Matt Gaetz interviews the military yesterday (Photo: C-Span / YouTube)
Matt Gaetz was among the GOP lawmakers who tried to take the military to task yesterday because they thought it had become too “awake.” The military leaders they interviewed had none of that.
DC lawmakers were questioning Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.
Why do they think the military is “waking up”? Partly because an Army recruiting ad recently featured a younger son of a same-sex family. Others questioned adding a book on critical breed theory to a recommended reading list for military cadets.
Gaetz (R-FL) also said that several unnamed soldiers told him that an army-wide “retreat” – to combat extremism in the ranks – had “altered the cohesion of the group”.
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Gaetz also claimed that Lloyd Austin’s senior adviser on human capital, diversity, equity and inclusion, Bishop Garrison, was a “critical race theorist.”
“Could you enlighten us on the advice Mr. Garrison gave you and are you concerned that although you have testified publicly before our committee that the department does not embrace Critical Race Theory, you have hired someone? one who is precisely a critical theorist of race? Gaetz asked.
This was very badly received by Austin, who replied, “This is the first time I have heard Mr. Garrison described as a critical breed theorist, so this is new.”
Florida Representative Michael Waltz then asked about cadets at the elite West Point Military Academy learning critical race theory in the classroom. He thought that such a teaching would be “divisive”.
General Milley spoke eloquently on this point and the broader issues raised, much to Gaetz’s obvious disgust. C-SPAN caught Gaetz snickering and shaking his head at Milley’s thoughtful response.
Strong reaction from Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley on Critical Race Theory issue before House Armed Services.
“I find it personally offensive that we accuse the US military, our general officers, our non-commissioned officers of being quoted as ‘awake'” pic.twitter.com/otWBw3YdPK
– Dave Brown (@ dave_brown24) June 23, 2021
Critical race theory has been discussed over the past 40 years in academic circles, but has only recently entered the general debate. He explores the idea that racism and patterns of discrimination in the United States have shaped its society, legal systems, and institutions.
General Milley said it is important to teach the cadets critical thinking skills. He said just adding a book to a reading list doesn’t mean that every point of view in that book is backed by the military.
“I read Mao Zedong. I read Karl Marx. I read Lenin, says Milley. “That doesn’t make me a communist.
“So what is wrong with understanding – having some understanding of the situation in the country that we are here to defend for?” Milley continued.
“And I find it personally offensive that we accuse the United States military, our general officers, our officers and non-commissioned officers of being, I quote, ‘awake’ or whatever, because we are studying certain theories that are out there.”
“I think it’s important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and to be widely read… and it’s important that we practice and understand.”
Milley went on to say that he wanted to understand “white rage” and its impact on the events of January 6.
“I want to understand white rage, and I’m white.
“What prompted thousands of people to attack this building and try to overthrow the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused this? I want to find out. I want to keep an open mind here, and I want to analyze it. … It is important that the leaders of today and tomorrow understand this.
Related: It’s A Really Bad Day If Your Name Is Matt Gaetz And You Live In Florida
Milley’s seemingly impromptu and passionate speech drew plenty of comments on social media, as did Gaetz’s response.
It will never be obscene to see Matt Gaetz sitting on a congressional committee questioning people who are all better humans than him.
– BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 23, 2021
Check out Matt Gaetz’s face in this clip. He knew that General Milley was destroying the whole story that his party was betting all its chips on.
– Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) June 23, 2021
matt gaetz’s face is amazing, but i’m also a little stunned that the most passionate and scholarly defense of crt that i have seen from anyone in government comes from the chairman of joint chiefs https: // t .co / g885z2qBWO
– David Mack (@davidmackau) June 23, 2021
WOW. Having the opportunity to answer questions from GOP HASC members, Reps Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz (both from Florida), General CJCS Milley delivers what I can only call a passionate defense of open-mindedness. intellectual and the importance of understanding other points. of view.
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– Andrew Clevenger (@andclev) June 23, 2021
Someone tell me why Matt Gaetz gets the opportunity to grill FBI Director, Secretary of Defense and General Milley while he himself is under FBI investigation and waits to be indicted for sex trafficking
– Lindy Li (@lindyli) June 23, 2021
Watch Matt Gaetz get destroyed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Thanks for sharing widely. pic.twitter.com/LW5124rTyp
– ReallyAmerican.com 🇺🇸 (@ ReallyAmerican1) June 23, 2021
Never bring a Matt Gaetz into a fight with General Milley.
pic.twitter.com/o57YlFjW6k
– Chris Hahn (@ChristopherHahn) June 23, 2021
General Milley takes Matt Gaetz to school with a passionate, full-throated and fearless defense of teaching critical race theory. I haven’t always been a fan of General Milley, but I take my hat off to him today. https://t.co/HJ25814iix
– Duty to warn 🔉 (@ duty2warn) June 23, 2021
You can watch the more comprehensive exchange below.
