Ted Cruz slanders war hero, embarrasses TX and violates Armed Services Committee tradition

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/282819-ted-cruz-slanders-war-hero-embarrasses-texas-and-violates-armed-services-committee-tradition-


Ted Cruz slanders war hero, embarrasses Texas and violates Armed Services Committee tradition
By Brent Budowsky - 02/13/13 10:54 AM ET


snip//

The Senate Armed Services Committee has a long and proud tradition of bipartisan statesmanship that was violated by the Tea Party freshman senator who tried to smear a war hero who not only served his country with courage but also has battled for veterans and military families in Texas and nationally for a generation.

Nationally, the shameful performance by Cruz, who acted like Joe McCarthy in short pants with his insults of war hero Hagel, illustrates why Republicans keep losing elections, why the Republican and Tea Party brands are in such disrepute, and why the so-called Republican reboot (which I have called the Republican retoot) is still not close to credible.

In Texas, veteran voters know that Hagel is enthusiastically supported by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and groups speaking for veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Presumably while Hagel was battling as a decorated war hero and fighting for all living veterans, Cruz was being cheered at Tea Party seminars and eating popcorn at war movies.

Cruz's performance at Armed Services was disgraceful and appalling. He violated the proud tradition of a great bipartisan committee and did no service to the countless veterans and war heroes of Texas and the nation who know that Hagel is a great friend and member of the band of brothers and sisters who serve Texas and America with valor.

[Laurian]

1. I'm sure this teabagger takes the admonishment as a

compliment. It is not possible to embarrass or humiliate these ignorant slugs.

[bullwinkle428]

2. How many baggers out there right are sporting wood over the idea of a

Rand Paul/Ted Cruz 2016 ticket?

[OldDem2012]

3. They used a couple of pages out of the John Kerry "swift boat" smears during the 2004 election....

...I guess they figured it worked then, why not now?

Kerry was also a decorated war veteran who was absolutely, and falsely, vilified by GOP Tea-Nazi operatives.

[loudsue]

13. The truth is, GOPers LOVE the Military Industrial Complex and HATE the vets

All of their votes have shown that through the years. It's the military powerful the GOP love, not the boots on the ground.

[Bake]

23. There's the truth!

BAM!



Bake

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Cruz was revolting, and I don't even like Hagel.

I was glad to hear Nelson give him a piece of his mind, and I don't even like Nelson. That's how shitty Cruz's behavior was.

[Berlum]

5. Chickenhawk Republicans always crap on honorable US Veterans

...it is a real pattern, an ugly pattern.

Republicans really have it in for anyone who served America.

[sheshe2]

6. Hateful little man.

Not a real surprise though...look what they did to Max Cleland.

[FarleysMom1]

11. And let's not forget Tammy Duckworth

[Wait Wut]

14. You get a heart...

...for remembering Rep. Duckworth. She's an amazing, brave woman. Joe Walsh is a gigantic, useless tool.

Welcome to DU!

[OldDem2012]

18. Wow. Isn't that the truth. Walsh flamed her unmercifully. nt.

[justabob]

7. what an embarrassment that guy is

We've got more than our fair share of wing nuts, but Cruz is awful.

[pscot]

8. Cruz is an embarrasment to the Country

[winterpark]

9. You know, we keep criticizing these crackpots that have been duly elected by the citizens

of their states. But we never talk about what that says about the electorate? How stupid are we that we let our fellow citizens elect these crackpots in the first place? Organizing on the left must be stepped up. Better candidates must be put up for consideration and not just establishment choices. In places like here in Florida we have got to step up the ground game or we'll be stuck with this idiot governor and the rethug majority in tallahassee and asscaps like rubio for decades.

Just sayin

[Bluenorthwest]

12. State politics is more fun that DU:

http://www.floridadems.org/crmapi/volunteer

[marble falls]

10. AND he never, ever served. He's my Senator and I never voted for him or .....

the slightly less despicable butthead before him he beat in the primary. I am a Republican and I'd vote for the Socialist candidate first. The Democratic candidate was going to lose but at least he was the most in touch with reality by a long stretch.

[Yavin4]

15. First Bush, Then Rick Perry, Now Cruz

To paraphrase ESPN: "Come on Texas!"

[Squaredeal]

16. What did he do?

Wear a band aid with a Purple Heart on it during the hearing, just like the VFW members did to John Kerry to ridicule his military service to his country in Vietnam when he was addressing their convention, while they supported AWOL George Bush, whose daddy pulled political strings to keep his son out of the war?

[another_liberal]

17. Sure, but . . .

Sure, "In Texas, veteran voters know that Hagel is enthusiastically supported by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and groups speaking for veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan," but, don't you see, the President is still a Black Man! Ignorant, racist, Tea Party types are never going to vote for any of his nominees, not any more than they'll ever stop waving those stupid Snake Flags.

Wait until election day, 2014. I'm afraid nothing much will happen before then.

[Caeser67]

19. It Is The Fault Of The So-Called Media

That has in years past promoted the Chickenhawks over those who have served. John Kerry was portrayed as soft when it came to War, was ridiculed by Republicans with Purple Heart Band-Aids (for which I have two, not the Band-aids but Purple Hearts, Panama 89, Iraq 2005) at their convention, even though he was a 3 time Vietnam Vet. But who was held up as the War hero? Well I don't need to say who. But who ate it up, played up that narrative, and ran with it because it was good theater? Again, no need to say, so let's stop with the faux outrage (so-called media), you built this.

[otohara]

20. The Is Just The Beginning

has anyone besides me ever called this guy's office?
Holy shit they are mean and argumentative.

[Smilo]

21. Like my Dad used to say

empty vessels make the most sound.

Those teabagger chickenhawks who spout on about how patriotic they are, ye have absolutely no problem in slandering a true war hero. Given the chance to serve a week at the front - these teabagger chickenhawks would be running the other way.

[riverbendviewgal]

22. Joe McCarthy has risen from the dead.

Yes Cruz is using the same tactics...see wiki on McCarthy..

He was noted for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the United States federal government and elsewhere. Ultimately, his tactics and inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the United States Senate.