Republicans sent a letter Wednesday urging top GOP senators to move forward with the confirmation of Mark Green for secretary of the Army, in effect countering Democrats efforts to see Green ousted.
The letter, led by Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, is addressed to GOP Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and John McCain of Arizona who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. It states firmly that Green’s confirmation will “only enhance America’s warfighting capability and build on the mutual trust that exists between Soldiers and their leaders.”
Acknowledging the controversial nature of some of Green’s statements about the LGBT community and Muslims, the 11 Republicans wrote that “Any attempt to politicize personal statements or views that have been expressed by Mark at any point throughout his career must not be allowed to supersede his qualifications or be conflated to create needless uncertainty with his nomination.”
Whether the letter persuades McCain is up in the air. The Senator told USA Today Tuesday that Green’s comments concerning the LGBT community and Muslims are “very concerning” and believes Green needs to explain himself.
However, no date has been set for Green’s confirmation hearing. Three sources recently told CNN that Green could be withdrawing from the process later this week making him the second unsuccessful nominee for secretary of the Army after Vincent Viola withdrew in February.
A political adviser to Green said the allegations of his withdrawal are “completely, absolutely untrue.”
House Democrats have pushed to derail Green’s nomination because of his alleged “homophobic” and “transphobic” stances. Some LGBT groups have come out in full opposition to Green, which is why at least some House Republicans are now moving to support of Green.
“Mark Green is a nominee who should have tremendous support—hands down,” Joe Kasper, communications director for Hunter, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The fact that certain interest groups are trying to compel him to withdraw his nomination is all the more reason that he should get an even closer look on the things that really matter for any service secretary, not just the Army. His record over a long, distinguished career underscores just how much of an asset he’d be and how much he truly cares about our servicemen and women.”
Green said in an April Facebook post that the media is wildly misinterpreting his remarks and pledged he would not discriminate against anyone, as discrimination is immoral.
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