Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has resisted calls to cease his blockade of military promotions and the filling of open leadership roles despite warnings — even from those in his own party — about his hold-up’s potentially perilous impact on military readiness.
[NOTE: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has said of Tuberville’s move: “I understand the senator’s concern, but it’s a dangerous world right now, and we want to make sure that we’re not sacrificing readiness.”]
For disabled army veteran Skyleigh Heinen, Tuberville’s blockade is personal, as well as dangerous and irresponsible.
In the video below, Heinen shows just how personal it is, calling out Tuberville (and his congressional enablers) for an “extreme radical agenda” that puts the country, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asserts, increasingly at risk.
Heinen pleads for legislators to adopt a new set of priorities, one that backseats culture wars — relegating them to battles outside the military — so that the U.S. remains ready to fight its real wars from a front seat that’s fully occupied and skillfully piloted.
My message to @SenTuberville @SenateGOP @SenTedBuddNC and @SenThomTillis on what Tuberville’s refusal to allow hundreds of military promotions having a cascade effect across our military.
— Skyleigh Heinen (@Sky_Lee_1) August 4, 2023
Military families and our national security come before one Senator.pic.twitter.com/peVlJqyaXn
Heinen is responding to numerous recent reports about the blockade’s alarming impact on the readiness of forces and the dangerous long-term effects of leaving positions empty in various chains of command.
Secretary Austin said recently that Tuberville’s intransigence — his “unprecedented, across-the-board hold” — is “having a cascading effect, increasingly hindering the normal operations of this Department and undermining both our military readiness and our national security.”
In her video, Heinen also emphasizes military readiness, but adds a personal focus on the impact on military families — especially those waiting dutifully behind the un-promoted. The hold-up has long-term effects down the line, she asserts, hurting future readiness too.
In previous posts Heinen has called for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to exercise his power to counteract Tuberville — and the self-inflicted wound to the U.S. Armed Forces. McConnell has not acted.
This is not just on @SenTuberville but the entire @SenateGOP for allowing this one Senator to hold our military hostage by refusing to promote top military positions.
— Skyleigh Heinen (@Sky_Lee_1) July 28, 2023
–@LeaderMcConnell @SenateGOP you’re responsible for this, you have the power to bypass him entirely. pic.twitter.com/wvlUzyMQpE
Tuberville — who is holding up the promotions as a protest to the current Pentagon policy of providing travel and paid leave for service members seeking abortions — boasts that he has the support of those in the military, recently putting out a press release claiming that 5,000 veterans are on his side.
.jpg){kind=link}