LOS ANGELES.–Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), 78, slammed 78-year-old President Donald Trump’s 44-year-old Defense Secretary nominee Fox News host Pete Hegseth of being inexperienced and unqualified for Defense Secretary. Blumenthal lied about his active duty service in the Vietnam War, when in fact never did a tour in Vietnam. Hegseth is a decorated Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran who received the distinguished Bronze Star and distinguished service medal for service in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Hegseth handled Blumenthal’s attacks with aplomb, telling Hegseth’s committee that he was not qualified to lead the Pentagon. “I don’t believe that you can tell this committee, or the people of America, that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you for the spokesman for the Pentagon . . .” said Blumenthal.
Blumenthal was asked about current Defense Secretary Gen. Lloyd Austin who presided over the Aug. 26, 2021 Abbey Gate terrorist attack, killing 13 U.S. marines, injuring dozens more. Blumenthal said he wouldn’t hesitate to hire Austin again, despite the most deadly withdrawal of U.S. troops in history. I don’t dispute your communication skills but I believe that we are entitled to the facts here,” Blumenthal said, insulting Hegseth. Blumenthal who should be considering retiring at nearly 79 is one of the most partisan members of the Democrat senate. He backed all four years of Biden’s calamity in the White House, including the disastrous Ukraine proxy war that’s all but destroyed Ukraine. Blumenthal rubber stamps everything Democrat, whether it fuels national inflation or pushes the U.S. to WW III or nuclear war. Blumenthal says nothing objective, only partisan.
Blumenthal thinks Gen. Lloyd Austin has been an exemplary Defense Secretary, telling 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin April 25, 2022 in Ramstein, Germany that the goal of the U.S. mission in Ukraine is the degrade the Russian military to the point it can no longer wage war. If that’s not a declaration of war, without Congressional consent, then what is? Austin has done nothing other than rubber stamp Biden’s demented decision-making, threatening Russia, joining Ukraine’s war with the Kremlin. Biden’s decision to join Ukraine’s War all but destroyed decades of diplomacy, détente and arms control with Russia, leaving the U.S. and Russia mortal enemies. What kind of foreign policy is that? Austin offered nothing other than following Biden’s cognitively impaired orders to join Ukraine’s attempt to topple the Russian Federation, something so preposterous it’s laughable.
Yet to partisans like Blumenthal Austin did a bang up job as Defense Secretary. “I would support General Austin as Secretary of Defense,” Blumenthal said. “I did when he was nominated. I would support Secretary Mattis that was nominated by President Trump during his first term. I would not support this nominee [Hegseth] lacks the financial management skills, the character and confidence as well as the moral compass,” said Blumenthal, showing, as predicted, he’s a Democrat political hack. Blumenthal can’t admit Biden’s failures all but destroying U.S.-Russian and U.S.-Chinese relations, primarily because he’s incapable of diplomacy or statesmanship. Since Biden took office Jan. 20, 2021, he called Putin a “murderous thug” and Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator.” What kind of statesmanship was that? Intended to wreck U.S. relations.
Republicans were quick to defend Hegseth over Blumenthal and other Democrats attacks, especially knowing they don’t have the votes to stop his nomination. “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin oversaw the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, let the Chinese make rapid advancements to catch up to our defense capabilities, we MIA for days leaving the Pentagon without a leader, prioritize DEI policies over defense needs, and allowed Biden’s policy of appeasement,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). “We need a DECISIVE leader who can focus the Department of Defense on its mission of protecting America. We need Pete Hegseth,” Johnson said, countering Democrats partisan attacks. Whatever mistakes Hegseth made in the past, he’s more than qualified to lead the Pentagon to a new era of prioritizing American defense policy.
Pete Hegseth looks more than poised for his eventual full Senate confirmation as the next Defense Secretary. Blumenthal had a lot of nerve accusing Hegseth of moral turpitude when he flat out lied about his military service in Vietnam. “Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who lied about serving in Vietnam to get elected, berating combat vet Pete Hegseth is a bit hard to take,” said Fox News contributor Katie Pvlich on X. Blumenthal epitomizes the worst of Democrat partisanship, willing to do and say anything to advance a Democrat agenda. Blumenthal was a big supporter in the years-long Russian hoax against Trump, resulting in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller wasting $40 milion and 22-monthis investigating Trump only to acquit him of any wrongdoing in his final report. Blumenthal put all his hopes in now discredited Special Counsel Jack Smith.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
