Florida man disrupts military budget hearing to denounce "wokeism"

GEAR CHECK: Our readers don't just follow the news - they stay ready. Featured gear from this story is below.

Jamie Goldstein

Florida Representative, Matt Gaetz offered a heated set of choice words to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin yesterday at a House Armed Services hearing. At the center of Gaetz's argument was the accusation that "wokeism" has prevailed as a higher military priority than national defense.

Gaetz opened his argument by referring to a National Defense University lecture on socialism, then transitioned wildly to a point about the United States military falling behind China on hypersonic weapons.

Secretary Austin, attempting to keep up with the ranting Florida man asked, “What do you mean? We’re behind in hypersonics? How do you make that assessment?”

<iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 525px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=PopSmokeMedia&dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1511712148971560963&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsmokemedia.com%2Fflorida-man-disrupts-military-budget-hearing-to-denounce-wokeism%2F&sessionId=e60c85dd22d69d59524df1e3b3415470d8c65437&siteScreenName=PopSmokeMedia&theme=light&widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1511712148971560963"></iframe>


Gaetz sharply turned back to what he asserted was the Pentagon’s strategic shortcomings: “While everyone else in the world seems to be developing capabilities and being more strategic, we’ve got time to embrace critical race theory at West Point, to embrace socialism at the National Defense University, to do mandatory pronoun training,” Gaetz said.

The Florida man also took shots at the Pentagon’s methods leading up to Russia’s invassion of Ukraine. “You guys said that Russia would overrun Ukraine in 36 days. You said that the Taliban would be kept at bay for months. You totally blew those calls.” Gaetz added, “maybe we would be better at them if the National Defense University actually worked a little more on strategy and a little less on wokeism.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin provide testimony at the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal 2023 defense budget. (DoD Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force TSgt. Jack Sanders)

Austin challenged Gaetz, “Has it occurred to you that Russia has not overrun Ukraine because of what we’ve done and our allies have done? Have you ever even thought about that?”

Pedo-Gaetz

Matt Gaetz, is currently under investigation by the Justice Department following accusations that he may have had sex with a minor and trafficked the 17 year old girl across state lines.

There are a number of federal statutes which make it a crime to compensate a minor financially or tangibly for crossing state lines in order to have sexual relations. These kinds of hearings are unfortunately common for the Justice Department, but they typically see great success in seeking heavy sentences for those convicted.

At this point, Matt Gaetz has not been charged.

You may also like

Blog

Nearly three years after Alaska National Guard combat medic Saria Barney Hildabrand was found dead, a jury has convicted her husband, former U.S. Army soldier Zarrius Hildabrand, of murder. Prosecutors said he killed his wife, staged the scene to look like a suicide, and lied to investigators in an attempt to cover up the crime.
A mysterious vigilante nicknamed the "Batman of Lagos de Moreno" has gone viral after allegedly capturing suspected motorcycle thieves, duct-taping them to lampposts, and publicly labeling them as criminals. While many online have praised the masked figure, Mexican authorities have launched an investigation into what they say are acts of vigilantism.
A former U.S. Army soldier has been convicted of orchestrating a scheme to steal more than $1.1 million worth of military Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) from Fort Bliss. Prosecutors say he used insider knowledge gained during his military service to pull off one of the largest thefts of military rations in recent years.
The U.S. Army is developing autonomous robotic vehicles capable of recovering damaged military equipment directly from the battlefield. The goal is simple: keep soldiers out of harm's way while machines handle one of combat's most dangerous jobs.
A 10-year-old Missouri boy has become the youngest person known to face a murder charge in the state's history after allegedly shooting a 7-month-old baby in the head. The infant's teenage father has also been charged after investigators say he left the firearm where the child could easily access it.

Like This Story? Check Out What Our Community Is Buying

Our best sellers are designed for real-world use - not hype.

View Best Sellers