When the Flag Waving is Done
They’re good at chest beating and flag waving. They’re good at pointing fingers at people, calling them unpatriotic and yellow-belly-cut-and-runners.
You know who I’m talking about – the Grand Old Party, the ones among us who are patriotic to the bone. I’m wondering, then, why many Republican Congressmen and Senators have voted time and time again for not increasing military and veteran’s benefits. Why, if they are so patriotic, the nation’s top veteran’s organizations are giving them failing grades on supporting our troops and our veterans when it comes to their votes?
I read in my local paper ever Friday how my Congressmen and Senators voted on the issues the past week. It came to me as no surprise, then, when I heard about the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Fund, a non-partisan organization dedicated to supporting our troops and veterans in the current conflict, and their ratings of how each of our elected representatives have voted.
Now, I’m not a one-issue voter, but I don’t think one person in this country discounts the seriousness of the current conflicts we are involved with; nor do I think many people think it not important to give our troops and veterans what they need.
But there is something seriously wrong here, folks, with the message that’s getting to the public and what is actually happening in Washington.
I live near Missouri, a state considered very important in the election because it could be one of the states where it is decided what party will have control of the senate. In Missouri, where it shows Republican Jim Talent neck and neck with Democratic Challenger Claire McCaskill, Talent is rated by IAVA as having a D+ record when it comes to voting for benefits to support our troops and veterans. The Disabled Veterans of America also gives him a “D,” saying he only voted in support 60% of the time.
I looked up states in which I have family and the scenario was always the same. Here’s a list of what I came up with:
IAVA DAV
Dennis Moore –Cong. (D-KS) A- 100%
Moran, Tiahrt, Ryan (R-KS) D 66%
FL Republican Reps, all no more than 66%
FL Democrat Reps, all 100%
Pat Roberts, Sen. (R-KS) D 60%
Sam Brownback, Sen. (R-KS) D 40%
Kit Bond, Sen. (R-MO) D 40%
Jim Talent, Sen. (R-MO) D+ 60%
Fill Nelson, Sen. (D-FL) A- 100%
Mel Martinez, Sen. (R-FL) D 60%
John Thune, Sen. (R-SD) D+ 60%
Tim Johnson, Sen (D-SD) B+ 100%
It can’t be that Republicans are playing politics with our troops and veterans, can it? No, a party led by a former Texas National Guardsman who couldn’t be found for the end of his service and a man who had “more important things to do than serve in Vietnam” wouldn’t do that.
Hopefully, on Tuesday night, many of these elected official’s challengers will be able to stand up and say “Mission Accomplished,” but their work will have only just begun.
Read how your Congressmen and Senators are really supporting our troops at:
www.iavaaction.org
You know who I’m talking about – the Grand Old Party, the ones among us who are patriotic to the bone. I’m wondering, then, why many Republican Congressmen and Senators have voted time and time again for not increasing military and veteran’s benefits. Why, if they are so patriotic, the nation’s top veteran’s organizations are giving them failing grades on supporting our troops and our veterans when it comes to their votes?
I read in my local paper ever Friday how my Congressmen and Senators voted on the issues the past week. It came to me as no surprise, then, when I heard about the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Fund, a non-partisan organization dedicated to supporting our troops and veterans in the current conflict, and their ratings of how each of our elected representatives have voted.
Now, I’m not a one-issue voter, but I don’t think one person in this country discounts the seriousness of the current conflicts we are involved with; nor do I think many people think it not important to give our troops and veterans what they need.
But there is something seriously wrong here, folks, with the message that’s getting to the public and what is actually happening in Washington.
I live near Missouri, a state considered very important in the election because it could be one of the states where it is decided what party will have control of the senate. In Missouri, where it shows Republican Jim Talent neck and neck with Democratic Challenger Claire McCaskill, Talent is rated by IAVA as having a D+ record when it comes to voting for benefits to support our troops and veterans. The Disabled Veterans of America also gives him a “D,” saying he only voted in support 60% of the time.
I looked up states in which I have family and the scenario was always the same. Here’s a list of what I came up with:
IAVA DAV
Dennis Moore –Cong. (D-KS) A- 100%
Moran, Tiahrt, Ryan (R-KS) D 66%
FL Republican Reps, all no more than 66%
FL Democrat Reps, all 100%
Pat Roberts, Sen. (R-KS) D 60%
Sam Brownback, Sen. (R-KS) D 40%
Kit Bond, Sen. (R-MO) D 40%
Jim Talent, Sen. (R-MO) D+ 60%
Fill Nelson, Sen. (D-FL) A- 100%
Mel Martinez, Sen. (R-FL) D 60%
John Thune, Sen. (R-SD) D+ 60%
Tim Johnson, Sen (D-SD) B+ 100%
It can’t be that Republicans are playing politics with our troops and veterans, can it? No, a party led by a former Texas National Guardsman who couldn’t be found for the end of his service and a man who had “more important things to do than serve in Vietnam” wouldn’t do that.
Hopefully, on Tuesday night, many of these elected official’s challengers will be able to stand up and say “Mission Accomplished,” but their work will have only just begun.
Read how your Congressmen and Senators are really supporting our troops at:
www.iavaaction.org
posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 9:48 AM
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