Not long ago we were all treated to this shameless display of distortion and demagoguery after the Republicans shut down the U.S. government:
Shutdown theater: Sen. Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin rally at World War II Memorial
WASHINGTON – Sen. Ted Cruz joined Sarah Palin to rally tea partiers and military veterans Sunday in Washington, hoping to pressure President Obama and Democrats.
The crowd dismantled barricades at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, defying a government shutdown — and park rangers who have not been paid since the budget stalemate began. As we reported more than a week ago, the Park Service has been allowing free access to tourists, veterans and politicians alike since just after the shutdown began, though officially, the memorial remains closed.
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah joined Cruz and Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee, at the rally.
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“Our vets have proven that they have not been timid, so we will not be timid in calling out any who would use our military, our vets, as pawns in a political game,” Palin told the crowd.
Congressman Confronts Park Ranger Over Closed WWII Memorial
How do you look at them and... deny them access?" said Neugebauer. He, with most House Republicans, had voted early Sunday morning to pass a funding measure that would delay the Affordable Care Act, a vote that set up a showdown with the Senate and President Barack Obama. With the parties unable to agree on how to fund the federal government, non-essential government functions shut down Tuesday.
"It's difficult," responded the Park Service employee.
"Well, it should be difficult," replied the congressman, who was carrying a small American flag in his breast pocket.
"It is difficult," responded the Park Service employee. "I'm sorry, sir."
"The Park Service should be ashamed of themselves," the congressman said.
"I'm not ashamed," replied the ranger.
Oh, the righteous outrage! How DARE our veterans be disrespected! And uh….where's the nearest camera?
Today, Republicans shut down aid to veterans:
Senate Republicans Kill a Bill to Expand Veterans' Benefits
WASHINGTON -- It's not until you watch it happen close up that the way things do not get done in the World's Legislative Body becomes well and truly nauseating. This afternoon, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont brought forth a carefully crafted bill to provide $21 billion in new veterans benefits over the next decade. These included medical benefits, education benefits, and job-training. It contained 26 provisions that came from the Republican members of the Veterans Affairs Committee, which Sanders chairs. It was so wide-ranging that it contained a provision that would eliminate a rule prohibiting the Veterans Administration from covering in vitro fertilization on behalf of veterans whose wounds prevent them from conceiving a child in the usual manner. ….This bill was a put up or shut up moment.
It failed.
Senate Blocks Dems' Bill Boosting Vets' Benefits
A divided Senate on Thursday derailed Democratic legislation that would have provided $21 billion for medical, education and job-training benefits for the nation's veterans. The bill fell victim to election-year disputes over spending and fresh penalties against Iran.
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The vote sidetracking the bill was 56-41, with supporters falling four votes short of the 60 they needed to prevail….
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Republicans said there would be no retribution from voters because the Democratic bill would have harmed veterans' services by flooding them with too many people. They also said this year's election campaigns will focus on other issues, such as President Barack Obama's health law.
"We're sort of fooling ourselves to believe that this drives the election issue list," said Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, top Republican on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Certainly it is much worse to barricade a memorial than to provide healthcare to wounded veterans.
Certainly it is much worse to barricade a memorial than to deny a wounded veteran the opportunity to become a father.
Someone should, definitely, be ashamed of themselves.
The American people are smart enough to see through Republican hypocrisy.
Hopefully.