So @normal_militant accused Secretary Mattis of being a globalist Democrat. I got frustrated with them and blocked based off of their response. I'm tired. Sue me. Anyways. While reflecting I figured I would take a minute to clarify my position with Mattis's own words.
Q: Can I start you off with the story that, as you know, over the past 12 hours or so, you've been mentioned in the "60 Minutes" interview that the president did, when he spoke about you, said that you may leave to use his words.
And he thinks you're sort of a Democrat. I'm wondering what you make of his comments.
SEC. MATTIS: Nothing at all.
I'm on his team. We have never talked about me leaving. And as you can see right here, we're on our way. We just continue doing our job.
SEC. MATTIS: Nothing at all.
I'm on his team. We have never talked about me leaving. And as you can see right here, we're on our way. We just continue doing our job.
Q: Have you spoken to him since -- since the interview?
SEC. MATTIS: Pardon?
Q: Have you spoken to him about his comments?
SEC. MATTIS: No. I have not.
SEC. MATTIS: Pardon?
Q: Have you spoken to him about his comments?
SEC. MATTIS: No. I have not.
Frankly, I didn't watch the interview, I didn't see it. So I -- I read what's in your papers about it, but going through them; I haven't gotten through them all yet.
No, we're at -- we're just -- we continue in the Department of Defense to do our job. It's no problem.
No, we're at -- we're just -- we continue in the Department of Defense to do our job. It's no problem.
. . .
Q: Are you a Democrat?
SEC. MATTIS: You know, we're all built on our formative experiences.
When I was 18, I joined the Marine Corps, and in the U.S. military we are proudly apolitical.
SEC. MATTIS: You know, we're all built on our formative experiences.
When I was 18, I joined the Marine Corps, and in the U.S. military we are proudly apolitical.
By that, I mean that in our duties, we were brought up to obey the elected commander in chief, whoever that is. And we've seen, over those -- since I was in the military longer than some of you have been alive, I have seen Republicans and Democrats come and go.
Where am I today? I'm a member of the president's administration. And you have seen that President Trump's military policies, security policies, reaping significant bipartisan support.
So my role, when you see 83 percent -- think about this -- for -- and I realize you all write about tension between this person and that, this administration and that party, and this sort of thing.
But when you think 83 percent of the U.S. Congress voting the same way on an issue put forward by the Republican president, you can see that my portfolio is bipartisan by its very basis, and that is the protection of the United States.
That's what President Trump has told me to do, and I eagerly carry that out, alongside probably the most selfless young men and women -- not all young; some old men and women, too -- civilian and military, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines working together.
So that's where I stand. That defines me.
Q: I don't want to put too fine a point on it, but you haven't registered Republican or Democrat. Is that what I'm hearing you say?
SEC. MATTIS: I've never registered for any political party.
Q: I don't want to put too fine a point on it, but you haven't registered Republican or Democrat. Is that what I'm hearing you say?
SEC. MATTIS: I've never registered for any political party.
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All that being said, an administration can have people in their cabinet that don't believe exactly what they do. Measure a man by their actions. Mattis is beyond reproach in my book.
All that being said, an administration can have people in their cabinet that don't believe exactly what they do. Measure a man by their actions. Mattis is beyond reproach in my book.
If Mattis is as @normal_militant says and is a globalist Democrat, he does a damn good job of putting that aside and serving the Country by leading this world's greatest fighting machine against all of our enemies to the best of his ability.
I hope @normal_militant gets to see this to understand my point of view better.
I am sorry for blocking you without better stating my position and understanding yours first. I should have gone to bed over an hour ago and had I, we wouldn't have had this issue.
I am sorry for blocking you without better stating my position and understanding yours first. I should have gone to bed over an hour ago and had I, we wouldn't have had this issue.
I'm tapping out. Goodnight everybody.
