Morally Treasonable
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office e-mailed me an update on her first month in office, which provide an internet link to the Saratoga Springs Post Star. Their reporter, Charles Fiegl wrote that Gillibrand had held her first "Town Hall" public meeting and described what occurred. Excerpts from his article follow:
“Most in the audience agreed with her, but a few dissenters said being overly critical of the war does a disservice to troops.
First Lt. Matthew McLoughlin of Malta urged Gillibrand to vote against any resolution critical of the president's policy toward Iraq. McLoughlin served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 with the U.S. Army National Guard.
Gillibrand said she believes the president is not using his power or leverage effectively in the Middle East. She will vote against bills that would escalate the war, but she will vote for appropriations sending food and supplies soldiers need to fight in Iraq.
After the meeting, city resident David Bronner, a Republican, sought out Gillibrand. Bronner pointed his index finger at her face and told her to heed McLoughlin's advice. Bronner, a military veteran, told her she would be doing a great disservice to the country by voting for a resolution similar to the one in the Senate. Bronner turned to walk away, but Gillibrand reached out to him and insisted on shaking his hand. ‘I respect your opinion,’ she said. ‘You're in the big leagues now,’ Bronner said.”
I responded to the article with the following letter to the editor of the Post Star:
Regarding, Charles Fiegl’s report about the dissenters at Rep. Gillibrand’s first “Town Hall” public meeting. Those that consider Gillibrand to be overly critical of the war might consider the words of Major General Smedley Butler in a speech entitled,“War is a Racket”. Butler admitted most his thirty-three years on active duty with the Marine Corps was spent being “a gangster for capitalism.”
Perhaps, Mc Loughlin never heard of Smedley Butler, who was a two-time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. First Lt. Mc Loughlin has been assigned to be “a gangster for capitalism”, which he doesn’t even realize.
David Bronner might consider the words of Theodore Roosevelt: "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I’m confident that Rep. Gillibrand will not be intimidated by Bronner’s finger waving and will continue to speak out. Today, the message to our children and grandchildren is that it’s okay for corporate racketeers to steal oil from the Iraqi people, under the cover of bringing them democracy.
“Most in the audience agreed with her, but a few dissenters said being overly critical of the war does a disservice to troops.
First Lt. Matthew McLoughlin of Malta urged Gillibrand to vote against any resolution critical of the president's policy toward Iraq. McLoughlin served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 with the U.S. Army National Guard.
Gillibrand said she believes the president is not using his power or leverage effectively in the Middle East. She will vote against bills that would escalate the war, but she will vote for appropriations sending food and supplies soldiers need to fight in Iraq.
After the meeting, city resident David Bronner, a Republican, sought out Gillibrand. Bronner pointed his index finger at her face and told her to heed McLoughlin's advice. Bronner, a military veteran, told her she would be doing a great disservice to the country by voting for a resolution similar to the one in the Senate. Bronner turned to walk away, but Gillibrand reached out to him and insisted on shaking his hand. ‘I respect your opinion,’ she said. ‘You're in the big leagues now,’ Bronner said.”
I responded to the article with the following letter to the editor of the Post Star:
Regarding, Charles Fiegl’s report about the dissenters at Rep. Gillibrand’s first “Town Hall” public meeting. Those that consider Gillibrand to be overly critical of the war might consider the words of Major General Smedley Butler in a speech entitled,“War is a Racket”. Butler admitted most his thirty-three years on active duty with the Marine Corps was spent being “a gangster for capitalism.”
Perhaps, Mc Loughlin never heard of Smedley Butler, who was a two-time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. First Lt. Mc Loughlin has been assigned to be “a gangster for capitalism”, which he doesn’t even realize.
David Bronner might consider the words of Theodore Roosevelt: "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I’m confident that Rep. Gillibrand will not be intimidated by Bronner’s finger waving and will continue to speak out. Today, the message to our children and grandchildren is that it’s okay for corporate racketeers to steal oil from the Iraqi people, under the cover of bringing them democracy.
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