Editorial: Sen. Budd's 'America First' threatens U.S. and allies security
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 -- If Sen. Ted Budd genuinely wanted to stand up for America, he'd make sure the nation kept its commitments and stood with our allies and those struggling to protect their borders and freedoms against totalitarian aggressors.
Posted — UpdatedOn Tuesday, three days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he’d “encourage” aggressors like Russia’s Vladimir Putin to attack NATO allies and “do whatever the hell they want,” North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd voted against legislation that would provide much-needed assistance to Ukraine as it desperately defends itself from the unwarranted Russian invasion.
North Carolina’s other Republican senator, Thom Tillis, voted for the $93.5 million aid package. "You can’t be a coward," Tillis said, adding, "I've drawn the conclusion that we will rue the day that we let this coalition disintegrate and let Vladimir Putin occupy the breadbasket of Europe."
Tillis side-stepped directly calling out those who, like Budd, opposed the package. “I am not criticizing anybody who voted against it. Maybe they have a different perception of the facts.”
The week before, Budd voted against similar legislation negotiated by Republicans including Tillis, that did include border security measures. Tillis initially said the border control provisions would be “extraordinary tools for President Trump,” adding, “We will rue the day if we miss this opportunity.” Tillis then abandoned the deal he’d help broker when Trump demanded the GOP scuttle it.
His views echo those of the America First movement prior to World War II that espoused going it along in in international affairs, fear of communists crossing the borders into the United States and disregarding German and Japanese aggression abroad.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor many of those former isolationists either came to recognize the importance of the United States taking an active and leading role in international defense and affairs. They recognized it as an effective way to protect both the nation’s national security as well as defend allied democracies abroad.
With a commanding role in NATO and other alliances, the United States has both been able to minimize the militarization of European nations while at the same time assuring them of protection against totalitarian threats – like the one Vladimir Putin’s Russia now presents in Ukraine. If the United States doesn’t stand up, peoples’ lives are at risk.
If Budd genuinely wanted to stand up for America, he’d make sure the nation kept its commitments and stood with our allies and those struggling to protect their borders and freedoms against totalitarian aggressors. Unfortunately, he’d rather play politics over border issues and abandon our security pledges to our allies.
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.