For some reason, Fox News host Tucker Carlson evidently believes that his complaints about efforts to accommodate women in the U.S. military have some kind of far-reaching value. On an episode of his show this week, Carlson petulantly complained about efforts to accommodate women in the Armed Services, whining that the military is getting too “feminine, whatever feminine means anymore.” Out here in the real world outside of the Fox News echo chamber’s narcissism bubble, people consider issues other than whether something is masculine enough to satisfy Tucker Carlson’s whining.
I signed up to serve my country at 18. @TuckerCarlson did not.
I served with women who risked their lives to protect our country. Tucker did not.
While he denigrates those who serve, our military remains the best fighting force due, in large part, to our amazing servicewomen.
— Rep. Mikie Sherrill (@RepSherrill) March 11, 2021
Military leaders promptly put Carlson in his place after his meltdown. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, for instance, commented on Twitter as follows:
‘Women lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate ANY future battlefield we’re called to fight on. [Tucker Carlson’s] words are divisive, don’t reflect our values. We have THE MOST professional, educated, agile, and strongest [noncommissioned officer] Corps in the world.’
Women lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate ANY future battlefield we’re called to fight on. @TuckerCarlson’s words are divisive, don’t reflect our values. We have THE MOST professional, educated, agile, and strongest NCO Corps in the world. https://t.co/WeqWk6IWDq
— SMA Michael Grinston (@16thSMA) March 11, 2021
It’s worth noting that Armed Services policy changes that Carlson complained about on his show were set in motion during the Trump era. Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin felt “revulsion” at Carlson’s comments. Referencing Carlson’s original petulant comparison of the U.S. military to armed forces in China, Kirby added the following:
‘What we absolutely won’t do is take personnel advice from a talk show host, or the Chinese military, and maybe those folks feel like they have something to prove — that’s on them… I would hope that in the reaction [Carlson is] seeing, and hopefully in our reaction here today, that he’ll realize the mistake he made and express some regret about the manner in which he essentially demeaned the entire U.S. military, and how we defend and how we serve this country.’
This is me, yesterday, conducting a re-enlistment for one of the tens of thousands of women who serve in our Army. Just a reminder that @TuckerCarlson couldnt be more wrong. https://t.co/M1MHe5zHrf
— Patrick Donahoe (@PatDonahoeArmy) March 11, 2021
Meanwhile, Gen. Paul Funk, who serves as commanding officer of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, added the following in his own remarks:
‘Thousands of women serve honorably every day around the globe. They are beacons of freedom and they prove Carlson wrong through determination and dedication. We are fortunate they serve with us.’
I agree Pat . Thousands of women serve honorably every day around the globe. They are beacons of freedom and they prove Carlson wrong through determination and dedication. We are fortunate they serve with us. https://t.co/R4dycOXknl
— GEN Paul E. Funk II (@PaulFunk2) March 11, 2021
Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker, who serves on the U.S. Space Command (which is not the same entity as the Space Force), pointedly observed that Carlson’s comments were “based on zero days of service in the armed forces.” Carlson did not tone down his entitled and arrogant whining because of this reality, however.
Tucker Carlson's opinion on pregnant military women based on "zero days" of service, says Space Command official. Reminds us that "the opinions "were made by an individual who has never served a day in his life." https://t.co/Qc8fdPkzQk
— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) March 11, 2021
As he originally put it on his show, referring to comments about policy updates from President Joe Biden:
‘So we’ve got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits. Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It’s a mockery of the U.S. military. While China’s military becomes more masculine as it has assembled the world’s largest navy, our military needs to become as Joe Biden says more feminine, whatever feminine means anymore.’
In short, Carlson is a clown, and the fact that Fox continues to broadcast his self-important drivel to the world on a weekly basis is a craven disgrace.
Ignorant bully @TuckerCarlson is now attacking pregnant servicewomen for being temporarily nondeployable. 3 to 8% of servicemembers are nondeployable at any given time. Fewer than 1% are pregnant. All have the honor of putting their lives on the line. Tucker has no honor at all.
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) March 11, 2021
