Crossposted from Blue Hampshire
As progressives who engage in countering conservative TP, I thought you may like to hear this. I'm sure you are aware that "the left" has been holding up the VA as a model of success, in terms of "gubmint run health care."
This is widely accepted. The recent high profile blips at Walter Reed create some fog around the quality of care. However, the VA is considered to provide exceptionally good care. Care which needs be specific to the types of physical, mental and emotional wounds that servicemembers bear.
Well, to the far right, talk of the VA's success, simply won't do. Yesterday, at Rep. Tsongas' town hall meeting in Chelmsford, MA; I heard GOPer vets talking down the VA. They were retelling "horror stories."
I'm gonna admit right now. Hyper-partisan vets getting all ginned up on some issue, decked out in full warrior regalia, talking shit, pisses me off. I don't care, left or right, there are some lines you don't cross. I realize there are Constitutional protections of free speech and freedom to assemble. I realize that this is a subjective matter.
I only know what is right for me. I will not wrap myself in a flag and scream from a soapb(l)ox in the public square. Will I wear a hat that says "Desert Storm Veteran" and go to a rally? Yes. Will I don my Army Field Jacket and do vis or counter vis? Yes. But I won't knowingly portray myself as some sorta of hero and go try to leaverage public sympathy for an issue or a candidate by using rude and crass gutter tactics.
To each their own? Blech.
So, after seeing vets disgrace themselves, yesterday; today, a pillar of the conservative movement, one Newt Gingrich, pulled the rug right from under those assclowns' wobbly pose.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Veterans care works pretty well.
GINGRICH: Veterans care is the one system that actually works reasonably well.
Thanks Mr. Speaker. Please don't hate me for not sticking up for you when your soon to be ex-buddies, of the veteran type, start calling you a pinko.
Don't get me wrong, I won't flaunt the former Speaker's words in front of "unpersuadables." We don't have time for that. Please, fellow bloggers, take this arrow. Put it in your quiver and take it to the streets.
Ne Desit Virtus