Vet speaks out against Doolittle (great name for a congressman)
This was written by a Vet. I found it on the Daily Kos.
DOOLITTLE KNOWS VERY LITTLE ABOUT “SUPPORTING THE TROOPS”
I read Congressmen Doolittle’s recent Op-Ed (”Support Our Troops, Don’t Exploit Them“) while home from duty overseas. As an Iraq War veteran, I found his claims of support for our military men and women, and his comments about Charlie Brown infuriating.
Doolittle suggests that if you do not agree with the political decision to go to war, then you do not support the troops. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I’ve traveled all over this country, and met people both for and against the war. Regardless of which side they fall on, everyone I meet supports the warriors. Many send care packages, body armor and helmets. Others advocate for veterans rights or volunteer to help homeless veterans and families coping with the absence of a loved one. Actions speak louder than words.
Career politicians like Doolittle say they support us, because that’s all they can do. Yet their voting records, official actions, and appalling misuse of taxpayer dollars tell a very different story. Veterans, both past and present, are not fooled by the empty rhetoric. (written by Iraqi War Vet, Jeff Brown, Ramstein AB, Germany; his letter continues…)
How many vehicle armor plates could “fiscally conservative” Doolittle have bought with the taxpayer money he wasted sending out campaign mailers in August? How many sets of body armor could have been bought with his $1,000 per month taxpayer subsidized car lease? Why did Doolittle vote to allow more than $400 million in VA funding to be cut from a recent appropriations bill so that $700 million could be spent to move railroad tracks closer to casinos in Mississippi? And, would someone who “supports the troops” blow off a vote on VA benefits to attend a fundraiser with VP Cheney? Was it because he pocketed 15% from the event? (read the whole post on Daily Kos - here)
If John Doolittle really “supports the troops,” why won’t he give the dirty money that he’s taken from convicted felons to one of the many charities that serve veterans in need? He can’t possibly need the money–he already earns more than 4 times as much as the average soldier in Iraq.
Perhaps if Doolittle didn’t get all those military deferments, he would understand what it’s like to serve, and what soldiers see. Perhaps then, he could tell the difference between giving troops lip service and truly supporting them.
That’s why I couldn’t be prouder of my father Charlie Brown. He’s dedicated his life to defending America, leading with honor, and standing up for veterans.
Doolittle’s column is as disingenuous as his recent trip to Iraq—desperate attempts to distract the public from a record not worth running on, and growing scrutiny of his possible criminal acts.
Sorry Mr. Doolittle, but-when it comes to “supporting the troops,” Charlie Brown is way out of your league.
-Jeff Brown, Ramstein AB, Germany (there’s more on the Daily Kos - here)
