Editorial: Sen. Budd's 'America First' threatens U.S. and allies security

CBC Editorial: Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024; #8908

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

On 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.

“The only viable path forward is for Congress to force President Biden to get serious about border security, and then for the American people to see the situation at the border start to get better. Until that happens, we find ourselves locked in stalemate as the world burns,” Budd said on the Senate floor. “We cannot accept this. Yeah, we want to help our allies and partners, but to keep our nation strong, we must always put America first.”

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.

Budd opposed that initial deal, clearly looking to complain about border security, not address it and allow Trump to continue to jawbone. “My core principle has always been that we must secure our own border before we help other countries protect theirs. That is why I will vote no,” Budd said.

Budd’s sentiments are out of step with the nation and North Carolinians. National polls show broad support for NATO. By an 18-point spread, more North Carolinians have a favorable view of NATO. Contrast that with their unfavorable view of Congress at 54% with a negative spread of 26 points.

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.

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