Hung Cao, the Republican Senate nominee in Virginia, made disparaging remarks about drag queens and those who are tolerant of them during a televised debate against Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine. Cao implied that drag queens are not tough enough to serve in the military, stating that the military needs “alpha males and alpha females” to win wars. He referenced a Navy recruitment program that included a drag queen performer, which received Republican pushback and was later discontinued. Cao defended his comments by saying he was speaking the truth that everyone believes. Cao, a retired Navy captain who served in special operations, has the backing of former President Donald Trump and spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Sen. Tim Kaine responded to Cao’s comments by stating that the military needs to reach out to new constituencies and focus on the benefits of military service, dismissing the notion that diversity, equity, and inclusion is a distraction. The Virginia Senate seat is considered “solid” Democrat by the Cook Political Report, with Kaine seeking re-election against Cao. Cao’s campaign has posted a clip of the debate exchange on social media, encouraging supporters to donate to his campaign.
Overall, Cao’s comments have sparked controversy and criticism, with some questioning his views on diversity and inclusion in the military. The debate highlighted differing perspectives on military recruitment and the role of diversity in the armed forces.
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