In October of 2003 I was wounded in Iraq when the vehicle I was riding in was struck by shrapnel from an IED. After being airlifted away from the attack site I went to Baghdad for emergency brain surgery to remove shrapnel from my skull. After I was stabilized, I was sent to Germany to begin my recovery. When I was deemed recovered enough to return to the states I was flown into Andrews Air Force base and loaded on a bus to go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington DC.
This is what Walter Reed Medical Center looks like:
I spent over 2 years at Walter Reed as both an inpatient and an outpatient. I have walked the halls numerous times. I met fellow patients and their families. I became friends with others in the same situation as me. I shared in the joys of good times and the sorrows of bad times. For me it was a very important place.
Last night John McCain gave the first part of his speech with the backdrop of Walter Reed behind him.
But it wasn't my Walter Reed. It was Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, Ca.
So, they either goofed up by using a picture from the wrong place or weren't allowed to show the real hospital, so they chose a fake. It wouldn't be the first time they chose a fake stand-in when they couldn't get the real thing (Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video). My money is on the fact that some one goofed up and no one cared enough to change anything. Either way it is disrespectful.
It is disrespectful for a number of reasons. But here is what gets at me. It is the same as them showing the 9-11 video but failing to mention that the are not even really looking for the people who perpetrated the attacks on us.
Sen. McCain wanted a back-drop of Walter Reed so that he could be seen as a champion for reform in DC and to remind us that he will never allow it to happen again. And if that is the case why did Sen. McCain vote against an increase in funding for military and veterans hospitals(Roll Call Vote)? He voted against it because the "maverick" sided with his party in order to keep tax cuts for the wealthiest.
McCain allowed the wrong back-drop to be used at his speech because he didn't care. McCain voted against increasing funding to the hospital because he didn't care. But I do care. And thats why it bothers me that some one who is running for The President of the United States does not.
UPDATE: More on this can be found at Talking Points Memo..
Here is another picture of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Well it's more of me, but it was taken at Walter Reed.
And McCain still doesn't care.