While introducing President Obama at a campaign rally in Virginia Beach, Senator Jim Webb criticized Mitt Romney for not thanking, or even mentioning members of our armed forces, and veterans in his RNC convention speech. Senator Webbs suggested that Romney's oversight is made worse by the fact that he did not serve in the military when he could have. Romney received exemptions from the draft for college, and then to serve as a missionary.
“If nothing else, at least mention some word of thanks and respect when a presidential candidate who is their generational peer makes a speech,” said Webb, a former Navy secretary and decorated Marine who served in Vietnam. ... “This was a time when every American male was eligible to be drafted. People made choices,” Webb said. “Those among us who stepped forward to face the harsh unknowns did so with the belief that their service would be honored.”
Senator Webb also blasted Romney for suggesting that 47% of Americans feel they are victims who are entitled to federal handouts. Many recipients of federal benefits are veterans who served their country in war, or their families.
“Those young Marines that I led have grown older now. All gave some. Some gave all. That’s not a culture of dependency,” he said. ”They paid. Some with their lives, some with their wounds, disabilities. Some with emotional scars. Some with lost opportunities. Not only did they pay, they are owed. They are owed.”
Although veterans affairs is a common theme in the president’s speeches, he hit the subject harder than usual Thursday.
“As Jim Webb so eloquently stated, when our troops take off their uniforms, we will serve them as well as they served us,” Obama said when he took the stage. “No one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job or a roof over their heads when they come home.”
Senator Webb is correct to criticize Governor Romney for these callous, insensitive, disrespectful, and erroneous remarks. I believe we should demand that Romney explicitly apologize to members of our armed services, veterans, their families, and all Americans, and repudiate these disgraceful falsehoods. Especially, as we learn today from Karl Rove that Mitt Romney's debate strategy is going to be to "fact-check" President Obama for alleged falsehoods. Mitt Romney would appear to be have much credibility for that task, as the point.
2:44 PM PT: Dear Readers, I seem to have somehow embedded an audio clip of a news report just prior to Senator Webb's speech. But, I can not find out where it is to take it out.
I've replaced the link to the article, which doesn't seem to have a video, or audio attached to it. I've looked at the end of the title, in the tags, and am clueless.
I would appreciate any assistance from any technical wizard that can figure out where this is coming from. It is just this one post. And, thankfully turns off as soon as you go to a different one.
Sorry.