Twenty-four years in the military doesn’t count as public service, at least according to Virginia Democratic Congressman Jim Moran.
In a video that’s gone viral online, Moran is heard telling a Democratic gathering earlier this month that his opponent, Republican Patrick Murray, is just another unqualified GOP candidate.
“What [Republicans] do is find candidates, usually stealth candidates, that haven’t been in office, haven’t served or performed in any kind of public service,” Moran said. “My opponent is typical, frankly.”
The trouble is, Murray is a retired Army Colonel with 24 years of service–including combat in Iraq. The idea that such an extensive military record doesn’t qualify as “public service” has left a sour taste in Murray’s mouth.
“It is unconscionable to me how a member of Congress from a District with so many Veterans, who also sits on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, could make such shameful and offensive comments about the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform,” Murray wrote on his campaign blog Friday.”This kind of disrespect to our service members not only offends me, but is insensitive to the sacrifices made by our dedicated military families as well.”
Moran responded Friday, telling local news outlet WJLA that he simply misspoke, and his constituents know that’s not what he meant. The Murray campaign points out that the congressman had the same sort of explaining to do earlier this month, when he claimed an endorsement from the Disabled American Veterans Association and a high rating from the Military Officer’s Association. The latter organization reportedly asked Moran to cease using its name in support of his campaign efforts.
http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/22/dem-candidate-veteran-military-service-isnt-public-service
Here’s the video:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9URG8nlvAw]
Says Moran:
“And of course for 24 years, he’s taken a government check because frankly the military still is part of the federal government and yet his principle platform is to cut government spending.”
I served as a Soldier for a combined 30 years; active and reserve, and did two tours in Iraq.
I can attest to the fact that the ‘government check’ ain’t all that great. Besides, I always considered the military to be the ultimate public service. Speaking of checks, those who serve in the military write a blank check to the country for up to and including our lives.
Moran is a typical leftwing Democrat. Military personnel––Active, Reserve, and Retired—know that Republicans tend to respect the military, whereas Democrats display a visceral hatred for this country and those who are sworn to protect it.
Just a few samples:
Dick Durbin stood on the floor of the Senate and called us “Nazis”.
John Murtha called us “murderers”.
Harry Reid declared that we “lost the war” in Iraq.
Patty Murray claimed “bin Laden builds day-care facilities…we haven’t done that”.
Bubba Clinton loathed us except when he wagged-the-dog in the Balkans.
John (Winter Soldier) Kerry accused us of “going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children”, and letting us know that: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
Obama’s input: The troops in Afghanistan “are just air raiding villages and killing civilians”
Since Vietnam, we’ve been subjected to pejorative scrutiny, epithets, and at best, viewed as a ‘necessary evil’.
Note to Democrats: The feeling is mutual.