Unqualified:The right complexion for projection to Secretary of Defense

Get the Point!

Let the record reflect that in the history of these United States of America, the term "qualified" has typically been defined by a white male power hierarchy which assumes that other races and women are inherently inferior to themselves—no matter the clear and convincing evidence to the contrary!

The latest example of this is one Peter Hegseth (below), a former entry-level field grade military officer who as of last night, is now the Secretary of the Department of Defense in Donald Trump's second administration.

In an era in which right wing MAGA conservatives have turned the acronym DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) into a slur which assumes that any racial or ethnic minority who has risen to a position of power in the military, industry, or academia must have gotten their solely due to their race, there's a sense of irony that Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was a Black four star general in the United States Army prior to being confirmed 96-2 by the United States Senate!

Former General and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

Hegseth, on the contrary, left the military as a major before becoming a Fox News talking head—and was deadlocked at 50-50 in last night's Senate vote—with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the deciding vote.

Major (and new Secretary of Defense) Pete Hegseth

What's even more disturbing is not just that new Secretary Hegseth is lacking in experience for the job, but that he is woefully lacking the character and temperament, too.

To be blunt, the evidence shows that in recent years, Hegseth has been a drunken, lecherous, belligerent buffoon who has mismanaged money in his official job capacities and made a fool of himself in strip clubs and office settings across the country! Per usual for the personal responsibility avoiding mediocre white male club members, Hegseth dismissed these allegations as "anonymous smears!"

But the problem with Hegseth's summary denial is that not only did he admit to paying $50,000 to one of his alleged female victims, but his own MOTHER wrote a damaging email about her concerns about his abuse of women—and his own SISTER IN LAW signed an affidavit outlining her personal knowledge of physical abuse of his second wife that was so horrific that the former Mrs. Hegseth had to hide in closets—and have code words to let other family members know when she didn't feel safe around her husband!

Now, there was a time in recent history when such evidence would have quickly excluded a cabinet position candidate; in 1989, John Tower was nominated to be George H.W. Bush's Defense Secretary, but he was defeated 53-47 when evidence of his drunken revelry hailed forth.

Former Texas Senator John Tower following his failed 1989 Senate Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Defense…

But these are different times, and when President Trump himself has been held liable in civil court for sexual assault, accused of multiple other sexual assaults, and even was taped bragging about grabbing women by their private parts against their will, well, what do we expect—birds of a feather do flock together!

But now the deed is done and Trump, Felonious 47 as I prefer to call him, has another boorish Frat Boy in his exclusive club of mediocre white males who got to their positions not due to their intelligence, immense qualifications, or the content of their character, but due to the color of their skin and the fact that they were born white and with male genitalia in an era in which backlash against people of color, women, and the #MeToo movement is more pronounced than ever!

Lest we forget…