10 Democrats Vote Against General McMaster’s Confirmation As National Security Advisor
Grandstanding from the usual suspects
Wednesday, the Senate voted to confirm General H.R. McMaster as a National Security Advisor to President Trump.
National Security Advisor’s do not typically require Senate approval, but Senate confirmation is required when three and four-star generals change jobs or assignments. McMaster will remain in active duty.
Trump selected McMaster after Mike Flynn resigned last month.
USA Today reports:
The Senate backed key players of President Trump’s national security team on Wednesday, confirming his pick for intelligence director and clearing the way for an active-duty Army general to serve as his national security adviser.
Senators voted 85-12 to approve the nomination of former Indiana senator. Dan Coats as director of national intelligence, making him the fifth person to hold the post created after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Minutes later they voted 86-10 to re-appoint H.R. McMaster as a three-star general “to a position of importance and responsibility.” National security advisers aren’t subject to Senate confirmation. But McMaster elected to remain in uniform rather than retire from military service, and generals need the chamber’s approval when they’re promoted or change assignments.
Ten Democrats voted against McMaster’s confirmation. Sen. Schumer, Sen. Sanders, Sen. Warren, and Sen. Booker were among the dissenting votes:
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was among the ten Democrats who voted no, a list that included more than half of SASC Democrats: Sens. Kristen Gillibrand, of New York; Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, and Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts. Sens. Corey Booker, of New Jersey; Kamila Harris, of California; Ed Markey, Massachusetts; Jeff Merkeley, Oregon, and Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, were the others.
In a floor speech before the vote, Schumer said the NSC had faced unprecedented turmoil, with the resignation of National Security Advisor Mike Flynn and inclusion of political strategist Steve Bannon—and expressed hope McMaster would be a “grounding presence.”
“I have a great deal of respect for both his integrity and his abilities. But I remain deeply concerned that Gen. McMaster’s judgment may not be followed and instead the fevered dreams of Mr. Bannon will influence the most sensitive national security discussions and decisions,” Schumer said.
Follow Kemberlee on Twitter @kemberleekaye
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
I do believe that McMaster said that GorbalClimate Thingy is a national security issue.
Which is a BAD thing in my estimation…
The faithful or its skeptics?
The former without question. The mystics are well-placed in positions, foreign and domestic, to influence, corrupt, sabotage, and exploit whole populations.
i hope he said that 5hit so he could stay on, rather than have Obola force him out…
I used to believe in climate change. Then I found out they were fraudulently changing the data. If climate change is established science, why do they have to lie? Maybe it was the Russians who got into the climate change computers.
I do not follow Shemer’s logic. First he claims that McMaster is qualified, but he’s worried about the other people on the NSC. Then he votes against McMaster.
One could reasonably think that his entire ethical system revolves around saying “No” to the President.
Of course, up to this point, I had trouble discerning that he had any ethical system at all.
down voted you by accident, and it won’t let me chage it.
the demonrats don’t do logic or have an ethics system as normal people understand such things.
Cluck Schemer: “Ethics? What’s the price on that?”
Here ya go … fixed it for ya!
Cluck Schemer: “Ethics? What’s that?”
I guess Schumer thinks McMasters will be influenced by those bad guys. He is trying to keep McMasters pure as the driven snow.
OK, so for one thing, Lt. General McMasters does NOT need to be confirmed by the Senate for the position he was picked for, national security advisor. What they were doing, was having a vote to allow him to keep his 3-Star military rank.
I mean, you even used a quote that confirms this from USA Today in this “article”; “Minutes later they voted 86-10 to re-appoint H.R. McMaster as a three-star general “to a position of importance and responsibility.” National security advisers aren’t subject to Senate confirmation.”
I mean, I’ve been out of journalism for some time, but I’m pretty sure actually getting your information right is Journalism 101.