DNC: Romney Lashes Out at Iraq Veteran... On Memorial Day!

[bigtree]

34 minutes ago

WASHINGTON, May 30-- At a Memorial Day event in an American Legion hall in Alton, N.H., this week, Mitt Romney lashed out at an Iraq War veteran who "complained that he hasn't been able to get adequate medical care since returning from Iraq in January 2005." (AP, 5/29/07) When asked by the man's wife and friend about his problem getting treatment for a broken foot, Romney "questioned the man's status, wondering why the military wouldn't help him if he is active duty." According to news accounts, when the man's friend began to explain by saying, "He's in the window," Romney "cut him off" and snapped "Don't give me, 'he's in the window' ... He's either active duty or not." (AP, 5/29/07) Romney's only response: the man should call his senator. (Concord Monitor, 5/29/07)

The "window" Romney's questioner was referring to is the gap resulting from the persistent failure to form a seamless transition between Department of Defense and Veterans Administration health care programs. Too many injured active duty personnel lose their health coverage for a time when they are transferred from military health care to the VA system. While Democrats have been working to close that gap, Romney's insensitive response shows both a lack of understanding of the issue and a lack of sensitivity to the hardships it causes.

"Mitt Romney's heartless tirade shows how little he understands the challenges facing our veterans and military families," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Republicans in Washington have consistently short changed those who have served this country. They have failed to fully fund veteran's health care programs or plan for the needs of our wounded troops, shortcomings Democrats in Congress are working to correct. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney apparently doesn't understand that supporting our troops and veterans means more than offering empty platitudes about their service while clinging to President Bush's failed leadership and failed strategy in Iraq."

Senate Democrats Added $2.5 Billion for Department of Defense Health Programs in Iraq Supplemental. In the Supplemental Appropriations bill, Senate Democrats added $2.5 billion for the Department of Defense to be used for the care of returning Iraq and Afghanistan service members. That total is $1.3 billion over the President's request. It includes funding for the two government agencies responsible for the care or returning soldiers -- The Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran's Affairs. (Release, Office of Senator Patty Murray (news, bio, voting record), 3/22/07)

Congressional Democrats Pass Legislation to Work Toward "Seamless Transition" Between DOD and VA Health Programs. On March 27, 2007, the House passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act of 2007, "a great first step towards providing a 'seamless transition' between active duty and veterans' status: one physical evaluation for both exit (from active duty) and entrance (to VA system) and one system for electronic health care records. The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act provides the people, training, and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors feel secure that they will always receive committed quality care and that the system will not fail them." (House Committee on Veterans Affairs, release, 3/27/07)


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/05-30-2007/0004598248&EDATE=WED+May+30+2007,+10:42+AM
http://www.democrats.org.

[11 Bravo]

1. Hmmm, sounds like Mitt-sey stepped on his devout Mormon dick.

[bumblebee1]

6. While wearing golf shoes, yet. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

2. And THAT is exactly how the Republics "support the troops".

Die for their steaming pile of bullshit lies...or shut the fuck up.

With "support" like that, our troops don't need FOREIGN enemies.

[shain from kane]

3. Romney can support the troops by sending 4 sons to join them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. ...

Three :thumbsup:

[shance]

4. This is good because at least he's not smart enough to hide his abusive personality.

Shine it Mr. Romney.

Shine your greed, hatred for the troops and your narcissistic personality for all to see.

[lpbk2713]

5. Good luck with that campaign, Mitt........... (sarcasm)

New Hampshire is definitely the wrong place to browbeat veterans.

He can probably benchmark this as the specific point where his
campaign took a downward spiral.

[Cha]

7. That's something to put

in your presidential candidate's resume. romney doesn't give a shite about our veterans..only to make sure this War On Iraq keeps going so big OIL can get their leases signed.

Recommend~ I hope this gets out to the masses like the Firemen are going to be following rudysmooty's campaign around and telling people what they really think of the shyster.

"Firefighters target Giuliani’s 9/11 record.Starting in January, New York City firefighters and family members of September 11th victims will be following former mayor Rudy Giuliani around nationally, challenging media claims that he “owns” the 9/11 attacks. “If somebody can tell me what he did on 9/11 that was so good, I’d love to hear it,” says Jim Riches, a deputy chief with the fire department whose son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks. “All he did was give information on the TV. He did nothing. He stood there with a TV reporter and told everyone what was going on. And he got it from everybody else down at the site.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/29/firefighters-target-giulianis-911-record/

[dicknbush]

8. Hey here is a site that gives you access to the Romney boys..5 strapping young men

http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/blog/comments/34

They have blogs and you can send comments to them. One of them had a picture of his dog (can you fucking believe it) so I sent him a message and asked if he would be able to take his dog to Iraq if he enlisted? Chenc it out and send them your support for them to Join up now!

[dicknbush]

10. Just send them a little note of support to encourage them to Join up today !!!!

[mcg]

15. Mitt and his sons look like Easter Island statues. nt

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. Does Mitt have a yellow "support" magnet on his car?

'Cause as long as he has that, we know he supports the troops.

This is what the vets can expect from these lying thugs.

[spanone]

11. Romney is an expensive cheap suit.

[IronLionZion]

12. These repugnant candidates are real pieces of shit

we can beat any of them. Oh I so want them to run a rich yankee mormon who hates his own state. I want Mitt Romney, the grandson of polygamists who fled to Mexico, to be the repub candidate.

[zbdent]

13. you know they confiscated all copies of all videos from that appearance ...

[merh]

14. I was going to ask if anyone had another source or a link to video

when posting this to rightwingers, they refuse to consider the contents if it is from a "biased source" - I try to be accomodating in my smack downs.

[UrbScotty]

16. Mitt Romney = George Bush III (nt)

[Ganja Ninja]

18. What a prick. n/t

[Cabcere]

19. Romney's always struck me as kind of a creep...

This just confirms my suspicions - the man is, in fact, a smarmy jerkbag. :grr:

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. What a piece of shit. So THAT'S how we support the troops!

:sarcasm: Fucker.