Moderate Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer from North Dakota just delivered some promising news for embattled Secretary of Defense pick Pete Hegseth as he has signaled that he has confidence in President-elect Donald Trump’s pick and seemingly suggested he sees no reason to not vote in favor of his nomination to the position. Given how much the media has invested in proverbially shooting down Hegseth and assassinating his character in their reporting, this has to be very encouraging for the former Fox News contributor.
And to top it all off, Cramer is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The comments from Cramer, according to Trending Politics News, comes as Hegseth himself is continuing to try drumming up support among Republicans in the Senate, which is where he will have to go through a confirmation hearing. While Cramer said he’s definitely friendly toward Hegseth, he warned him that not every member of the committee is on the same page.
In an interview Thursday, Cramer relayed his belief in Hegseth’s commitment to the role and readiness to lead. Cramer, often viewed as a moderate within the GOP, has a Heritage Action session score of 48% and a lifetime score of 56%, placing him below the average Senate Republican score of 62%.
“I give him the benefit of the doubt,” Cramer went on to state. “I am ready to be supportive of getting him to that point. I’m ready to get him in front of the committee. I did warn him. I said, ‘you know, not everybody on the committee is as friendly as I am,’ which I don’t think surprised him. But I also said, there’s nobody on the committee that doesn’t earn our respect.”
Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, has been a polarizing figure since being nominated. Allegations of professional and personal misconduct have raised questions about his suitability for the position. Still, Cramer appears willing to give Hegseth the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that the accusations remain unverified and originate from anonymous sources.
Ever notice these allegations often come from so-called “anonymous sources?” And we’re just supposed to believe these claims are real and that the people making them actually exist. Do we really look that stupid? I feel like the media asking me to buy into this garbage is an insult to my intelligence. Anyone can make up something outrageous and try to verify it as true with “anonymous sources.” Given how much trust the MSM has lost over the last four years, they will have to do a heck of a lot better than that.
One of the biggest concerns voiced about supporting Hegseth is his ability to make himself available at all hours of the day, something that involves abstinence from alochol.
“My commitment I was looking for was that he won’t drink, he won’t touch alcohol, and that he’d be ready for a phone call at 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and every hour in between,” Cramer revealed in the interview. “I thought that was a good way to put it.”
While other lawmakers, including Republican Senator Schmitz (R-MO), have stated that Hegseth is currently abstaining from alcohol, Cramer clarified that his focus was on the nominee’s future conduct rather than his present habits. “I didn’t ask him if he’s had a drink today or if he’s currently drinking,” Cramer explained. “My concern is that he won’t.”
“I believe him,” Cramer said without hesitation. “At this point, I see no reason not to support him. Frankly, we’ll see what else happens, but yeah, I want to be supportive. I wanted to be supportive of him from the very beginning.”
“Hegseth’s nomination remains a flashpoint for debate. For now, moderate Republicans like Cramer appear inclined to offer him the opportunity to make his case before the Armed Services Committee. Whether Hegseth can secure enough support to navigate the confirmation process remains to be seen,” the report closed out.
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