Team —
This shocks me as much as anyone, but Mitch McConnell and I are in agreement — at least on one very specific issue.
We both think Tommy Tuberville is wrong. Right now, the Alabama senator is single-handedly blocking over 200 military nominations, leading to unnecessary, reckless vacancies at our highest levels of national security service. And it’s all because he doesn’t like one of the Pentagon’s policies — providing travel funds for troops who might have been sexually assaulted to travel from their home base (often in southern states) to receive legal abortion health care elsewhere.
Imagine being a woman in the military, putting your life on the line, sacrificing, doing three combat tours (as I did), then finally coming home to start your marriage after having been apart from your spouse for years. You finally get stationed together at the Air War College in Alabama for a year of continuing education (an ideal time to start a family). But then, you find out the devastating news that your pregnancy is not viable and that your life is at risk. To make things worse, in a total slap in the face to your service in uniform, Alabama’s senator is working to prevent you from being allowed to travel to a state where you can get the health care that you need!
This is the reality for women in our military post-Roe v Wade. Senator Tuberville wants to make it worse for women in our military and he is hurting our national security to do just that.
Keep in mind that this is a man who made news last week when asked whether white nationalists should be allowed in the military. Tuberville said: “Well, they call them that. I call them Americans.” (Seriously, he said that.)
The fact that a single senator — one who is sympathetic to white nationalists — has the power to throw a wrench into our military’s basic functions scares my socks off. And apparently Mitch McConnell agrees, telling reporters he doesn’t support Tuberville’s gambit.
Look, I’m no expert on Senate procedure here. But while Sen. Tuberville was coaching college football, I was flying fighter jets in the Marines. I know how dangerous it is to let individuals with extreme ideas have their way over the military.
This is about the fight for democracy itself. Our military is designed to be led by someone who’s truly accountable to all the people. Our troops don’t serve that leader — they serve the Constitution. I’ve got a bad feeling that people like Tommy Tuberville simply don’t understand that idea, or outright oppose it.
To me, it’s clearer than ever that we can’t wait until next year to make our voices heard (and loudly) on the stakes of this election. But I can’t do it alone — will you chip in today to help make sure Team Democracy doesn’t get drowned out by Trump and Tuberville?
This one is personal — for several reasons. Speaking out, to me, is an extension of the oath I took.
Thank you for fighting alongside me,
Amy
