During Tuesday’s hearings on Capitol Hill for Pete Hegseths’ confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense, Democrats went to any and all lengths to try to dehumanize and vilify him, with Sens. Tim Kaine (VA), the bumbling Mazie Hirono (HI), Tammy Duckworth (IL), “Chief” Elizabeth Warren (MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and more offering up shrill, toxic commentary disguised as questions.
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Poor Pete:
RedState’s Streiff thought Hegseth handled it all like a winner.
Pete Hegseth Brings His ‘A’ Game and Gets the Job Done
Someone else was impressed with Hegseth’s performance too, and her name is Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and on Tuesday she threw her support behind the former Army National Guard officer (who served in Afghanistan and Iraq), veterans’ advocate and Fox News pundit. It’s an important endorsement because Hegseth can afford few if any GOP defections to win the job.
Kabuki theater:
Pete Hegseth Ends Elizabeth Warren With Just Five Words in Contentious Confirmation Hearing Exchange
‘Unbecoming’: Mazie Hirono Turns Hegseth Defense Secretary Hearings Into a ‘Clown Show’
As RedState’s Susie Moore reported in December, Ernst had expressed reservations about Hegseths’ nomination at first but warmed up to the idea after holding meetings with him. Her official support, however, makes his path confirmation that much more likely.
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She explained her position following the hearing:
“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
“Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.”
Considering that the nakedly partisan Democrats will try to nuke any Trump nomination, this bodes well for Hegseth’s chances.
Ernst’s support is a welcome development for Hegseth because, in order to be confirmed, its expected he will need nearly every Republican to support him, with room to lose only two of their votes. This is assuming that no Democratic senators choose to back him, in which case, he would have more flexibility with Republicans.
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One possible Dem defection: Sen. John Fetterman (PA), who has expressed a willingness to keep an open mind and at least entertain the possibility. If you had told me two years ago that Fetterman would be a rare voice of reason among Senate Democrats, I would have told you to check in to Bellevue, but at least some of what he says has been downright rational. We’ll see where he ends up on the issue.
The circus begins again Wednesday morning, as multiple confirmation hearings will get underway. Fill up your popcorn popper tonight and have it ready to fire up, because if today’s spectacle was any indication, we’re in for a lot more lowbrow theater tomorrow.