According to CNN, the Louisiana Republican felt Warren’s legislative measure unfairly targeted those soldiers who chose to end the Union and fought to preserve slavery. To defend his argument, Kennedy engaged in a classic attempt of whataboutism, trying to argue that many well-respected members of the military were also guilty of racial discrimination.

“I think history will show that in the 18th century, in the 19th century, and well into the 20th century, there were many non-Confederate generals, soldiers and others, in both the South and the North who practiced racial discrimination, anti-Semitism and misogyny,” Kennedy said to the press. “Sen. Warren’s amendment, in my opinion, picks on the South unfairly.”