Prairie State Wire

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is studying a play from Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth's book in the name of slowing the spread of Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Cotton recently hinted he may be ready to call all general and flag officer promotions up for review to allow ample time for nominees' opinions of CRT to be gauged. Duckworth made a custom of placing such holds on nominations last summer, though she lacked the authority to change the nomination process.

While Cotton sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a member of the minority party, he lacks the authority to enact changes to the nomination process as well, though holds, like those Duckworth performed, are possible.

"Maybe it's time that we start ensuring that our flag officers subscribe to those very basic principles that are outlined in our Declaration [of Independence] or [Dr. Martin Luther] King's '[I Have a] Dream' speech," Cotton said while speaking during a recent online forum hosted by The Heritage Foundation.

Cotton said his office has received complaints about the CRT from military troops who see the teachings as "indoctrination training sessions." He added, "It's gotten worse over the last six months," since President Joe Biden's inauguration.

Cotton and fellow republican lawmaker Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas have now set up a website that allows service members to anonymously report examples of so-called "woke ideology" in the military.

All across the country, the debate over Critical Race Theory teachings is raging, with critics of the system arguing that it discriminates against whites and promotes segregation. The academic theory that argues racism has been embedded in systems and policies across the country was developed roughly five decades ago.