Who is it that really supports our troops?
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Ron Charest
Published: May 7, 2008
Last Thanksgiving Day, this newspaper published a column from one of our regular writers titled “Give thanks to the troops.” The gist of the column was that “giving thanks to our troops” meant anyone who opposed sending our troops to Iraq, for the privilege of getting killed or wounded, was accused of being a traitor.
Recently, our own Senator Jim Webb, introduced the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act” (S.22/ H.R. 5740).
A companion bill, H.R. 5740, has been introduced in the House by Rep. Harry Mitchell.
This bill is designed to offer our troops who have served honorably since September 11, 2001 a level of educational benefits on par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era. The bill’s provisions would apply to all members of the military who have served at least 36 months active duty since September 11, 2001, including reservists and members of the
National Guard.
In essence, under this bill any eligible veteran would be assured the funds needed to gain a four-year education at any college that they can academically qualify for. This is a level of educational benefit long since stripped from the WW II vintage “GI Bill” that was awarded to our previous “Greatest Generation.”
The bill currently has over 50 co-sponsors in the Senate, including Senators Clinton and Obama. In the house, the companion bill currently has 240 co-sponsors. At least 25 leading veterans’ and student organizations support these bills.
Yet, the bill has an uphill fight.
Although some Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors, Senator and Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has not.
The bill is being actively opposed by the Bush administration and many Republican officials on the basis that it’s “too generous.” I note that the many newspaper columnists and TV talking heads who routinely accuse Democrats of being “unpatriotic,” “anti-military,” or even “traitors,” (including the writer of our Thanksgiving Day column) by failing to support our troops, are notably silent on supporting this bill.
I have to wonder; Who is really supporting our troops?
RON CHAREST
Dale City
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:20 pm
jVA, The bright side was a foregone conclusion !
Posted by ( jVA ) on May 10, 2008 at 11:45 am
Look on the bright side, raywilliams: every single one of the candidates is a thousand times better than the current president. They can’t possibly be any worse.
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on May 09, 2008 at 7:08 pm
barnun, you get the feeling we should all vote for “none of the above” ! Not a real keeper in the bunch running, and not a one I’ll place a yard sign for, although I will vote for someone.
Posted by ( barnun ) on May 09, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I didn’t think we were voting for a face for family values ( would rule clinton out) but looking for a candidate that presents real plans to fix real problems. The problem with voting today is people look to much at who looks or sounds cool, who can play a sax and wear dark sunglasses. who can sweep the women off their feet. who can energize the youth, who really have no clue about world politics and most couldn’t tell you were most countries are on a map. Newt would win every debate hands down with any one of the current three candidates. But, he’s not a candidate so it doesn’t matter.
Posted by ( RonCharest ) on May 09, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Yes, Newt Gingrich sould absolutely run for president. Because no one can be a better face for the “Family Values,” “Law-n-Order,” “Personal Responsibility” Republican Party than a man who divorced his first wife on her deathbed to marry his mistress, forced to resign from Congress over ethics scandals, and then let a friend pay his fines and legal fees.
Run Newt Run!
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on May 09, 2008 at 7:57 am
2 billion spent in Iraq each week and we’re worried about pork! A bigger part is neither party wants the other to offer up a better bill or get credit for a good idea, so they shoot it down. With an election cycle in November, you can bet nothing of value gets done between now and then. Where is Mark Warner for President when we need him.
Posted by ( RonCharest ) on May 08, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Yes, by all means, lets have Newt Gingrich running for president. Because no one displays the face of the modern “Family Values,” “Law-n-Order,” “Personal Responsibility” Republican Party better than a man who divorced his first wife on her deathbed to marry his girlfriend, resigned from Congress over ethics scandals, and let a friend pay his fines.
Run, Newt, Run
Posted by ( barnun ) on May 08, 2008 at 10:33 am
Newt should be the one running for President. I do think part of the problem with passing this bill is in the pork. That is usually the problem with any good bill, regardless of the party that sponsors the bill. It gets tied to fat so when the fat gets rejected, the sponsors cry that “they just dont support a worthy cause”.
Posted by ( jVA ) on May 07, 2008 at 10:31 am
Personally I think the vast majority of Americans, Republicans and Dems alike, are proud of our troops and want to honor their service. These men and women are doing a dangerous job, and their families are making enormous sacrifices on our behalf. Sen. Webb’s proposal is the LEAST we can do for them.
It is inexplicable to me that Republican politicians then are unwilling to reward these troops they claim to support. They seem to think support means multiple, extended combat tours, stop loss orders and of course, wearing a $4 flag pin on their suits. They send billions to KBR and Halliburton, but can’t seem to find money to help a veteran go to college after serving his country.
I refuse to believe that my Republican neighbors, many of them veterans themselves, agree with this notion of “supporting the troops”.
The current version of the GOP is ridiculously out of whack. Where is Newt Gingrich when you need him?
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on May 07, 2008 at 6:54 am
The only way to support our troops is to bring ‘em home. High divorce and suicide rates, post-war stress trama and children that don’t recognize their parents are too high a price to pay for a political mistake made by the Bush Administration. Oh, but Jenna is getting married this weekend so all is well in the Bush Bubble!