The Dems and their aiders and abettors in the mainstream media are at it again. They are doing what they do best – criticize, besmirch, denigrate, exaggerate and lie. This has been one of their favorite pastimes for the last several years. They have done it to Donald Trump, his family, his friends, his supporters, his supreme court nominees and now his Cabinet appointees. It’s always the same plan of attack – “anonymous sources,” or “unnamed sources,” or a group of “former officials.” They rarely name names, or if they do it is always disaffected, vindictive, vengeful political enemies whose objectivity is severely marred, such as Mitt Romney, Megan McCain, Liz Chaney, or virtually any Democrat.
In some cases, their tactics were successful, for a while. Eventually, however, those smears have been exposed and discredited. Eventually, the voters caught on as evidenced by Trump’s historic landslide election victory. As I have discussed in previous blogs in the wake of said election the Dems and their allies in the media and elsewhere are in shock and disarray. The Party leaders are blaming everyone but themselves, for example, Biden, Harris, the campaign, even Obama, Clinton and the electorate, itself. As I have said before, by failing to ascertain, accept and correct the cause for their decisive defeat, namely their radically woke policies, they will be doomed to repeat their losses.
Their credibility is at the lowest ebb I can remember. Few people trust anything the mainstream media says anymore. (Not many people trusted politicians to begin with.) The media has failed to fulfill its primary responsibilities to the people, that is to be their watchdog over the government and to report objectively. Left-leaning media outlets, such as CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times, and the Washington Post have been attracting significantly fewer followers.
However, that has not stopped them from attacking some of President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations. At the present time their favorite target seems to be Pete Hegseth, although Tulsi Gibbet, Kash Pitel, and RFK, Jr. have also received some criticism. It would not be surprising if they targeted others prospectively. The specifics may differ from case to case, but the primary motive in each one is the same. These nominees have promised to “clean house” and promulgate deep reforms, and entrenched “deep staters” are terrified at those prospects.
Pete Hegseth is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. Pete has been working as a Fox News contributor and a co-host of the popular Fox and Friends news show. He is a combat veteran who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has earned two Bronze Star Medals. For the benefit of the uninitiated, a Bronze Star is awarded to a person who has displayed “heroic or meritorious achievement” in combat.
Hegseth has expressed a strong commitment to restoring the military to its former level of strength and readiness. He has vowed to weed out the “wokeness” that has infiltrated our military under the current Administration. He has stated that henceforth promotions will be awarded by merit and expertise rather than by DEI, and policy will be dictated by what is in the best interests of the US. Those that disagree with or impede the foregoing will suffer a loss of position and authority and/or be forced to retire. Obviously, this will adversely affect some powerful, well-connected, and well-entrenched people. They are resisting with all their might. Opposition has been and will continue to be fierce.
For example, NBC News reported that “ten former [co-workers] and Fox News employees claimed that Hegseth co-hosted a weekend show with alcohol on his breath.” Of course, these sources were “anonymous.” The New Yorker reported that according to “anonymous “whistle blowers and former staff at the Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America during his tenure from 2007 – 2016 Hegseth was “totally sloshed and fostered a hostile work environment for female staff.” Moreover, while at a strip club he had to be “dragged offstage after trying to join in with the dancers.” These media stories strike me as way too extreme to be credible.
Hegseth has many strong allies among the military rank and file and his current and former co-workers, including those him know him best such as Will Cain, Jesse Watters, Kayleigh McEnany and Brian Kilmeade. It is no surprise that NBC News failed to contact them regarding the aforementioned story. Cain, who perhaps knows him the best, opines “Pete Hegseth is exactly what the Pentagon needs: a leader who prioritizes strength over optics and results over rhetoric.”
A key voice in the nomination approval process will be Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and a victim of sexual assault herself. As the 4th ranking Republican in the Senate, she wields much power and influence, especially with respect to military matters. Initially, she seemed to have her doubts regarding Hegseth, but after meeting with him she has signaled her support.
Finally, let’s not forget the most important supporter of all – President-elect Trump. He is very familiar with the aforementioned smear tactics, and he will not be intimated or deterred by it.
CONCLUSION
I strongly concur that Hegseth would make a fine SD. He has extensive combat experience; he is a patriot and a decorated combat hero; he has the support of the miliary rank and file; and the anonymous charges levied against him have no merit. Traditionally, the Senate has recognized that a president-elect is entitled to select Cabinet members that support his political views and beliefs. Generally, it has approved his nominees absent an egregious circumstance. As we have seen, some have encountered opposition for various reasons. However, let’s not forget that Trump has a strong mandate from the people, which should give his critics in the Senate pause.
I expect that ultimately most of Trump’s choices, including Hegseth, will be approved. I look forward to the improvements that they will bring to both the government and our lives.
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 