During discussions on the House floor this Wednesday, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) rebuked Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) over the latter’s antagonism and transphobia towards Shawn G. Skelly, a high-ranking official at the Defense Department. Boebert was pushing a proposed amendment that, if enacted, would subsequently reduce Skelly’s salary to almost nothing.
She tied Skelly to disastrous developments seen amid the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, though trying to use what happened there for partisan political aims misrepresents the facts, as the Trump administration was purportedly pursuing a withdrawal from that country before the Biden team assumed power. Though the Biden administration led a comprehensive evacuation effort that airlifted many from that country, a bombing attack at an airport killed 13 U.S. military personnel. “As DOD’s highest-ranking trans official, this delusional man, thinking he is a woman, embodies and espouses the woke-ism that’s causing significant harm to our military readiness and troop morale,” Boebert claimed.
“People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when being addressed,” McCollum retorted. “Assistant Secretary Skelly has served in her role admirably.” McCollum emphasized the feminine pronouns. While Republicans spend so much time hating various Americans, Democrats continue to deliver in areas like lowering prescription drug prices and boosting domestic manufacturing.
It remains patently absurd to describe the military as meaningfully ensnared and hindered by what Republicans love to characterize as “woke” ideology, whatever that means. The U.S. military has not significantly reduced its focus and power because of some slowly growing efforts at inclusion. And it’s not that difficult to grasp the argument that basic inclusion actually helps expand the military’s readiness because of the introduction of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, with leaders and lower-ranking personnel now better representing the actual interests of the actual people of the United States. It’s just that trying to get some Republicans to see this basic progression is sometimes like talking to a brick wall.
“People deserve to be treated and respect when being addressed” — Betty McCollum to Boebert pic.twitter.com/E22Z9c0JZm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 27, 2023
