A Vet's Message To The GOP on Veterans Day -- Shove It

Being from a distinctly lower middle-class family in central Nebraska, I grew up in a house where we never wanted for food or shelter, but where there was no money for luxuries and where members of my immediate and extended family had little hope of ever going to college. So I went into the military, got the original G.I. Bill -- yes, I am that old -- and decades later enjoy a healthy standard of living based on getting an incredible education and all the doors that has opened for me.

I gave to my country and my country gave back to me.

And, in purely financial terms, I'm also convinced America has more than recouped my educational costs based on 30 years of much higher wages (and associated revenue from my taxes) than I would ever have realized based on my diploma from a rural Nebraska high school.

So Veterans benefits are earned -- and they matter.

Which is why I get so disgusted whenever I see all the faux military-loving Republicans turning up on Veterans Day with their flowery pronouncements of how much we Vets mean to them when they prove at every turn that they really don't give a damn about the troops, Veterans or military families.

Of course, Exhibit A is Iraq and the Republican party's steadfast refusal to ever allow our troops to come permanently home to their families and their continued desire to keep them bogged down in a war for nothing. But I mention the G.I. Bill specifically because of the following samples of Republican hypocrisy we see every Veterans Day:

"On Veterans Day -- and every day -- we thank the men and women who have fought to keep us safe and free." - Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

"We must remember the great debt that we owe veterans and members of the armed services who fight to maintain our freedom around the world. Throughout history, our soldiers have risked their lives to defend our freedom, and we must not forget their sacrifices." - Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

"Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor America's veterans who have courageously served our country. These brave men and women have fought to keep our nation free and secure, and we thank them and their families for their service and sacrifice on our behalf." - Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)

"So this day, perhaps more than any other day, is a time to honor them. We owe them our respect and profound gratitude." - Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

What's the common denominator in this crew? They all were among 22 Republicans who voted against the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, authored by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) -- a highly-decorated Vietnam Veteran -- and passed with 75 votes on May 22nd of this year.

Webb's bill brought back the full, post-service educational benefits that I and so many other Veterans have enjoyed. After three years of service, it provides tuition and fees for any in-State public college, a stipend for books and supplies and a housing allowance based on actual housing costs in the area. The benefit is extended to both active-duty troops and members of the National Guard and Reserve who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

An opportunity. A way to better oneself after sacrificing much for the country. And a nation expressing gratitude in a meaningful, tangible way.

President-elect Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) both found time in the midst of their frenzied presidential campaigns to vote for it, while John McCain (R-AZ) couldn't be bothered to even show up to vote on Webb's bill -- probably because he wanted to be president and it would have looked bad when he voted against it.

And this instance of the GOP's true anti-Veteran sentiments, came despite the fact that some old-school and fairly conservative Veterans groups like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars strongly supported the legislation.

So why did these patriots who wear their little flag lapel pins and festoon their SUVs with support-the-troops ribbons vote against the new G.I. Bill?

Because they were primarily afraid that, after serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of our military men and women might -- horror of horrors -- actually avail themselves of the benefit they so richly deserve and leave the military. Yes, people like Alexander, Corker, Kyl and Hatch want them to remain in harm's way, not going off on some college campus recovering their lives and bettering themselves.

Here's John Cornyn (R-TX), who also voted against the measure, on the Senate floor in May arguing that point:

"I know it is not his intention, but Senator Webb's bill actually would encourage people not to reenlist by providing a perverse incentive to leave early in order to obtain the benefits they would receive after 3 years of service. We need to make sure we encourage continuation of service, retention in the military in the best interests of our All-Volunteer military force."

"A perverse incentive." Amazing.

But what can you really expect from a Republican Chickenhawk like Cornyn who never served in the military himself but who loves war and considers it a "perverse incentive" to give combat Veterans an opportunity to go to college.

Hillary Clinton said it best on the Senate floor on May 22nd, 2008 when she declared "we often hear wonderful rhetoric in this Chamber in support of our troops and our veterans, but the real test is not the speeches we deliver but whether we deliver on the speeches."

And in that spirit, Senators Alexander, Corker, Kyl and Hatch -- and every other Republican who voted against this important Veterans benefit -- I hope you'll forgive this Vet today when I say that you can take your self-serving, Veterans Day press releases and shove them.

You can read more from Bob at BobGeiger.com.

Comments

[chaya]

I'm a veteran, though not from as far back as you, Mr. Geiger. I had the GI Bill, but by that time, it didn't pay for anything more than classes at a local community college. I later re-enlisted, and watched the benefits promised to new enlistees dwindle. Still, they enlisted: they told me they enlisted for the educational benefits. Bonuses were fine, but it was college that would lift them up out of poverty.

If these deep-south, bonehead senators had any clue at all about the military--or the history of our all-volunteer armed forces--they would see that each and every one of those 3-yr enlistees was absolutely crucial to the mission. They didn't have to stay and become NCO's. They just had to show up for 3 years, after which they had the nation's undying gratitude.

Instead, I've listened to Republicans shooting down these soldiers and trying to get rid of what benefits remained for them by the time Bush got into office. Maybe they think VA benefits are just more of that "socialist" stuff that they have to get rid of, along with Medicare and Social Security. I have news for them: the U. S. military is a thoroughly, completely socialist organization. If they want a military, they're going to have to support its soldiers.

Thank God for our new Commander-In-Chief.

[onlyred]

Mr. Geiger,

Thank you. You have written the perfect post in regard to how the Republicans treat soldiers, sailors and airmen. This veteran of no wars, no conflicts and no real scary stuff looked real hard at the records of those public "servants" such as Ms Thelma "I voted with Bush more than McCain did" Drake of Virginia and wanted to throw up.

My daughter is freshly enlisted in the United States Air Force, and we are both so very proud that her new boss is someone who cares about our military, is proud of what they do, and isn't a person who will sacrifice their lives, honor and safety for a bunch of greedy Washington fatcats.

Thank you, from a grateful vet and proud mama!

[brobike42]

You don't have to ask for their forgiveness, Mr. Geiger. They should ask for ours.

[scooperss]

"I hope you'll forgive this Vet today when I say that you can take your self-serving, Veterans Day press releases and shove them."

And that goes double from this spouse of a veteran.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Two holidays designed to remember service by the people of this country who fought when asked.
Two holidays that each year become less when they are used by politicians such as the ones you cited for political gain.
Two holidays that I use each year to remember not only the veterans but also the people who truly don't like veterans. The people you cited are people who I remember each year and every day when I see a homeless veteran holding a sign saying "Homeless vet, will work for food."

[Lulliloo]

Excellent and important post, Mr. Geiger,
I think that all veterans of whom I am one (Vietnam), can take great heart in the fact that one, perhaps THE one most important issue that Michelle Obama supports is the needs of military families and thus Vets.
This is one of many sites to Google concerning Michelle Obama and military/vets needs
It would be hard to imagine, impossible me thinks, to have a military member's advocate with more influence and closer to the Commander-in-Chief than Michelle Obama. No, make that impossible, period.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy2D0Z3UB5I
Take heart all you in harm's way and your families, take heart

[IndependentNAllWays]

I spoke to a son of a long-time friend today who is shipping off to Iraq next year as an Army National Guard reserve. He and his father are Republicans through and through who fully believe that might makes right. However, his mother (my friend) is an independent who wanted her son to get his university education before facing a war that is taking a high toll of our young men and women.

I will offer to help with care packages, even though I strongly oppose this war, because our veterans deserve our support because they follow orders and do their best with what our nation gives them. So what we should supply is the best equipment when they are fighting, the best health and mental care in the field and at home and the opportunity to attend college to extend their service. It's the least we can do as a nation, and shame on those Republicans who thought only of themselves and not the children we mothers see off to war.

[navynorm]

In my 20+ years in the Navy, I never really figured out why so many military guys aligned with the republicans. You see the extension of that with all the VFW and American Legion caps at the republican convention. Virtually every veterans organization that rates elected offcials on veterans issues rated both Obama and Biden much higher than McCain. But the republicans wrap themselves in flags and pledges, talk tough, and people just seem to swallow it. I remember McCain's comment about veterans knowing his record, and thinking to myself: no, they really don't know your voting record or they wouldn't be supporting you. Then when I look at guys like Cheney, the quintessential chicken hawk, it really makes me puke. All that tough talk from someone who specialized in draft deferments. As long as people continue to remain ignorant and uninformed of the truth, they will continue to elect people like the Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the chicken hawks.

[AngloAmerican]

Dont paint all Republicans with the same brush. Chuck Hagel knows a bit about veterans issues and he was a co-chair of the 2004 Bush election campaign

[alkamm]

Clearly, we liberals aren't as sophisticated as these Republicans. We imagine that letting people leave the military with enhanced educational benefits would help the country, when in fact, our volunteer army and we are better off stuck on stupid. It's the latest thing!
"Stuck on stupid" is unkind, but snotty right-wing hacks like Michelle Malkin use it to denigrate liberals, so if the Gucci shoe fits, they need to wear it. Keeping our military uneducated would certainly help our soldiers from thinking critically and questioning the wisdom of their political leadership. I want to see some exit polls on military people, because I'm convinced they did not go for McCain, except from the old south.
Did I say wisdom in connection to the Republican thinking behind blocking the GI Bill? Only in the sense the Karl Rove is wise. Actually, the military, from the Pentagon on down realized that McCain voted with his feet on the GI Bill and resented the idea that such a pampered hypocrite should represent them as commander in chief.

[LeBeau59741]

My grandfather earned his degree on the GI Bill, too and it was the voting records of the two candidates on Veterans issues that finally allowed me to sway him off the fence about which man would get his vote.

[ALC]

Why more people don't know about these paper tiger's voting records on vet benefits is amazing. It's public info furnished on "projectvotesmart.org" a NON-PARTISAN, GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT LISTS THE VOTING RECORDS OF EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL ON EVERY SUBJECT. Obviously the Obama people chose to take the high road and not shove McCain's sorry voting record on veteran's bills up his kazoo. I'm sure they were aware of it. The really insane part is the fact that the VFW and American Legion always endorses GOP scum and their membership evidently doesn't have a clue how these guys vote. McCain's voting record on veteran's affairs should've been posted on a billboard across from every VFW and Legion post in America. These vets sure don't get this info from their gutless leadership in these organizations. It's always the same way. Republicans talk tough, mainly among each other, and trumpet their support of the military while almost none of them or their family members ever actually serve. Yeah they're tough alright.

[Americanium]

You shall know their names...Make them famous.

Someone ought to take out an ad in every major paper across this country and let people know about these troop supporting Republicans.

[majorteddy]

You tell 'em Bob. They are the ultimate hypocrites. They wouldn't listen at all to a wonderful vet in their midst, Senator Chuck Hagel. They are the Chicken Wing of the GOP.

[PNAC]

From the Project For a New American Century:
Project Participants:
I.Lewis Libby (Dechert Price & Rhoads)
Paul Wolfowitz (Nitze School Of Advanced International Studies)

"Future soldiers may operate in encapsulated, climate-controlled, powered
fighting suits, laced with sensors, and boasting chameleon-like "active camouflage. "Skin-patch" pharmaceuticals help regulate fears, focus concentration and enhance endurance and strength."

This group is the Bush administration, members included Cheney, Jeb Bush, Rumsfeld, Kristol etc.
This is the most influential group you have never heard of. As you can see how they support the soldiers, just slap some "Rambo" patches on them and let'm go.

[moonflowerjewelry]

my 82 year old father is a wwii vet. what can be said about his post war experience after sacrificing his pound of flesh and some of his sanity? he gets substandard health care, and has to live on less than 1k a month of veterans benefits and social security. of course, he was offered a free trip to DC this year so we can all cheer. As if he and other vets are dolls to be dressed up and played with once a year, then put back on the shelf until the next photo op. he declined the offer. every election republicans trot out their flags and praise our veterans, but a head count of homeless vets on american city streets is our true legacy to them.

[Yermammy]

That's a big firm (affirmative).

[weatherwaxx]

Yes. My dad was a WWII POW and much as I miss him, I was glad he passed away before he could see what George W did to the VA. Tell your father THANK YOU from a veteran's daughter.