Opinion

Follow this authorMarc A. Thiessen's opinions

What this means is that some of these senators were so opposed to helping Ukraine that they were willing to block aid to Israel and Taiwan and sanctions on America’s adversaries while allowing Russia to keep billions in frozen assets and permitting the Chinese Communist Party to continue spying on more than 100 million American TikTok users.

Among those 15 senators were five who had previously voted to approve military assistance to Ukraine but flipped to oppose it this time. Florida Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio both voted against money for their constituents to produce High Mobility Artillery Rocket launchers (HIMARS) in Palm Bay, Fla., and Vampire anti-drone munitions in Melbourne, Fla. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) opposed aid money that is building a brand new plant to produce 155mm artillery shells in Mesquite, Tex. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) voted against money to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles and Stryker upgrade systems in Oshkosh, Wis. And Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) opposed the bill because of its included aid to Israel — allowing his hatred of what he called the “extremist Netanyahu government” to cause him to vote against arming Ukraine with AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles produced in St. Albans, Vt.

Arkansas Sen. John Boozman (R), who had previously opposed Ukraine aid, voted this time in favor of helping Ukraine defend itself with Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs(GLSDB) and Army Tactical Missile Systems made in Camden, Ark., and Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range Glide Bombs produced in Rogers, Ark. “By countering Russian, Chinese and Iranian aggression, we are emboldening the allies of freedom and making strategic investments in our own defense capabilities, including through vital arms manufacturing operations in Camden, Arkansas,” he declared in a statement. Good for him.

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Some Senate opponents defended their votes against their constituents with blatant falsehoods. For example, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tweeted: “Another $60 billion for Ukraine. Not a penny for Missouri.” This is flat wrong. Missouri has in fact received at least $600 million in Ukraine aid so far. The money Hawley opposes is going to build two weapons systems for Ukraine in St. Charles, Mo. — the Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range and GLSDBs — as well as MIM-104 Patriot missile systems in West Plains, Mo. How does Hawley not know this? And why is he voting against good defense manufacturing jobs in his state?

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) did not vote but tweeted his opposition to the aid package, declaring: “Globalist Democrats want to use this opportunity to send EVEN MORE MONEY to Ukraine. … I........

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