Tuberville Stands Against Establishment In Defense Of Principles, Military

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has stirred the pot on Capitol Hill by putting a halt on over 300 military promotions, drawing criticism from prominent establishment Republicans and neoconservatives like former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. But unlike his critics, Tuberville is taking a courageous stance for principles deeply aligned with the values that conservatives hold dear.

Haley’s accusations that Tuberville is “using military families as political pawns” miss the point entirely. “The Department of Defense started this, but I’m not saying that Senator Tuberville is right in doing this because I don’t want to use them as pawns,” Haley told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a friendly Sunday appearance on the liberal network. Yet, Tuberville’s actions are more than justified; they defend both military families and the unborn.

At issue is a controversial Pentagon policy providing reimbursements for service members seeking abortions. “I’m tired of Pinocchio Joe legislating from the White House,” Tuberville told Newsmax. “The people of Alabama have somebody up there that’s going to vote for them. And if we’re going to have some kind of different abortion policy in the military, it’s going to take a vote on the Senate floor.”

Tuberville’s convictions are clear: public funding should not subsidize abortions. As he astutely observed, “60% of the people of this country say that we should not spend one dime of taxpayer money toward abortion.”

So, what about the claim that the military is rendered leaderless? Tuberville disagrees. Acting chiefs are in place, maintaining readiness. As the senator stressed, “I’ve talked to generals and admirals every day. There’s no problem with readiness.” He further pointed out that his holds only affect those at the top, not the rank-and-file service members.

This isn’t just about military promotions or abortion policy; it’s about resisting an overreach of power from the executive branch. And according to Tuberville, Senate minority members have few powers more potent than a hold on nominations. “It’s the only power that you have as a minority senator,” he explained.

In sharp contrast to Tuberville’s steadfast commitment to principle are the remarks of incoming Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Charles Q. Brown, who seems more concerned with enacting “woke” policies than ensuring the military’s readiness. 

Tuberville’s stance is a refreshing break from the neoconservative wing of the Republican party that Haley represents, a faction often too eager to use American military power with little regard for the consequences. “This is our military; it’s not an equal opportunity employer. We want the best of the best pilots, generals, admirals, people that believe in this country,” Tuberville asserted, highlighting what’s truly at stake.

In today’s political climate, when establishment Republicans and Democrats seem bent on endless foreign interventions and misguided domestic policies, Tuberville’s principled stand deserves applause, not scorn. It’s time for conservatives to rally behind a senator who talks the talk and walks the walk.