By this author

williamgast@wesupportthevets.com

meet me in St Louis Mr. President July 24,2003                                 

The pressure is on July 18,2003

This week's progress May27,2003

Define Hypocrisy June 12,2003

where are they now? June 15,2003

Promises made, promises kept? June 2,2003

Message from the National Coordinator June 12,2003

This week Support the Vets celebrates our first month in existence on the web. Looking back, we have learned a lot about veterans groups and individuals.

When we had the website up and running, we started looking for other groups to “link” with and bring action on the issue of HR303. We contacted the larger VSO’s and requested same. I wasn’t surprised when there was no reply—we just went on with our project. One of the viewers gave us the idea of the fifty cent check to GWB so we jumped on that and it was amazing. Immediately we were in the local media and one national. Then the links started coming. Even a phone call from one of the organizations president telling me how they wanted to support us in our efforts, etc, etc,

I was gratified and did a link in return. We obtained more links, we added them—everyone welcome—we need a team-right? 

Wrong.

 Evidently some of the good folks that jumped to link to us weren’t pleased when we added some websites that were aggressively outspoken on the subject of restoration of pay for disabled retirees. Next thing we know, we are off their link page. They folded like a Hong Kong beach chair. ( See previous message where we praised these same people for jumping in to join us)

I guess they never read Von Clausewitz on Unity of Command. You take what you can get and work from that basis when you are mounting an assault.  Assemble in numbers first then education and discipline.

We never have and will strive not to degrade the office of the President. We will continue however, to make arguments on behalf of this Nation’s veterans when we think an injustice has been committed. Such is the case with HR303 and S392. We think the President and this administration by their actions have ignored the debt of gratitude America promised.

Therein is the interesting parody.

Why would a President who jumps at the photo ops with the troops, be so adamant against this legislation? Why would a person, an individual in power completely ignore the will of the entire nation when it comes to supporting the men and women that were once these troops? Why would he extend the risk of embarrassment to the people in the house and Senate by “passing the word” that this legislation is something he doesn’t want on his desk. Any poll taken of the American public, any vote placed in front of any constituent would respond positively to providing this change in policy. As we have said many times before, this is not money that has to be taken from the funds for African aids victims or rebuilding another country, its already in the system  To deduct  disability from retired pay is not right in any persons opinion. Especially from disabled veterans that have served. George W. Bush made a promise. “Promises made will be promises kept” This is one he hasn’t kept and he is wrong.

Media in this nation is controlled by the people that pay for advertisements. Nothing new and it’s the right of those media corporations to operate on a profitable basis following what their advertisers dictate. We know the viewpoint of most of the media and what to expect.

We all know that the national media has ignored this issue of HR303 and veterans offset.

Support the Vets and our viewers have sent over two thousand emails and letters to our legislators and the media since May 5, 2003. Our fifty cent check to the President produced over 735(to date) responses from our viewers indicating they had either sent a check or called.  O’Reilly was more concerned with segregation of high school proms in Georgia than veterans concern for justice.  That’s ok; Fox News can produce what they get paid to produce.

The word is hypocrisy.

  OReilly can restrict the content of his program and so may Hannity, Combs, and all the rest. Just don’t spin the promotion of the network as FAIR and BALANCED news. That’s hypocrisy.

George W. Bush can continue a 111 year old grudge that dates back to the Civil War by not supporting and passing legislation to restore offset of pay. When he promotes and spins the aspect of being a great promoter of our Armed Forces and then turns his back on those same troops when they become veterans,

That’s hypocrisy.

When a Congressman or Senator waves the flag for veterans votes, accepts awards for being a supporter of veterans rights, sponsors a bill (continually) and places it before the house for action and then refuses to sign a discharge petition to bring it to vote,

That’s hypocrisy

Let’s see how many Congressmen and congresswomen that cosponsored HR303 stand tall and go forward to the clerk’s desk and sign the discharge petition this week.  If they don’t what would you call that?

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