Republicans must reject the Democrats’ NDAA culture war to earn praise.

House Republicans ⁢Successfully Implement ⁣Common-Sense Proposals

House Republicans successfully implemented a number of ‌common-sense proposals into ⁣this⁤ year’s National Defense⁣ Authorization Act that will slow the leftist destruction of​ our‍ institutions.

Before‌ passing‌ the defense spending bill, ‍Republicans added‌ amendments to ‌obstruct funding for⁢ abortion,⁣ so-called⁤ “gender-affirming ⁢care” ‍(which includes transgender surgeries,⁢ wrong-sex hormones, and other misplaced and​ exorbitant medical⁢ expenses), mandated‍ DEI training, and military-funded drag​ shows,‍ among ​other ​provisions.

The vote took place ⁣on July ⁤14 and ⁢concluded with ⁢219 for and 210 against.​ Members of the House Freedom Caucus proposed ​the ‍amendments. However, ⁤the‍ four Republicans who voted against the​ bill ‍— ⁣Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, ‍Eli⁢ Crane of Arizona,​ and Thomas Massie of ‌Kentucky⁢ — ​are also⁢ caucus⁤ members.⁢ Part of their opposition is related to the fact that​ the bill still includes another $300 ‌million‌ in⁤ security assistance for Ukraine. At present, total U.S. ‍financial‌ support to the⁢ Zelensky regime since‍ the outbreak of the war in‌ February 2022 amounts to more⁣ than $5.6 billion.

Republicans such‌ as Reps. Ronny Jackson of⁤ Texas, Matt Gaetz of Florida, and Scott Perry of ⁢Pennsylvania ⁢argued that‍ the issues around abortion and transgenderism make no sense in terms ⁢of finances ​or⁣ force ​readiness. The ⁣leftist ​response to what ‍seems⁣ like‌ common sense ⁣for‍ most of the country —⁤ and indeed, would ​have‌ been acknowledged‍ as such by Democrats ‌a mere ⁤10 years ago‌ —‌ reveals the⁢ unbridgeable ideological chasm​ that currently separates the two sides.

For the left, the Republican Party’s opposition to transgenderism,‌ on-demand‌ partial-birth abortion, ‌and a racially woke military have become ​more than the remnants ​of a backward ⁤worldview. They ⁤are now threats to national security.

Rep.‌ Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., declared, ​“Extreme‍ MAGA Republicans have ⁤turned ‌the NDAA ⁤into yet another vehicle to wage their culture wars.” Chrissy ⁢Houlahan, D-Penn., stated, “As someone ⁣who‍ has worn the uniform, and has a uterus — ⁤unlike many​ opining on this subject — I’m furious.”

These statements⁢ helpfully ‌clarify the actual contours of America’s‍ political landscape at present, and⁢ thus illuminate exactly what‌ is ‌at⁣ stake for those who ‌call themselves ⁣conservatives. As‌ it‌ currently stands, both​ sides view the other as‍ extreme and antithetically opposed to their own ‌position. For those on the right, that ‌we are even debating the notion that ‌the ‌military ⁢should⁣ fund abortion or ‍genital mutilation surgeries for‍ servicemembers⁢ — ⁣let alone actively ⁣attempt to ​inculcate them in the tenets of so-called ‍“diversity, ​equity,​ and ‍inclusion” — is the⁣ sign of a sick ​and​ diseased ⁣body politic.‍ Conversely, any attempt⁢ to ⁢obstruct​ this ideological⁢ march of history is for the left not simply ⁢reactionary but fundamentally ⁢anti-progressive and⁤ therefore anti-human.

In this ⁢sense, McClellan’s argument⁤ regarding Republicans simply ‌“waging their culture⁤ wars” is logically consistent given the first premises from which the left rationalizes ⁣its position. If history marches toward total world liberation, then not having the spread⁣ of “human rights” as⁣ defined by ⁢the ​right to dignity — here understood to ‍be autonomous control over‌ one’s own identity and the subsequent‌ mandate⁤ for all​ to acknowledge that ⁣identity — is indeed irrational and ⁣wrong.⁣ The right to define oneself must ‍be the central organizing principle of the ⁣American regime.

The point⁤ of faith in‍ diversity as our greatest ​strength allows those who have no conception of⁤ combat‍ to ⁢argue that ⁣less of it will ‌logically​ weaken our​ fighting force. Likewise, ​for⁣ such individuals, a ⁣military that‍ does ‍not undergo DEI struggle sessions will not have the ‍proper consciousness ‌to‌ effectively carry out its mission.

This is not a fringe position on the ​left.‌ Statements by National‌ Security ⁤spokesman⁤ John​ Kirby regarding⁤ his disgust with the‍ bill ‍and President Joe Biden’s inevitable ‍veto illustrate as much.

“It’s very difficult ‌to see ​the president supporting ‌legislation that would make it harder ⁢for‌ Americans to ‌serve ⁤in uniform and to​ not be able to do so ‍with dignity and not be‍ able to do so with⁣ the proper care that they‍ need — both medical ​and mental care,” ⁣Kirby said.

The ‍assumption ​that those ‌suffering ⁢from gender‍ dysphoria should even be ⁣allowed ⁤to‍ serve in the nation’s armed‍ forces — something President Donald ‍Trump‍ stood against — is, for‌ those on the ​right, false (or at‌ least ‍it ⁣should ⁤be).

“It’s very difficult to see ⁢that ⁣the president would ever, ever sign⁢ legislation that would ⁤put our ​troops at ⁤greater risk or ⁤put⁣ our readiness⁢ at⁣ risk,” ​Kirby continued. Putting our troops⁤ at greater risk here equates to not ⁢providing total and unequivocal affirmation⁣ of their self-actualized identity. Troop readiness ​ostensibly means‍ allowing servicewomen to ⁢get ‌abortions,‌ as child-rearing could⁤ potentially‍ get in‍ the way of would-be‌ mothers ‌serving the interests‌ of American ⁢foreign⁢ policy.

All this also helps explain​ the total commitment that those on the ‍left have ‍to⁢ support‌ the‍ government in Kiev ‌in the fight against Moscow.‍ Defeating ​backwards Russia is⁣ a triumph for leftism, and therefore a necessary step​ in guaranteeing the dignity​ Kirby⁣ speaks of to every person ⁢across the‍ world. Spreading “freedom” ⁣(leftist liberation) and “democracy” (rule⁤ by those ‌amenable ‌to⁤ enforcing such liberation) justifies‌ the American military ‍in the⁤ eyes of‍ the left.

Republicans‍ also​ targeted other symbols of the current regime through ⁤their amendments⁣ to the NDAA. No flying “unauthorized flags” ⁢(i.e., ‍pride flags) on government properties to celebrate leftist shibboleth Pride Month? ⁢The‌ left ⁢answers: The ‌rainbow/BLM flag ‍represents who we are as a nation and should ‍be flapping in the wind in front of every U.S.⁢ embassy, year-round.

Stop⁣ the Defense⁣ Department from⁢ sponsoring drag ⁢shows on military​ bases? ⁢We should be ⁤funding men provocatively dancing as​ women in every unenlightened hovel across the ⁤world,​ from​ Uruguay​ to Uganda (perhaps especially Uganda).

The bill will​ likely face serious revisions in⁣ the Democrat-controlled Senate, and Biden would certainly veto it as it currently⁣ stands. The final NDAA will probably ​trade​ some small, inconsequential matter (like banning government-funded ‍drag at military installations) while enshrining the big stuff. There‌ is ‍no way the Senate or Biden ​will go along ​with the amendments on abortion⁢ and ‍trans support.

Still, should the House Republicans ⁣be ⁤quietly‌ lauded for at least forcing through ‌a few symbolic wins? Not⁤ if they continue⁣ to accept ‍the legitimacy of the current U.S.⁢ regime without seriously ⁣pushing‌ back on its deluded premises.

Most will ‍likely fold on the ‌important features in​ the‌ current bill after ⁤the inevitable‍ revisions ‌come back. The four Freedom‌ Caucus⁣ holdouts and their principled stand‌ against leftist ⁢internationalism, which many of their fellow party ‌members have ‍imbibed, are ⁣effectively shifting⁤ the Republican ⁢Party ⁤rightward. ⁣No⁢ meaningful change will come about until ‍the rest ⁣of​ the ⁢party finds the guts to begin ⁣acting ‍in the‍ same manner.