A friend of mine,
Dave in Franken forwarded this to me. Apparently some body is trying to smear Sen. Clinton as anti-military. It is a compete falsification, one that I expect to see pop up on some of the dittohead blogs.
The E-Mail and a response from Senator Clinton's office after the jump.
First, Dave's Answer
Hi Chuck: Sergeant Major and Department of the Army Civilian Public Affairs Officer (retired) Dave Stewart here. Its been awhile since our EUCOM-USAREUR days - in fact I was trying to remember when we worked together but its been awhile. This mail may come as a surprise to you, but your Hillary hating gram found its way to Germany via old friends. In fact, at first, I didn't even notice that you were the sender because I couldn't see your name for the large fonts. Anyway, I smelled blogging and "Swift Boat" types at work, particularly since there was inside information that she has declared herself a candidate for President in '08. So I sent a note to the Senator's office for clarification on the charges raised in the internet note. The Senator's office response is attached below. We are all entitled to our political opinions but when they start cooking the books I get upset, particularly as a former PAO who tried to deal in truth and get my facts straight before I started shooting. But this is politics and truth is rare. I am familiar with the strategy, that if you say it long and loud enough eventually they will believe you.
The Senator's response is attached -your note first and then the Senator's. I hope you see a side of fairness and share it with the addressee to whom you sent the original note, but then I suppose they don't want to hear it anyway. This attack is likely to resurface so I am keeping the Senator's response handy. I know I'm just a little guy who is taking on a big blogging machine but I will do my best.
Take care brother and I hope you and your family are healthy and doing well. We enjoy our retirement life here in the Eastern Bavaria region.
Dave Stewart, SGM, U.S. Army Retired
Contact info deleted by Saint Fnordius)
Now this is the letter that Dave received. If you ask me, it's pretty typical slander. Often it gets sent out to "friendly" posters, and people like Dave aren't intended to see this until enough people have read this to build a groundswell. I have little patience for liars like this, and appreciate Dave's calmness in his above mail.
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles
To: LaBonte, Pete ; Rhonda Hill ; Alex Sifuentes
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 1:29 AM
Subject: Fw: Gold Star Mothers
(Note from Saint Fnordius: this was written in huge honkin' letters. I removed the formatting)
You really should be sitting down when you read this one.
Gold Star Mothers is an organization made up of women whose sons were killed in military combat during service in the United States armed forces.
Recently a delegation of New York State Gold Star Mothers made a trip to Washington, DC, to discuss various concerns with their elected representatives.
According to published reports, there was only one politician who refused to meet with these ladies.
Can you guess which politician that might be?
Was it New York Senator Charles Schumer? Nope, he met with them.
Try again.
Do you know anyone serving in the Senate who has never showed anything but contempt for our military?
Do you happen to know the name of any politician in Washington who's husband once wrote of his loathing for the military? Now you're getting warm! You got it!
None other than the Queen herself, Hillary Rotten Clinton. She refused repeated requests to meet with the Gold Star Mothers.
Now, please don't tell me you're surprised. This woman wants to be President of the United States --- and there is a huge percentage of Voters who are eager to help her achieve that goal.
May you sleep in peace always...and please...hug or thank a Veteran for that privilege.
Think about this one !!!
Don't forget, our girl, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York Senator, now comes under this fancy congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan.
It's common knowledge that, in order for her to establish NYS residency, they purchased a million+ dollar house in upscale Chappaqua, NY.
Makes sense.
Now, they are entitled to Secret Service protection for life.
Still makes sense.
Here is where it becomes interesting. The mortgage payments hover at about $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residency had to be built within the acreage in order to house the Secret Service agents.
The Clinton's now charge the Secret Service $10,000 monthly rent for the use of said Secret Service residence and that rent is just about equal to their mortgage payment, .....meaning that we, the tax payers, are paying the Clinton's mortgage, their transportation, their safety and security, their 12 man staff, and it's all perfectly legal.
Sincerely, Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)
PS: Please forward this to as many people as you can. We don't want this woman to even think of running for President. So, just how many people can you send this to? It will take no more than 2 minutes.
Pretty scummy, right? So just to be sure that you know that this is slander, here's the response from Senator CLinton's office that Dave got. Read it as well, so that you can effectively combat this hoax.
From: Senator_Clinton@clinton.senate.gov
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:56 PM
To: (Dave's e-Mail address, deleted by Saint Fnordius)
Subject: A message from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
April 18, 2005
Dear Mr. Stewart:
Your recent correspondence regarding the Gold Star Mothers organization has been referred to me for response. Senator Clinton has great respect for the Gold Star Mothers and the work that they do to represent the dependents of the military men and women who have paid the highest price in defense of freedom. I believe that the following excerpt from the Gold Star Mothers' web home page (www.goldstarmoms.com as of March 2005), directly answers the inquiry raised in your correspondence:
Subject: Gold Star Mothers meeting with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
The information you refer to is totally false. At the time this allegation was made Senator Clinton was not even in her office. These allegations were not initiated by the Gold Star Mothers . . . This is a fabricated report picked up by an individual using Gold Star Mothers as an instrument to discredit Senator Clinton. Four Gold Star Mothers and a Vietnam veteran made an appointment with Senator Clinton at a later date and were very well received.Senator Clinton is proud to have worked in the 108th Congress with the Gold Star Mothers to introduce legislation (S.2573) to provide for the payment of a monthly stipend to the surviving parents of members of the Armed Forces who die during a period of war. Senator Clinton plans to reintroduce this legislation in the 109th Congress and to continue to work with the Gold Star Mothers to build support for its passage in Congress.Senator Clinton has the highest regard for the men and women who serve in our armed forces. The Senator's father served in the armed forces during World War II. In the 107th Congress, Senator Clinton was an original co-sponsor of legislation that encouraged a residential proclamation establishing the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month as well as a White House Commission to oversee a range of national, state, and local activities to encourage public awareness and appreciation of the service and sacrifice of our nation's military. In January 2003, Senator Clinton, along with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, introduced legislation that would allow a veteran's widow who receives survivor benefits to keep her benefits if she remarries after the age of 55. Introducing the legislation, Senator Clinton stated that, "Our current policy is fundamentally unfair." Senator Clinton worked with the Gold Star Wives group www.goldstarwives.org) to introduce this important legislation. Legislation was subsequently signed into law providing that qualifying spouses who remarry after age 57 retain their benefits.
Finally, Steve Robertson, legislative director of the American Legion, had this to say about the Internet e-mail: This story is a hoax . . . I have worked with Senator Clinton and her staff since she was the First Lady. I have known her to be very receptive to veterans and their families. In fact, as First Lady she visited with me to discuss Gulf War illnesses. She then visited with ill gulf War veterans and their families. She then recommended to President Clinton to establish the Gulf War Presidential Advisory Committee. As Senator Clinton, you will find her supportive of nearly every major veteran's bill in the Senate . . . Remember, don't believe everything you read. Just because it is on the Internet doesn't make it the truth.Your message also questioned erroneous reports in regard to the payment of rent by the United States Secret Service. The email that is currently being circulated that says the Clintons are charging the Secret Service thousands of dollars in monthly rent is completely false. The Clintons do no receive rental payments from the Secret Service or from any government agency whatsoever. I know that Senator Clinton would want me to thank you for taking the time to check the veracity of the information you received.
Sincerely yours,
Alice Pushkar
Director of Correspondence
http://clinton.senate.gov