This was a sad day for Army Patriots serving our nation, and for national defense overall.

The radical Rainbow Mafia, with the help of its Senate Republican enablers, Lindsay Graham, Jeff Flake and the now-senile John McCain, blocked Donald Trump’s extraordinary nomination of Dr. Mark Green as the next secretary of the Army. The reason: His views on homosexuals and Islamists did not pass the PC litmus test. I wrote about Mark Green’s nomination and exceptional qualifications last week (Time to Restore Courage, Character and Integrity to this Office), noting that this nomination would, indeed, be a litmus test for Republicans — a distinct choice between military readiness or political correctness.

Green fell on his sword so as not to become a distraction to Trump’s health care revisions now finally in the Senate, and other critical legislative House initiatives like tax reform. Indeed, the legislative lineup of initiatives were greatly undermined as a result of a colossal miscalculation by fellow conservatives with the “Freedom Caucus,” who unintentionally derailed the House Republicans’ healthcare revisions, and by way of the domino effect, the rest of the legislative lineup. Their strategy was played like a checkers game in a four-dimensional political chess match.

Dr. Green issued this statement: “It is with deep regret today I am withdrawing my nomination to be the Secretary of the Army. I am honored that President Trump nominated me for this position. I appreciate his support and confidence in me, as well as that of Secretary Mattis and many others, and their desire to Make America Great Again by preparing our military to face the many challenges in the world for the safety and security of our nation. But to meet these challenges, there should be no distractions. And unfortunately due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction. Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain. While these attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the President the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world. Camie and I look forward to finding other opportunities to use our gifts to serve others and help Make America Great Again.”

That being said, I believe that Donald Trump missed an opportunity here to draw the line on “gay” obstructionists.

Of course, the Rainbow Mafia will now endeavor to derail his campaign for governor in Tennessee (if he reactivates that campaign) by mounting a defense threatening boycotts, as it did in neighboring North Carolina, to overturn that state’s legislation to keep men out of little girls’ restrooms. They may not have as much success in Tennessee, but will certainly try!

Thank you, Mark, for your willingness to be subjected to this disgraceful rejection.