Montel Williams may no longer host his own talk show, but he’s not keeping quiet, especially amidst the political turmoil and scandal surrounding American Veterans Affairs.
The Marine veteran and retired naval officer shared his passionate stance for veterans’ rights, Tuesday on HuffPost Live. Clearly outraged by the lack of action taken by thousands of self-proclaimed supporters nationwide, Williams reminded viewers that former soldiers die “twenty a day, like a ticking clock.”
The TV personality condemned Congress’ excuse for delaying legislative action, calling out the government branch who he said, “put their tail between their legs and ran out of town claiming that they need to do something for the 4th of July, a celebration that they are having based on the lives of people who protected them," a point he drove home with highlighting consequences of said inaction.
“Before they [Congressional members] get back, let’s go with ten days, put it two hundred soldiers are going to take their lives. Or they’re going to die from inadequate care.”
But despite his criticism of the government, Williams made sure to speak from a perspective concerned less with politics and more with genuine human interest.
“We’re all caught up in politics, and guess what, the soldier right now who’s on that battlefield in Afghanistan, he’s not thinking ‘republican,’ ‘democrat,’ ‘president.’ He’s probably thinking, ‘I want to come home alive...’ about their family they left behind,” he said. “They’re thinking about doing a job that they put their hand up to and said, ‘I solemnly swear and affirm that I will defend the the constitution of the United States.’ That’s what’s in their hearts.”
It’s impossible not to ask where are the generals and admirals that served with these suffering soldiers, as Williams does at the end of the segment above.
Only time will tell if Williams' call to action will be answered.
Follow Montel Williams on Twitter.