Kentuckians Slam McConnell For Comment Belittling Troop Deaths
As we reported here the other day, GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell appeared to belittle the deaths of American troops, saying the following in a meeting with constituents:
“Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win. Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."
The comment seemed to suggest that the deaths of professional soldiers isn't a huge deal because, well, they signed up for this.
Now McConnell's constituents are teeing off on him for the remark in letters to Kentucky's Courier-Journal.
Troy Torstrick of Louisville wrote: "The naked contempt that this comment displays for the men and women in the military is simply astonishing...If he had any shame, he would resign."
Added Steven Gregson of Owensboro: "Does this mean that he thinks that the lives of professional soldiers are somehow worth less than the lives of draftees? We Kentuckians have a big problem in Washington: His name is Mitch McConnell."
And one out of stater wrote: "Coming from a family with several career-long members of the military, including one in naval intelligence and another who was stationed at the Pentagon for years, I find McConnell's remark abominable and disgusting...I urge the citizens of Kentucky to make sure that this is his last term in the U.S. Senate."
You know, it's an awful cliche to say this at this point, but imagine if a Dem -- Harry Reid -- had said what McConnell said here, irking his own constituents. It would be a story for days and days and days. There's simply no question about it. But has a single major news organization picked up these quotes?
Comments (17)
Diverik wrote on December 11, 2007 1:10 PM:This is very reminiscent of John Boehner's "small price" comment.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2007/09/why_boehners_sm.php
Robert Lane wrote on December 11, 2007 1:11 PM:Folks are realizing that McConnell has got bushes hand stuck up his ass and toes the company line.
McConnell will never be reelected.
For us in Kentucky this comment is the last straw.
We are going to boot his sorry ass but good.
Unfortunately Luallen has dropped out of the race, Stumbo now looks unlikely to run, and Dems are putting their hope in attorney Andrew Horne, who would be a great candidate but one tier under Luallen.
Though there are now signs that the DSCC is trying to recruit Lt.Gov. Mongiardo (remember him he came within 2 points of defeating Bunning in 04!).
But has a single major news organization picked up these quotes?
Nope, and don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
It's ok to hate the troops if you're a Republican.
Tom in Dallas wrote on December 11, 2007 1:26 PM:Like so many of the Chicken Hawks in Congress, Senator McConnell "had other priorities" and never served a day in his life. Let us hope the people of Kentucky see the errors of their ways.
Liam wrote on December 11, 2007 1:39 PM:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVlIV9dqVXA
Liam wrote on December 11, 2007 1:49 PM:The above youtube link is to an anti war song:
There were Roses.
'And those that give the orders, are not the ones to die; it's Bell and O'Malley, and the likes of you and I."
The song tells of a true event.
bridoc wrote on December 11, 2007 1:59 PM:Sadly you are right, the MSM hasn't picked up on this and probably isn't going to. Where exactly is that evil "liberal media" O'Reilly and those nutjobs are always warning people about? I have no doubt that the media would be all over it if it were a Democrat saying such things...Rush and Fox News would be all over it, and then CNN and the rest would pick up on it. I'm sure the story would also get a significant boost from members of Congress calling for a resolution to condemn the comments or to officially censure McConnell. You have to love the duplicity: they can raise hell like the world is going to end over MoveOn's "General Betray-Us" ad (no matter how much evidence there is that his assessment of the situation in Iraq is completely biased), yet when one of their party leaders dismisses the loss of life of nearly 4,000 Americans...silence...
Django wrote on December 11, 2007 2:06 PM:This is illustrative of the way the Repugnicants "support the troope." In '04, Laura Bush came to speak at a rally in the next town over from me. During her speech, the mother of a local soldier killed in Iraq attempted to confront her about the war, but was immediately surrounded by party operatives and drowned out with chants like "Four more years" and "Your son volunteered."
To your average Republican, "the troops" are merely expendable cannon fodder from the lower socioeconomic classes, sent overseas to die so that the likes of Halliburton and Blackwater can line their pockets with your tax dollars.
SqueakyRat wrote on December 11, 2007 2:13 PM:Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win.
Getting better, huh? Anybody come back to life yet, Mitch?
credulity wrote on December 11, 2007 2:19 PM:Wikipedia says he served in the Reserves during VN but his duty was curtailed for unknown reasons. He graduated from law school in 1967 and became a Senate staffer where there were plenty of opportunities for special treatment. When I was in basic training in 1967 a staffer for Herman Talmadge was in my platoon. I remember him telling me that he could have obtained either a deferment or a Reserve/Nat'l Guard slot from the Senator but would have felt ashamed accepting it. I can't imagine James Webb, Chuck Hagel, etc. saying what Mitch did. He's pretty contemptible.
CornBred wrote on December 11, 2007 2:49 PM:McConnell is pathetic. Please write or call your Republican Senators (if you have one) and make sure they know that this is the kind of guy they've voted for to lead them.
daniel155 wrote on December 11, 2007 3:36 PM:Didn't this site put out this story last week?
Steamin Pile wrote on December 11, 2007 4:35 PM:Who's smarter, me, who retired from the USAR in 2004 as soon as my 20-year letter arrived in the mail, or the schmuck who signed up to take my place the same day?
Hate to say it, but Mitch is right. Sort of. The vast majority of today's soldiers did indeed sign up to dodge bullets in Iraq. I mean, how could any of them not know what they were getting into? Could they not already know their Commander in Chief doesn't really give a rip about them? Could they all be that stupid? That naive that they could believe the BS being fed to them by their recruiters? I seriously doubt it.
While I'm not in a particularly sympathetic mood when it comes to willing participants in the so-called "Global War on Terror," I still reserve the right to be pissed off that our President is so willing to put other people's lives on the line for such bullshit "goals," and that the senior senator from Kentucky dismisses the loss of same because "they signed up for this shit."
I also shake my head in disgust that the fine citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the land where I was born, keep sending people like Mitch McConnell back to Washington again and again, no matter what dumbshit they did in the previous six years. Please, Bluegrass Staters, prove me wrong.
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Besides being offensive and appalling, it's not even true, is it? A lot of the folks who've served and died in Iraq have been Reservists--so-called weeekend warriors.
just joe wrote on December 11, 2007 6:53 PM:Two words: "Operation Mockingbird". The CIA program to infiltrate through bribes and blackmail and recruitment, all the major news organizations and reporters. It's not just what is allowed to be said but what is never mentioned in the MSM. Big brother propaganda and anthrax make good bedfellows. Only by getting rid of "media conciliation" can we bring back an open fair press. When all media is under the control of 6 owners it ensures corruption. The founding fathers knew the power of the press and why it should never fall into too few hands. This is the result...today's MSM. So McConnell's statements get no comment just like Rush's lies and so many others. "I pledge allegiance to AT&T and to the nation for which it stands... "
