Navy Names New Ship After Famous Grape Picker

Because we all know how vital grape picking has been to national security:

While the idea of naming a U.S. Naval ship after labor leader Cesar Chavez has roiled some, California Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer is thrilled that the activist will be receiving the honor.

Boxer called Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Tuesday to thank him for the decision.

“I applaud Secretary Mabus for continuing the Navy’s rich tradition of naming these supply ships after pioneers, explorers and visionaries by honoring César Chávez, who worked tirelessly to promote fair working conditions and equal rights for all Americans,” Boxer said in a statement. “This is a fitting tribute to Chávez, who served in the Navy, and follows the Navy’s recent decisions to name other supply ships after American visionaries from Medgar Evers to Amelia Earhart to Lewis and Clark.”

Republican California Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, had a very different opinion. He said that it was indicative of the Navy’s politicization.

“This decision shows the direction the Navy is heading. Naming a ship after Cesar Chavez goes right along with other recent decisions by the Navy that appear to be more about making a political statement than upholding the Navy’s history and tradition,” he said.

I think the officer sombreros will be particularly fetching.

Let's not kid ourselves here.  When Navy officials were trying to come up with names for this ship Cesar Chavez didn't leap to mind because of his obvious contributions to national security.  This was a purely political pick designed to pander to Hispanic voters.  You can pretty much be assured that every decision this administration makes in the next 18 months will be directed toward some niche group of 2012 voters.

And in a particularly delicious moment of irony, the same day the Navy named the USNS Grape Picker, the California state legislature voted to strip farmworkers of the right of a secret ballot.

Progress!