A California Democrat mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to his face for mixing up dialogue from the 1994 film "Pulp Fiction" with a biblical passage.
The self-styled "secretary of war" repeated an air rescue group's prayer based on Ezekiel 25:17 and borrowed from a monologue delivered in the film by actor Samuel L. Jackson during a recent Pentagon service, and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) brought up the episode as Hegseth testified before the House Armed Services Committee.
"Mr. Hegseth, I recently realizedwe have something in common," Carbajal said. "I am also a fan of 'Pulp Fiction,'and no, the movie is notan accurate portrayal of the Bible.You know what I'm talking about."
Carbajal next pressed the Pentagon chief on how much the war in Iran has cost and the impact of those hostilities on the U.S. economy, and he then questioned Hegseth about a recent decision he made.
"Last week it wasannounced that the Department of Defense is no longer requiringservice members together annualflu shot," Carbajal said. "This is an easy one for you, it's a softball – don't screw it up.The rationale was to 'restorefreedom to our joint force.' This has been a requirementsince 1915 because it is aneffective at preventing thespread of flu among our troops.It is not some new 'woke'requirement, as you like to leanon for much of your rhetoric.This decision is actively makingour military less safe.Mr. Hegseth, at this time thereare plans, are there plans toremove the mandatory requirementof other vaccinations likemeasles, mumps and polio?"
Hegseth reminded the congressman that his announcement made clear the military was restoring choice on vaccination to the troops themselves, but Carbajal wasn't impressed.
"Don't you thinkthat is a little reckless?" Carbajal asked, but Hegseth disagreed. "Mr. Hegseth, Istand by what I said last timeyou were here.You were incompetent then, youare incompetent now, and you arethe gift that keeps on givingwhen it comes to incompetence."
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