Bob McNamara, Upham

To be honest I don’t believe our senators, nor most of the others, really care about the defense department. They care far more about the money the DoD brings into ND via two significant air bases and other units than they do the military itself. I’d also say senators love to tell you how they have such a solemn duty to advise and consent; mostly when the opposite party is nominating. When it is their party they more often tend to just nod their head for nominations.

There is now a great opportunity for our senators to show themselves. Pete Hegseth has been nominated to lead the department. This is a man who has been known as a womanizer and heavy drinker. The stories aren’t hard to find. His mother was quite upfront about it, although after he was nominated for this plum position she came out and said she apologized to him after disparaging him. Now he says he is a changed man which leads me to believe he knows the accounts are true. Personally, I doubt he changed but that is another matter. What I don’t doubt is that even if we accept his words and overlook his previous shortcomings in his personal life it behooves us to look at his professional qualifications.

Professionally, it is true he has experience in the military. He was a mid-level, not senior but mid-level, officer. No experience commanding large units, no experience with significant military budgets, no experience in procuring or planning future force concepts. There is nothing wrong with being a mid-level office. In fact, there is honor in serving; yet serving does not provide the experience needed to lead one of the largest and most diverse organizations in this country.

He has experience in leading a veteran’s organization. By most accounts he was completely unqualified and thoroughly unsuccessful in this role and was removed from the position (fired). Certainly, his time there cannot be looked at favorably for his consideration in his nominated role.

Finally, to my knowledge the only other experience he has is as a weekend morning talk show host. A job where he has been successful yet a job where you and others discuss and share your opinions about news reports. Not leading people, not developing budgets, not paving a path forward for the nation’s forces. Just discussing your opinions. I wouldn’t peg that as a job which indicates he is qualified to lead the DoD. The bottom line is whether in his personal life or professional life there is nothing but talk in this man’s qualifications.

We have qualified people in this country. I’m not a believer in former generals leading the DoD but surely we can find someone with congressional armed service committee experience, or a leader in the defense industry, or national intelligence experience. I urge Senators Hoeven and Cramer to do what they know in their heart is the right thing and send this man back to TV and not have him lead this nation’s defense forces. I ask you to send them that message or have them explain what qualifications they see that lead them to believe he should be in the position. Don’t tell me he is a nice guy. Tell me how he is qualified.