By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-05 17:41:18 | Updated at 2024-12-22 11:31:41
2 weeks ago
‘Your Career Is Done’: GOP Senator Battered By Critics After Suggesting She Won’t Support Hegseth
Trending Politics ^ | 12/5/2024 | Mark Steffen
Posted on 12/05/2024 9:20:09 AM PST by Signalman
All eyes in Washington, D.C. have turned to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), the most emboldened holdout among Republican senators still hesitant to embrace Pete Hegseth after a series of stories about his alleged past behavior. Now, conservative allies of President-elect Donald Trump are ratcheting up the pressure on Ernst to fall in line or face the end of her political career.
The Iowa senator, who is up for reelection in 2026, held her cards closely while telling Fox News about her recent meeting with Trump’s defense secretary nominee. “I did have a long, very lengthy discussion with Pete yesterday, and I do appreciate his service to the nation. I am also a combat veteran, and we talked about a number of those issues, and we will continue with the vetting process,” she told host Bill Hemmer. “We had a frank and very productive discussion, and I know that we will continue to have conversations in the upcoming months.”
Hegseth’s fate rests in the hands of next year’s Republican Senate majority, where he can only afford to lose three of its 53 votes and still see Vice President-elect J.D. Vance break a tie. Ernst, who voted to certify the 2020 election, is among a handful of centrists who have expressed reservations about Hegseth since news reports alleging he drank on the job while managing two charitable veterans organizations and later as an on-air personality at Fox News. On Wednesday Hegseth, 44, went on the offensive, appearing on Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM show to deny the reports while his mother took to “Fox & Friends” to walk back a 2018 letter she sent her son criticizing his treatment of women, including his ex-wife.
The issue is personal for Ernst, who served in combat during the Iraq War. Hegseth has been on record stating he believes female soldiers should not hold combat roles, a topic that almost certainly came up during their meeting. Conservatives have geared up for a fight in support of Hegseth after seeing Matt Gaetz withdraw his name for U.S. attorney general and are now targeting the Iowa senator with a pressure campaign. “Let me be clear to EVERY REPUBLICAN SENATOR. If you vote NO on Pete Hegseth, YOUR CAREER IS DONE,” screamed a post on X from Graham Allen, host of the “Dear America” podcast.
TPN’s Collin Rugg replied to Ernst’s furtive update on her meeting with Hegseth. “Are you just sharing your diary or something? What a lame statement. Grow a backbone and support his confirmation,” he wrote in response. Another warned her about the fate of Liz Cheney, who was overwhelming defeated in her Republican primary after implicating Trump in the January 6th, 2021 riots at the Capitol. “We’re going to primary you and you’ll get this result. Stop the nonsense. Confirm or get a primary,” they wrote.
TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: ernst; trendingpolitics
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1 posted on 12/05/2024 9:20:09 AM PST by Signalman
To: Signalman
Exactly. Get in line Joni, or get gone. This all has to stop. Now.
2 posted on 12/05/2024 9:21:44 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
To: Signalman
SHE wants the job! She’s jealous!
3 posted on 12/05/2024 9:22:24 AM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
To: Signalman
Ernst is a slutbunny abusing young men in her purview. She should be a Democrat. Anyone ask Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds about her Chosen One?
4 posted on 12/05/2024 9:25:54 AM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
To: Signalman
Joni, I will show up in full battle rattle and pretend I am unconscisous and you have to drag all 275 pounds of me and my gear 100 feet to safety. You can wear your workout gear.
5 posted on 12/05/2024 9:29:21 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Which freaks that Biden put forth did she vote for? Those should be shoved in her face over and over.
6 posted on 12/05/2024 9:32:34 AM PST by sheana
To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
What was Joni’s “combat”? firefights ?
7 posted on 12/05/2024 9:37:27 AM PST by A strike (death to taggers)
To: Signalman
Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way
-Ted Turner
8 posted on 12/05/2024 9:38:32 AM PST by vivenne
To: mad_as_he$$
what exactly was Joni’s “combat”? firefights?
9 posted on 12/05/2024 9:40:29 AM PST by A strike (death to taggers)
To: mad_as_he$$
what exactly was Joni’s “combat”? firefights?
10 posted on 12/05/2024 9:40:52 AM PST by A strike (death to taggers)
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