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George's ReadsRepublican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas raised eyebrows recently with a tweet criticizing the Military.
Cruz shared a video of a Russian military recruitment ad featuring muscular men doing pushups and jumping out of planes, comparing it to an animated U.S. Military ad that presented a daughter of two moms, touting the military as a way to find her "inner-strength."
The recent effort to recruit Gen Z has emphasized activism and personal stories designed to frame the Military as a means for self-actualization.
The Senator said the United States was promoting a "woke, emasculated Military" and turning soldiers into "pansies."
But in a recent interview with CNN, President Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense—Lloyd Austin—made it clear he doesn't share Cruz's concerns.
Insisting that the U.S. Military would never be "too soft," Austin said:
"I think our adversaries would like to capitalize on talking points like that, you know, the Chinese, the Russians."
He continued:
"I will not lose one minute of sleep about what the Chinese leadership is saying, or what Vladimir Putin is saying. What I will focus on, and what I am focused on, is the defense of this nation, and making sure that we have what's needed to be successful."
Concluding with:
"I think we're doing a great job in terms of recruiting the right kinds of people, providing access to people from every corner, every walk of life in this country. As long as you're fit and you can qualify, there's a place for you on this team."
People were pleased with his response.
I must say I have known women who served in the US military. I would not describe any of these women as "soft." The… https://t.co/Prp6XxAJHh— Manyak Saakyan #Free POWs (@Manyak Saakyan #Free POWs) 1622472542.0
@kylegriffin1 Austin said US military is "best military in the world today," not only because of the technology, bu… https://t.co/UEewxlZcDP— 🌊🌊🌊🇺🇸Jane Moore🇺🇸🌊🌊🌊 (@🌊🌊🌊🇺🇸Jane Moore🇺🇸🌊🌊🌊) 1622560021.0
From before the founding of our republic adversaries believed that our diversity made our military weak. In each in… https://t.co/DWXT5EapRO— George Suggs (@George Suggs) 1622554903.0
Perfect response to @SenTedCruz Dismissed. He can’t even defend his household. He can’t even stand in the shadows o… https://t.co/yBElfkqKZ6— Barbara Patterson (@Barbara Patterson) 1622553614.0
Now that's what I'm talking about. These Republicans are the pinnacle of treachery. https://t.co/y53BoOdWfs— 🕳⚪️ (@🕳⚪️) 1622552830.0
People took the opportunity to further dunk on Cruz, reminding their followers of his subservience to former President Donald Trump, even after Trump berated Cruz's wife during the 2016 Republican primaries and implied Cruz's father killed John F. Kennedy.
@kylegriffin1 I mean, look at Secretary Austin, then look at Cancun Cruz, and tell us who is the softie here : the… https://t.co/WCgbFTOiIQ— 🍷🐝🚄Auntie Ouakam🚄🐝🍷 (@🍷🐝🚄Auntie Ouakam🚄🐝🍷) 1622560936.0
Ted Cruz the coward can’t stand up to another coward to defend his own wife and his father reputation has the nerve… https://t.co/KSXcWNPmxq— THOINAH (@THOINAH) 1622555082.0
He's absolutely right. Cruz is aiding the enemy by spreading such rhetoric. And the thing is he knows that. He just… https://t.co/4K0gi8XOxe— Derek Brown (@Derek Brown) 1622570429.0
And THIS is why we call him #KremlinCruz ⤵️⤵️ https://t.co/a6zqQcUcKI— ✨Dianne The History Teacher✨ (@✨Dianne The History Teacher✨) 1622577318.0
Cruz hasn't addressed Austin's comments.