Confederate-names showdown looming; some in GOP at odds with president

Fort Bragg in North Carolina, one of 10 bases named after Confederate officers, is home to some of the Army’s most elite forces.
Fort Bragg in North Carolina, one of 10 bases named after Confederate officers, is home to some of the Army’s most elite forces.

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers are challenging President Donald Trump over calls to remove Confederate statues at the U.S. Capitol and rename military bases.

Trump has rejected the idea of stripping the names of Confederate generals from installations for other military figures and called on Republicans to stand united Thursday. But several in the GOP said they were receptive to the idea after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody sparked nationwide protests about systemic racism.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Thursday that he is open to the prospect of renaming U.S. military bases.

"I'm not opposed to it," McCarthy told reporters at his weekly news conference, adding that he would wait to see what steps were taken in the defense bill.

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Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said he sees value in reevaluating and debating which American historical figures are honored at military installations.

The showdown with the president is being waged through the annual military policy bill, a popular, bipartisan measure making its way through Congress. It comes against the backdrop of efforts in both major political parties to craft police legislation, in which Republicans like McCarthy have expressed a willingness to consider some Democratic proposals, including a ban on chokeholds, a cause of Floyd's death.

The White House has indicated that Trump would veto the entire National Defense Authorization Act if it includes language that would rename the bases -- a move that would lead to a host of other consequences, including no 3% pay raise for troops, no funding for new aircraft or ships, and no money for research related to the coronavirus.

Yet on Wednesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved by voice vote an amendment to the measure offered by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., that would require the Pentagon to remove the names of Confederate generals from military assets within three years.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he voted against the amendment in committee.

"I voted no on it, and I spoke against it in the committee and voiced my reservations," Hawley told reporters Thursday.

"I just don't think that Congress mandating that these be renamed and attempting to erase that part of our history is a way that you deal with that history." he said. "I don't think turning your back on it's how you deal with it, confront it, and then move on."

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also opposed Warren's motion in the Senate Armed Services Committee. A Cotton spokesman said the senator’s “no” vote followed Warren’s refusal to exempt from her provision Confederate memorials that are located in cemeteries.

$740B BILL ADVANCES

Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., wanted assurances local communities would have input, aides said. There was also a push to ensure some flexibility, for example, for commanders who served both sides. Exceptions are also made for gravemarkers, all but ensuring no disruptions at Arlington National Cemetery, the aides said.

Assets are defined as bases, installations, streets, buildings, facilities, aircraft, ships, planes, weapons, equipment or any other property owned or controlled by the Defense Department.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said he supported Warren's amendment.

"The message is that if we're going to have bases throughout the United States, I think it should be with the names of individuals who fought for our country," Rounds said. "And so I think this is a step in the right direction. This is the right time for it. And I think it sends the right message."

Asked about Trump's opposition, Rounds replied, "Well, look, we'll work that through."

The committee passed the overall $740 billion bill Thursday morning by a 25-2 vote, sending it to the Senate for consideration. News of the amendment's approval was first reported by Roll Call.

On Thursday afternoon, Trump singled out Warren in a tweet in which he called for Republicans to oppose her amendment -- even though it had already been approved.

"Seriously failed presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth 'Pocahontas' Warren, just introduced an Amendment on the renaming of many of our legendary Military Bases from which we trained to WIN two World Wars," Trump tweeted, alluding to Warren's past claim of American Indian heritage. "Hopefully our great Republican Senators won't fall for this!"

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., signaled that he is open to the idea as well. "I do not think we ought to try to rewrite history," he told reporters. "I think it's always appropriate to review the people and places that we honor to see if they fit the context of the times in which we live."

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said he hasn't taken a position on the issue but added, "I think we should actually study it."

"I don't think we should ignore that," he said. "I think we should actually look long-term and what that really means. I've been pretty outspoken on things like schools. I don't think schools should be named after Confederate leaders and generals. You've got a role model issue there."

TRUMP ADAMANT

The bill also includes a provision by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would prohibit the use of military funds or personnel against protesters. The move comes after Trump recently threatened to dispatch active-duty forces against protesters demonstrating against police brutality in the wake of Floyd's death.

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation before the end of June.

On Wednesday, Trump rejected the idea of removing the names honoring Confederate military figures who fought on behalf of preserving the institution of slavery, saying in a tweet that he would "not even consider" changing the names of bases.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, has said he would consider such proposals, and prominent former military figures, including retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, have suggested that such a step is overdue.

"The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars," Trump tweeted. "Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations. Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!"

On Thursday morning, he struck a similar tone, tweeting in all capital letters: "Those that deny their history are doomed to repeat it!"

In the House, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., an Air Force veteran, has joined forces with Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., an Army veteran, to introduce a stand-alone House measure Thursday that would create a process to rename military installations honoring Confederate leaders within a year. According to the lawmakers, there are 10 such bases and facilities.

"As the most diverse and integrated part of American society, it is only right that our installations bear the names of military heroes who represent the best ideals of our Republic," Bacon said in a statement announcing the move.

CONFEDERATE STATUES

Separately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is calling for the removal of 11 Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, a process that would involve action by a joint congressional committee and resolutions approved by the states that sent the statues to be displayed.

The presence of statues of generals and other figures of the Confederacy in Capitol locations such as Statuary Hall -- the original House chamber -- has been denounced by black lawmakers for many years. Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., was known to give tours pointing out the numerous statues.

On Thursday, Pelosi voiced support for both removing the statues and renaming U.S. military bases, noting that the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests in response to Floyd's death have brought renewed attention to the issue of Confederate symbols. Trump, she said, "seems to be the only person left who doesn't get it."

"This is the perfect time for us to move those statues, because other times people may think, 'Oh, who cares, I never go there anyway. I think they all look alike to me. They're all these white men there.' That's what I think," Pelosi said. "On the other hand ... the timing might be just right."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the issue of removing the statues should be left to the states.

"Every state is allowed two statues. They can trade them out any time," McConnell told reporters. "A number of states are trading them out now, but I think that's the appropriate way to deal with the statue issue. The states make that decision."

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who leads the joint committee along with Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said Thursday that he would support moving the Confederate statues to lower-profile spots in the Capitol, but he noted that their complete removal would be up to the states.

This story has been updated to add Sen. Tom Cotton’s vote against Sen. Elizabeth Warren's amendment, and the reason behind his vote. An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Sen. Josh Hawley was the only Republican to vote against the amendment.

Information for this article was contributed by Felicia Sonmez, Paul Kane, Mike DeBonis, Seung Min Kim, Anne Gearan and John Wagner of The Washington Post; and by Andrew Taylor, Lisa Mascaro and Laurie Kellman of The Associated Press.

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