Tommy Tuberville on Birthright Citizenship

I don’t expect much from Senator Tommy Tuberville. I disagree with his political views, even more his disrespect and language denigrating so many.

So I was surprised when I started reading a 4th of July email from Coach, titled “what does it mean to be an American?” I actually agreed with his answer:

Being American was not about ancestry, appearance, or religion. It meant adherence to a set of principles: the rule of law, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and equality under the Constitution. Those principles did more than define the country—they built it. Assimilation has been a cornerstone of our nation since day one.

Disarmed, I wasn’t prepared for the rest:

The Supreme Court had the opportunity this week to reaffirm the Constitution and align with our 250-year history. Instead, six gutless Justices folded to the woke mob and ruled in favor of birthright citizenship. I wish I could say I was surprised. Ever since the Communist Left’s meltdown over Roe v. Wade, some of our Justices have been scared of their own shadows. Thankfully, we have patriots like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito trying to hold the line, but it’s an uphill battle against the Democrat Communists and the Uniparty.

If the Supreme Court won’t do their job and stand up for Americans, Congress has to. Now’s our chance to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that will preserve our country for generations to come. If we don’t, our 250th birthday may very well be our last.

Flagrant BS that needed a response, if only to lower my blood pressure.

Senator Tuberville,

Thank you for your email celebrating Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I resonated with your description of what it means to be an American:

Being American was not about ancestry, appearance, or religion. It meant adherence to a set of principles: the rule of law, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and equality under the Constitution. Those principles did more than define the country—they built it. Assimilation has been a cornerstone of our nation since day one.

Then, you made a contradictory U-turn criticizing the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding birthright citizenship, claiming they didn’t affirm the Constitution. Unless you choose to redefine the meaning of words, five of the Justices did indeed affirm the 14th Amendment:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

That seems quite clear.

Your reference to the ”woke mob” must refer to Congress in 1866, when the 14th Amendment was written. The term “woke” was not a word in 1866, and I doubt that Congress was a mob.

If you wish to repeal birthright citizenship, the process is clear: amend the Constitution. Passing the SAVE America Act will not do so. It will only disenfranchise the legal votes of many American citizens, arguably far more than any illegal votes that may be cast.

I’m relieved Tuberville is not running for reelection to the Senate. Unfortunately, he wants to be Alabama’s governor. That’s another quagmire: whether a person who lives in Florida when not in Washington, yet claims to be a resident of Alabama, is eligible to run.

Coach Tuberville’s Latest Football

Senator Tommy “Coach” Tuberville, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has stopped the Senate’s confirmation of general and flag officer nominations and appointments, claiming the Department of Defense (DoD) policy funding travel and paid time off for service members having an abortion is illegal. So far, the Senator’s hold has caught more than 180 nominations, according to al.com.

In an op-ed article in The Washington Times, Tuberville argues

“Congress writes the laws, and Congress directs all federal spending,” saying, “Nobody in Congress voted for this.”

Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense, says the DoD policy is legal. At a Senate hearing he said,

“About one in five of our troops are women. I want them focused on the mission and not worried about whether or not they’re going to have access to reproductive health care.”

The DoD policy was implemented in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Roe said a women had the right to an abortion under the Constitution (with certain restrictions). The Dobbs ruling reversed that decision, saying no such right is explicitly defined in the Constitution. Where do you see the word abortion? The outcome of Dobbs is that legal access to abortion is determined independently by each state. Many states essentially prohibit all abortions.

The conundrum is we have troops based in all states, as well as around the globe. To prevent a two-tiered military, this DoD policy provides consistent access to reproductive health care. Unfortunately, some women will have to travel outside the states where they are based, so the policy grants them time off and reimburses travel expenses — which the Coach objects to because he is against abortion.

Another letter:

Senator Tuberville,

I write to express my disagreement with your policy of blocking military confirmations because of your opposition to the Pentagon’s medical policies, which include leave and travel for service members who have an abortion.

While I understand and respect your personal beliefs on abortion, enforcing your beliefs on all women serving in the U.S. military is an abuse of your power as a Senator and a violation of the separation of church and state, which is enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Your religious beliefs on abortion are not shared by all Americans, even Christians. A Pew Research Center survey conducted one year ago found 61% of Americans feel abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 37% holding your view.

Memorial Day is a fitting time for you to lift your hold and let the military proceed without further unwarranted delay.