Rangel’s call to reinstate draft meets resistance

A prominent Democrat’s call for reinstating a military draft got a cold reception Monday as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were quick to denounce any notion of a return to military conscription.

Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), who will become chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, pledged on CBS’ “Face the Nation” to introduce legislation that would reinstate conscription. Rangel’s previous attempts at bringing back the draft have drawn opposition, and the reaction this week is much the same.

Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said Monday that she did not support a draft and that the Democratic leadership would not support its return.

Pelosi said Rangel’s proposal wasn’t really about reinstituting the draft, but was “a way to make a point” about social inequality in America.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), outgoing chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Monday that current recruitment efforts were sufficient and a draft was unnecessary.

“Right now the military is meeting all of its goals on reenlistment and accessions into the military,” Hunter said. “We’re doing very, very well.”