Trump’s proposal to hold a pro-military parade has excited much heavy breathing and political posturing from Democrats.
To wit:
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.): “I think confidence is silent and insecurity is loud. America is the most powerful country in all of human history; you don’t need to show it off.”
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Calif.): “A military parade of this kind would also be a departure from the values of our constitutional democracy.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.):”Because authoritarian regimes like Russia and North Korea hold massive military parades does not mean that we must as well.”
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.): “President’s Trump’s desire to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a military parade in the style of authoritarian leaders he admires would feed his ego and perhaps his base, rather than serve any legitimate purpose or keep with any long-held American traditions.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.): [Comparing it to a Soviet May Day parade] This is “not an image that we much associate with the United States of America.”
The MSM, of course, echoed the Democrats’ concerns:
“Trump’s Military Parade Draws Bipartisan Rebuke,” reported Politico.
The typically hysterical Washington Post, where democracy dies in darkness, reported as news, not commentary: “Military Parades Are About Ego and Power. Of Course Trump Wants One.”
WPXI News lamented: “Trump Flirts With Flashy Military Parade Long Eschewed By US.”
But the United States is no stranger to big, flashy military parades. As The Daily Wire pointed out, “public displays of military might, including tanks, missiles, and hundreds of thousands of troops occurred in 1919, 1942, 1946, 1953, 1957, 1961, and 1991.”
In fact, only a few years ago, none other than Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and New York’s Marxist Mayor Bill de Blasio enthusiastically supported the idea of a “ticker tape” military parade to honor those who fought in the war on terror.
“After all, these men risked their lives to protect us,” Schumer said (forgetting to mention women — whoops!). “They experienced terrible trial and tragedy along the way.”
According to this CBS New York report, Schumer called for “a grand event at the Canyon of Heroes that would include military brass, color guards, military bands, and fly-overs.”
“The brave men and women who have selflessly served our nation with courage and skill in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve a recognition for their sacrifice. I stand with Sen. Schumer in his call for a parade to honor our veteran heroes, and New York City would be proud to host this important event,” Mayor de Blasio proclaimed at the time. But that was way back in 2014, when it was still okay to be associated with “flashy” military parades.
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