Mark Kirk loves to point out that he is, himself, a veteran.
Mark Kirk loves to brag about the North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center in his district.
Mark Kirk loves to pose in photo-ops with African-American veterans of World War Two.
Mark Kirk loves to grandstand about sponsoring legislation to issue coins commemorating disabled veterans.
Unfortunately, Mark Kirk doesn’t appear to care nearly as much about actual troops who are currently serving in harm’s way. He recently voted against requiring that the troops sent to Iraq be properly prepared for their mission and protected with armor.
The vote took place in the House Appropriations Committee, where he was joined by fellow Illinois Republican Ray LaHood. The whole House will vote on this bill soon, probably tomorrow. Will Kirk vote again to send our troops into battle without the proper equipment? How will other Illinois Republicans vote?
Don’t worry, troops. As soon as you get home, you’ll be a veteran, and then Mark Kirk will love you. I’m hoping and praying that you come home safe and sound. Too bad Mark Kirk doesn’t care.
ArchPundit
I’m waiting for the Republicans to take responsibility for the current miserable state of our Armed Forces.
They’re in worse shape now than in any period since WWII.
Somebody’s gotta pay for going to war with the Army Bush broke… and for all the tax-cut windfalls he keeps giving the filthy rich…
Republicans can wrap themselves in the flag all they want — turns out that emperor’s missing clothes too.
Actually, Kirk doesn’t love Veterans either, he just likes to pretend that he does. Otherwise, he is screwing them by voting against giving them adequate health care.
Kirk’s love for veterans has limits. Here are just a few examples from my research over the years:
Kirk voted against The Obey Amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004 (H.R. 3289, House Vote #547, 10/16/03 Rejected 209-216) the point of which was to increase by $3.6 billion funds that are not provided in the committee mark for quality-of-life items for the troops as well as other items reconstituting the force.
Kirk’s support for the troops showed it limits when in August 2005 he voted against an amendment to National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 that would have expanded access to the military’s TRICARE health insurance program to all reservist and National Guard members for a low fee (Roll Call No. 221) and an amendment to the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006 which would have added veterans health care funding for combat-related trauma care to support wounded troops returning to their homes, including medical and prosthetic research (Roll Call No. 224).