Earlier this week, Republicans threatened to throw one of their patented—and very dangerous—tantrums: Allow us to ram through a special amendment to allow retired General James Mattis to serve as Donald Trump’s secretary of defense—or else we’ll shut down the government. But guess what happened? Democrats told Republicans to get bent, and the GOP meekly complied.
That’s not how it’s getting reported in D.C., though. Inexplicably, Politico’s headline claimed that Democrats “waved the white flag” on Mattis. That has it literally, exactly, and 100 percent wrong. Is it because the Beltway press can’t fathom the possibility that Democrats actually showed some spine? Or is it because they simply don't grasp what went down?
Whatever the explanation, and whatever the traditional media prints, it’s still a win. Here’s what really took place: Led by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrats said they’d filibuster a special amendment that would let Mattis take the defense secretary job even though he only retired from active duty three years ago. For very good reason, federal law requires that members of the armed forces wait seven years before taking senior defense posts, to ensure firm civilian control over the military—a bedrock foundation of democracy.
Trump and the GOP don’t care about such principles, of course, so they’re raring to pass a special piece of legislation to lift this seven-year restriction for Mattis. But with Democrats set on filibustering the amendment, Republicans then suggested they’d attach it to a must-pass spending bill that would keep the government running past Friday. In other words, give us our way on Mattis, or we’ll shut the federal government down.
The threat proved to be hollow, though. Democrats all but invited Republicans to bring it on, remembering just how poorly things went for the GOP the last time they closed down the government. And guess what? When Republicans released the text of their spending bill, the special amendment for Mattis was nowhere to be found—a victory for the Democrats.
Trump will still push Mattis next year, and he may yet get confirmed. But in order to do so, he’ll need 60 votes, rather than the usual 50 for cabinet appointees. That’ll be a much tougher lift, because Republicans will need at least eight Democrats to cross the aisle—and that’s if there are no GOP defections. But come what may, Democrats have stood up for the principle of civilian control of the military, and they scored an important win.
Call your senators and urge them to support Sen. Gillibrand’s filibuster of the special Mattis amendment.