Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backed Sen. Tommy Tuberville\u2019s months-long blockade on military nominations on Thursday, saying that the Pentagon\u2019s abortion policy would \u201cgo out the window\u201d if he wins the presidency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are using tax dollars. They’re funding abortion tourism, which is not an appropriate thing for the military to be doing,\u201d DeSantis told radio host Hugh Hewitt, answering \u201cNo, I don’t\u201d when asked if he thinks Tuberville should relent. \u201cDay one as commander-in-chief, that policy will go out the window.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuberville has blocked consideration of more than 200 stalled military promotions, demanding that the Pentagon overturn its policy of providing paid leave to service members seeking an abortion. Military leaders<\/a> and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle<\/a> have blasted Tuberville, saying that the hold harms national security and military readiness.<\/p>\n As lawmakers fight over how to move forward<\/a>, the GOP presidential candidate wants his party to dig in.<\/p>\n \u201cOur group of Republicans in the Congress should just take a stand on this. The DOD should stand down,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have all these other problems in our military. We need more ammunition, we need more recruiting, we need all these other things and yet they’re focusing on abortion tourism.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday, DeSantis voiced his intentions to \u201crip the woke\u201d out of the military if he becomes president, with promises to cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and banning race and gender quotas as well as drag shows on bases. The Biden administration criticized his campaign for the remarks shortly after.<\/p>\n “If Ron DeSantis actually cared about the military, he would call on Sen. Tuberville to stop the unprecedented damage he’s doing to the armed forces and military families every day by blockading of hundreds of military nominations and promotions,” Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz told ABC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n DeSantis has solidified himself as a staunch anti-abortion advocate, signing a six-week ban in Florida, but has not committed to supporting<\/a> a nationwide extension of that ban if he were president. <\/p>\n \u201cI think that in states where you have had the ability to make improvements, and to add pro-life protections, I applaud states that have done that,\u201d DeSantis told Fox News in a pre-recorded interview aired Thursday. \u201cBut we have a big diverse country. I acknowledge that \u2026 I think you’re going to see some differences.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew Zhang contributed to this report. <\/p>\n