9 House Democrats block teaching of ‘race-based theories’ in military-run schools

9 House Democrats block teaching of 'race-based theories' in military-run schools

Challenging Votes: Democrats’ Struggle Over “Race-Based Theories” in Military Schools

In a surprising development, nine House Democrats broke ranks with their party and voted in favor of a Republican-led amendment to the annual defense authorization bill. The amendment seeks to prohibit the teaching of “race-based theories” in schools run by the military. In a political landscape consistently divided along party lines, this deviation from the norm caught the attention of both supporters and opponents.

The amendment, proposed by Republican Representative Chip Roy of Texas, is part of a broader push against what he deems as “social engineering” within the military. While the amendment passed and was added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), its fate remains uncertain as the Democratic-controlled Senate crafts its own version of the bill.

The text of the amendment specifically targets “race-based theories” that should be forbidden from the curriculum in schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). These theories include the notion of inherent racial superiority or inferiority, the proclamation that the United States is fundamentally racist, and the belief that individuals are responsible for the actions of others within their race.

The amendment reflects the broader concerns on the right in recent years regarding the discussion of race in American education. It is one of the many amendments to the defense bill that have engaged in the ongoing culture war. Representative Roy lamented the perceived effort to teach that the country is racist, echoing concerns shared by some conservatives.

However, most Democrats have pushed back against these claims, asserting that race plays an essential role in education. They argue that Republican concerns are exaggerated or manufactured. Nonetheless, on this particular vote, nine House Democrats aligned with the Republican-backed amendment—Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Don Davis of North Carolina, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Wiley Nickel of North Carolina, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Kim Schrier of Washington.

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Insider reached out to all nine offices for comment, receiving responses from Auchincloss and Nickel. Several of these Democrats represent competitive districts and have built their political reputation on occasionally siding with Republicans. For example, Perez and Golden recently voted against President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan. It seems that these representatives are responding to the concerns of their constituents rather than adhering strictly to party lines.

Explaining the motivations behind the votes, Representative Roy suggested that the Democrats who supported the amendment were feeling pressure from their own constituents. Representative Nickel acknowledged that some parts of the amendment concerned him but believed that Republicans were moving in the right direction.

However, Nickel criticized the other Republican-sponsored amendments on issues such as abortion and health care for transgender service members as “poison pills.” These contentious additions led him, along with all but four Democrats, to vote against the House version of the defense bill. Despite this, Nickel remains optimistic that a bipartisan bill will emerge once it returns from the Senate.

Representatives Auchincloss and Moulton, who hail from solidly Democratic districts in Massachusetts, also supported the amendment. Moulton, who ran for president in 2020, has previously addressed the issue of racism in America, urging white people to confront their own biases.

When questioned about the vote, Auchincloss initially declined to comment but later issued a statement characterizing it as a “tough vote.” He expressed dual sentiments, acknowledging the need to preserve the military’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, while also recognizing the importance of preventing the teaching of race-based superiority or the determination of an individual’s worth solely based on their race.

In this complex and multifaceted debate, Democrats find themselves torn between competing ideals. On one side, they strive to support ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts within the military, while on the other, they are focused on countering the pernicious effects of potentially divisive ideologies. The polarized political climate further complicates their decision-making process.

As discussions surrounding race persist in educational institutions, these challenging votes highlight the need for nuanced and meaningful conversations. It is crucial to strike a delicate balance between the preservation of anti-racist principles and the avoidance of pedagogies that may exacerbate divisions within society.

Correction: August 2, 2023 — An earlier version of this story did not list Representative Don Davis of North Carolina as one of the nine Democrats who voted for the amendment. This story has been updated to include his name.

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• Henry Cuellar
• Jake Auchincloss