If You Tread on a War Record, Take that Silly Ribbon off Your Bumper First

I've got a mad on again. In the Ohio-02 special election held yesterday, Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett narrowly lost to Jean Schmidt. The campaign was reminiscent of the 04 presidential election, but instead of a thirty-year-old military record being smeared by Swift Boat Liars, Hackett's recent service in Iraq came under attack.

Right-wing blogs, Rush Limbaugh, and the Schmidt campaign scoffed at the tour of duty Hackett served, voluntarily. A member of the Select Marine Corps Reserve since 1992, he re-enlisted and served a seven-month tour in Iraq, just last year.

But those who haven't the guts to put their own lives on the line, for a war they support, don't respect those who do. Rush Limbaugh, in a long conversation with a caller, repeatedly pointed out that, as a civil affairs officer, "Hackett didn't actually see combat in Iraq." He referred to him as a "staff puke." (Not only offensive, but wrong. Hackett did see combat, in Fallujah.)

The drugs have obviously addled Rush's brain, or maybe it's that "pilonidal cyst" acting up. Most officers don't see "actual combat", which he would know had he bothered to enlist or become commissioned himself. The vast majority of the soldiers and marines killed in Iraq have been from the enlisted ranks, young men and women barely old enough to drink legally, or seasoned sergeants with families back home they'll never see again.

Other right wingers jumped on the "didn't face combat" meme, despite the fact this is a gross insult to every wartime officer. Although they rarely point a gun, the hazards of living in a war zone apply to officers as well as enlisted. They perform vital duties behind the lines—among them, counseling those who've seen and felt the horrors of war up close.

They're far too busy to worry about their service records being besmirched for partisan political purposes, but I'm not.

Rush Limbaugh and the others who mocked Hackett's service record, including Jean Schmidt for not speaking out, deserve to roast in the hottest fires of hell—the sands of Iraq would do nicely. 

They Swift-Boated John Kerry, and now mocked Paul Hackett. Veterans' benefits have been cut, even as they limp home from war.

Those purple Band-Aids the Republicans wore to their convention? I hope they kept them. They'll need them if I see them treading on any more war records.

Or maybe they could use that gold ribbon they've got stuck on their bumper, proclaiming their "support for the troops."

It would do more good wrapped around their mouths.

Comments

[Foodie]

"They" will do anything to win--did you learn that the Repub candidate sent out a last minute press release saying contrary to his comments Hackett would not be the first Iraq vet to serve in Congress? Seems she put the phone number of a supposedly Iraq vet Repub member of Congress in that release. Those who did call the guy discovered that he had NOT served in Iraq, merely flown over it 15 yrs ago.( He was annoyed as hell by this whole gambit.) The ploy was clever as it assumed few people would call a long distance number, at the last minute, to verify something that sounded plausible. I sense Rove at work with this one.

[KathyF]

Yes, I heard that one too, and funny thing...the guy making the charges about his "combat experience" is another Marine vet who also ran in the same district (primary), and guess what?

He says"If elected, I will be the first Iraqi Freedom veteran to serve in Congress."

How's that for hypocrisy?

Those bastards.

[barbwire]

The good news is that Hackett almost won in a 70% Republican district. The last I looked, it was only by about 3500 votes out of more than 110,000. This is very bad news for BushCo. Hackett's rise out of nowhere to almost win no doubt rattled the Repubs so much they had to haul out the heavy hypocrisy. Remember, Hackett did call Bush a chickenhawk!

Also interesting is the fact that the Dem Party wasn't going to run anyone in this race, so Hackett stepped up on his own. After the blogs started raising LOTS of campaign donations for him, as well as lots of volunteer hours, the DCCC finally took an interest and kicked in some bucks.

Despite his loss, he got his story told, around the nation and the world, lending serious credence to the 50-state strategy. To my mind, no Repub should EVER be allowed to run unopposed in ANY race from now on. Hackett's run is a prime example of how you build a Party, a clear and passionate message and momentum.

[Diane]

It's a dirty trick campaign, yes, but on a deeper level, I think it's projection. When a group's entire philosophy is based on war and testosterone and kicking ass and its members stay home while others fight, the unconcious mind has to defend against their own "cowardice" (their word, not mine).

[KathyR]

Why don't we just get out our Sharpies and change those "support the troops" ribbons so that they accurately reflect the intended sentiment: "support the war."

[Donna]

You've said what I've been thinking. Thanks!

[Bob Sakowski]

I like the sentiments of this bumper sticker:

"Bush has blood on his hands. If you voted for him, so do you."