picked a POC candidate who didn’t require a waiver or he could have picked a POC who wasn’t military or he could have picked a POC for a different cabinet position.

The military should be under civilian rule, that us why the waiver is so problematic.

[enough]

28. +1. NT

[Squinch]

23. We just had an administration that flouted every rule they could flout. I can see why

thinking people in our government want to get back to following the actual rules of government.

There's a reason you don't want people who are too tied in to the military to be in these positions. We are seeing that reason play out around us right now.

[Hortensis]

31. This. The White Man's GOP just attempted a self-coup to take over our nation

and install an authoritarian dictator. A big reason it failed is that the military wouldn't go along, though they tried.

We can trust Biden to select people of good character and not worry about Austin. But while the Republicans are what they are, it's an ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL precedent they should almost be expected to use drive a potential traitor through. And we know the military itself has a lot of potential RW traitors.

All this talk of how this appointment must be black (or else!!!) reminds me of the clueless who imagined 2016 was about which national healthcare system we might have, instead of a choice to be able to have one at all.

AA should get extra serious about what could still happen: they become black people stripped of electoral power living under an authoritarian white nationalist regime. Their allies of other races are stripped of power and in trouble. In a nation now guaranteed to decline further, without nearly enough good paying jobs for even "privileged white people." In a police state. Because it would have to be.

[ms liberty]

24. Your concern is noted. n/t

[NurseJackie]

25. Are

[Sunsky]

27. If it's a party line vote, I hope they won't

Because not confirming one of the top AA members of Biden's cabinet will not go over well with us. We are watching. We won't be used for our votes then discarded afterward on technicalities. However, I believe some Republicans will vote to confirm him.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

32. I hope not. As fascist violence continues nationwide, an experienced military strategist

in the position of Secretary of Defense is the best option for protecting our country.

Fascist insurrectionists are the #1 threat on the planet to our citizenry, our democracy, and our government right now. Fascist insurrectionists are an immediate threat and a clear and present danger to the United States.

Better a military strategist as Secretary of Defense than some war profiteer former CEO of Raytheon, or the ilk.

[Hortensis]

33. Lloyd Austin's a good man, but he's not the only one.

Michele Flournoy is the overwhelming choice of many of her colleagues, extremely well thought of. She's not black, true, and BG (before Georgia) the Republican were expected to refuse to confirm her. Austin was known to be more acceptable to the GOP.

Well, Flournoy is still not black, but she is now guaranteed confirmable. And she's not the only one. If our senators feel that doing anything that might help the GOP next time make someone "too military" SecDef is a bad idea, we have other very good options.