WASHINGTON EXAMINER, ASHER NOTHEIS

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) discussed the recent holdup that Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is exercising on the United States military, specifically over claims that foreign countries are “cheering” Tuberville on.

Spanberger, a former CIA case officer, said she could imagine that multiple nations are taking note of how a single person is able to “absolutely put to a screeching halt the progression of military careers.” The Virginia congresswoman’s statement comes after Tuberville has halted the promotion of hundreds of members in the United States military, with even the White House criticizing Republicans for being silent on the senator’s blockade.

“The reality is that he has the ability to stop it tomorrow,” said Spanberger during a Sunday appearance on MSNBC. “He could just stop. These could move forward as unanimous consent as has been the tradition in the history, and we could go back to having a United States Senate that is focused on ensuring the national security.”

Tuberville’s holdup on the U.S. military is over a grievance he has with a Pentagon policy that was implemented this year, which gives female service members stationed in states or overseas locations where abortion is banned paid leave and travel expenses to obtain abortions in states where they are available. Democrats argue that the senator’s hold, blocking the routine promotions of around 260 general and flag officers, disrupts military readiness, and will adversely affect the talent in the armed forces.

Spanberger said what she would like Republican senators to do is to tell Tuberville to “knock it off.” The congresswoman also said that Tuberville is “politicizing the military in a way that is dangerous,” and is impacting the military’s readiness in a way that is “deeply irresponsible.”

Tuberville’s hold has drawn the attention of President Joe Biden, as the president has joked that Tuberville was “a better coach than he’s a senator.” Prior to his time in the U.S. Senate, Tuberville coached college football.

In response to Biden’s joke, Tuberville joked that Biden was “a better senator than a president.” The Alabama senator also said that his hold is “not just about abortion,” but is also about government overreach.

“Remember, it’s also about dictating from the White House. Being a dictator, we don’t need dictators,” he said. “You can’t dictate a law. It’s supposed to go through us.”