Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) on Thursday called out Republicans obsessed with attacking diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by turning the attention to their hopefuls for positions in the federal government.
“It’s Republicans who will have to decide if they’re going to choose country over party, choose the people that they were sent to represent over partisan politics. They failed that test miserably when it came to Pete Hegseth, even as they’re attacking diversity, equity and inclusion,” Warnock said of President Donald Trump’s defense secretary in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
“I want to know what qualifies Robert Kennedy to be the chief public health officer of the United States of America? What qualifies the likes of Pete Hegseth to be the leader at the Pentagon? This is a disturbing moment in our country,” he added.
Many on the right have blamed DEI efforts for a number of issues in the past year such as the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse, the devastating Los Angeles wildfires and — powered by bonkers claims by Trump on Wednesday — the midair plane collision in Washington, D.C., that left 67 dead.
Conservatives’ focus on DEI — a dog whistle used to question the qualifications of those seeking, or holding, government positions — comes as Trump’s controversial Cabinet picks face questioning from senators over their backgrounds and credentials.
The Trump administration has looked to dismantle DEI initiatives and programs within the federal government since the president’s inauguration.
Warnock — who grilled Kennedy for likening the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “Nazi death camps” in a hearing on Wednesday — told Hayes that he was left “even more concerned” over the responses by the former presidential candidate.
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“Mr. Kennedy obviously thinks that the CDC is dangerous. I think that he’s demonstrated that he is a hazard to our health, and I hope there’ll be just enough of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop him,” Warnock said.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Raphael Warnock’s party affiliation. He is a Democrat.