The progressive advocacy group VoteVets, which often speaks out amid developments involving veterans, has released a new video ad featuring remarks from several Democratic members of Congress targeting Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). The Democrats who joined the effort have served in the nation’s defense forces, whether in the Navy or as a CIA analyst in addition to similar roles, and these elected officials were criticizing Tuberville for his blockade of hundreds of military nominations and promotions in the Senate.
Tuberville has been lodging objections in protest of support made available by the Defense Department for personnel seeking an abortion. The support doesn’t directly cover those abortions, instead helping with costs including travel. Travel could be especially necessary for military personnel seeking an abortion now that Republican state officials have taken the opportunity given by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade to implement statewide limits on abortion access.
The Democrats joining the VoteVets ad included Reps. Mikie Sherill (N.J.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and Abigail Spanberger (Va.). “As a former CIA officer, I can tell you,” Spanberger said. “Our enemies are watching one Senator jeopardize our military readiness and risk our national security.” Others criticizing Tuberville have also pointed to alleged impacts on the U.S. standing around the world — an area of concern also touched upon in recent comments from Vice President Kamala Harris, who spoke in Florida against new educational standards that were developed and implemented by Governor Ron DeSantis’s team.
The framework provides for middle school students to be taught that slaves developed purportedly personally beneficial skills, which quickly drew criticism for ostensibly glossing over the basic realities of slavery. In defense, a couple of the experts behind the Florida standards cited a list of individuals who purportedly exemplified the progress seen by enslaved persons, but the list included people who historical records didn’t indicate were enslaved or who developed their skillsets after being freed.
🔥NEW: Veterans and National Security leaders @RepSherrill, @RepHoulahan, @RepSlotkin, @RepSpanberger unite against Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s reckless hold on military promotions. Their collective voice demands an end to using women Servicemembers as political pawns! pic.twitter.com/0aOzh39DBb
— VoteVets (@votevets) July 25, 2023
