Our Sailors Aren't Snowflakes, Senator Warner
Extended deployments are nothing new. What's new is a senator using sailors and Marines as campaign props.
Sen. Mark Warner is the latest Democrat to disparage the U.S. military, this time by portraying the sailors and Marines aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as unable to cope with life at sea. Warner claimed the crew has "been pushed to the brink after more than 260 days at sea."
If serving one’s nation for 260 days at sea pushes sailors to the brink, then they should choose a different profession. But that’s not actually what’s happening here. Warner is just using servicemembers as fodder for his reelection campaign.
As the spouse of a Naval officer who completed six deployments aboard Navy ships, I find it disgraceful that Warner would paint such a picture of these men and women serving to protect our nation. These sailors and Marines understand that Naval service isn’t a luxury cruise sitting by the poolside. It’s about answering the call to serve the nation.
What Democrats Aren’t Telling You
Extended deployments are nothing new for the Navy or for the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- In 2002, the Lincoln was deployed for 290 days. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) praised the mission and contribution to the war effort.
- In 2019, the Lincoln was deployed for 295 days.
- In 2022, the USS George H.W. Bush was deployed for 256 days.
Warner didn’t condemn any of these long deployments. In fact his colleagues praised them. So, what’s different this time? It’s an election year for Warner. Despite promising not to serve for more than two terms, he’s now running for his fourth this year.
Setting the Record Straight
Instead of belittling the nations’ servicemembers, politicians should be praising them. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, a Navy veteran who understands deployments first-hand, set that example with this statement:
Sailors and Marines are expected to dig deep—and they always do. A leader’s responsibility is to take care of their people the best they can while balancing mission requirements. During this deployment we have seen both: the job is getting done and our leaders are taking care of their people.
Unfortunately, the media are trying to paint our warriors as victims. Not only is that dishonest but it takes away the focus on the enemy and the threat it poses against our nation, people, and way of life.
Well said, Sec. Cao! Our sailors and Marines don’t see themselves as victims and neither should the American public.
The Bottom Line
The Trump administration under the leadership of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth continues to strengthen our military. Navy recruitment is at an all-time high, and efforts are underway to solidify merit-based policies into law.
This is why Restoration of America Foundation launched www.RestoretheMilitary.com—to expose the woke leftists bent on corrupting America's Armed Forces with their un-American social justice activism.
No longer. Under President Trump and War Sec. Pete Hegseth, the military is quickly becoming a lethal weapon again for defending our nation abroad. Check out how we're laying the blueprint for a restored military at www.RestoretheMilitary.com.
