Republicans As National Security Grownups

by Josh Orton, Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 02:22:57 PM EDT

There's clear benefit in appointing Republicans to top military positions in a Democratic administration: it adds bipartisan cover to all sorts of progressive policy, from Iraq withdrawal to repealing DADT (assuming that happens before I'm 50).

But a little gnome in the back of my head always complains when Obama appoints a Republican to a national security position like secretary of the Army - on some level, does it confirm the longstanding conventional wisdom that only Republicans are serious enough to handle our nation's defense?

Tags: Barack Obama, John McHugh (all tags)

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5 Comments

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Re: Republicans As National Security Grownups

Yes.

by MNPundit 2009-06-02 02:23PM | 0 recs
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Re: Republicans As National Security Grownups

No.

by lojasmo 2009-06-02 02:53PM | 0 recs
Eatapeach
i hear ya...

but the voice in my head keeps saying, rahm, rahm.  what are you up to?

forgive me if i'm a little suspicious...

by bored now 2009-06-02 03:50PM | 0 recs
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Re: Republicans As National Security Grownups

I hear ya, but I mean, what ELSE is he supposed to appoint a token Republican to? Disaster relief? The EPA?

The military may be the only thing right now that the public sees Republicans as even marginally competent at... If Obama wants to look bipartisan by nominating Republicans, he's pretty much down to military positions and the occasional ambassadorship.

by tjekanefir 2009-06-02 05:21PM | 0 recs
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Re: Republicans As National Security Grownups

It's a pretty harmless position to appoint a republican to, so that's good, I think. I know bipartisanship isn't necessarily liked on this site, but it's too important a narrative to ignore, I think.

But I'm much, much more interested in what that means for NY-23 (McHugh's district). It only has a PVI of -1 for us, and given our recent win in NY-20, this is a great pickup chance for us now.

Gee, you don't suppose that politics played some role in this, do you?

by fsm 2009-06-02 05:39PM | 0 recs

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