The Tea Party stood up for no tax increases. And it cost them some support. It is what they believed though and they fough for it.

There are those on the left that have supported cutting defense spending.

As soon as it became a political hot topic, they ran away from it.

The only defense cuts Obama ever supported were the sequester cuts because he could avoid criticism for them.

If the dems want to cut defense act like the Tea Party and make it a no compromise issue with them. And face the political flack.