As reports surfaced Tuesday that former deputy defense secretary Ashton Carter is expected to be President Obama’s pick to be the next defense secretary, Sen. Ted Cruz blasted the administration for the turnover in the position.
“It seems what the administration is looking for is a defense secretary who will follow the orders of the political White House rather than focus on defending the national security interests” of the country, the Texas Republican said at a foreign policy event hosted by Concerned Veterans for America and The Weekly Standard.
Mr. Cruz did say he is committed to looking at his record and giving him a fair consideration.
“I will say this: it was disquieting to see person after person pull their name out of consideration for the secretary of defense,” Mr. Cruz said. “It says something that so many people are saying no thank you, I don’t want to serve as secretary of defense in an administration that overrides the defense department, that treats the secretary as subservient to political lackeys in the White House.”
A few names that had been floated, Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, took themselves out of the running to replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned under pressure last week.
“It is my hope that Mr. Carter will not give into that, and I’m certainly committed to looking at his record and fairly considering his views, but it is an unfortunate statement that we are facing the fourth secretary of defense in six years,” Mr. Cruz said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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