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In reply to the discussion: Veteran Has Had It With Republicans: ‘Don’t You Dare Thank Me For My Military Service’ [View all]Cassidy1
(300 posts)5. The whole "hero" thing is a ruse.
Thank somebody for their "service," and then go back to eating and watching the game.
People get the impression that these campaigns are grassroots, but they are orchestrated to the point of the Defense Dept paying the NFL for patriotic displays.
US Defense Department paid 14 NFL teams $5.4M to honor soldiers.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25181085/nfl-teams-received-54-million-from-defense-department-in-last-4-years
According to a report from Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the Department of Defense has paid 14 different NFL teams a total of $5.4 million over the last four years in exchange for patriotic displays at games.
Per NJ.com's report, "U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) last week called out the New Jersey Army National Guard for the spending, which, in part, paid for a segment at Jets home games in which soldiers were featured on the big screen, thanked for their service and given tickets to the game."
The National Guard responded by asserting that it was a useful recruitment tool.
"Promoting and increasing the public's understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team," Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty said.
The Jets were joined by the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Vikings and Steelers in receiving multiple payouts, while the Cowboys, Dolphins and Rams were each one-time recipients. The team that has received the most money from this practice is the Falcons, with a total of $1,049,500 coming their way in five payments.
Here's the full list from NJ.com:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25181085/nfl-teams-received-54-million-from-defense-department-in-last-4-years
According to a report from Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, the Department of Defense has paid 14 different NFL teams a total of $5.4 million over the last four years in exchange for patriotic displays at games.
Per NJ.com's report, "U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) last week called out the New Jersey Army National Guard for the spending, which, in part, paid for a segment at Jets home games in which soldiers were featured on the big screen, thanked for their service and given tickets to the game."
The National Guard responded by asserting that it was a useful recruitment tool.
"Promoting and increasing the public's understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team," Guard spokesman Patrick Daugherty said.
The Jets were joined by the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Vikings and Steelers in receiving multiple payouts, while the Cowboys, Dolphins and Rams were each one-time recipients. The team that has received the most money from this practice is the Falcons, with a total of $1,049,500 coming their way in five payments.
Here's the full list from NJ.com:
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Veteran Has Had It With Republicans: ‘Don’t You Dare Thank Me For My Military Service’ [View all]
Quixote1818
Jul 2015
OP
It's times like this that I truly wish I believed in hell. I'd wish that ALL those responsible
rhett o rick
Jul 2015
#127
war is a racket, and I have long held that the Iraq war was one of the cruelest ruses ever played on
Fast Walker 52
Jul 2015
#49
Ditto from the 60s...they said the 90s would stand the 60s on it's proverbial head. Indeed.
libdem4life
Jul 2015
#52
+1 I considered any car with that fucking ribbon to be a threat to me and the other drivers.
L0oniX
Jul 2015
#75
Thanks. "ISIS was formed in our prisons" - likewise, the Islamic Brotherhood
closeupready
Jul 2015
#56
Unfortunately the people of Iraq just happened live above a very large pool of petroleum; and...
Raster
Jul 2015
#64
+1 from an old late 1960's war protester with forever changed friends who came home.
L0oniX
Jul 2015
#71
Thank you for this post, shadowmayor. Eloquent, devastating, and must be communicated widely.
seafan
Jul 2015
#100
As Le Taz Says, Please Do Not Allow Your Moving Words to Remain Buried in a Comment Stream (nfm)
The Roux Comes First
Jul 2015
#126
Concerning W, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the other Republican hacks that killed all these people...
PatrickforO
Jul 2015
#10
This harkens to another age of American veterans from World War I the "Bonus March".
gordianot
Jul 2015
#38
R#195 & K for, I've been saying this for years. The local radio wingnut lectured me
UTUSN
Jul 2015
#86
Actually, the Repubs are quite correct to thank the troops for their service
brentspeak
Jul 2015
#92
If only all of them would wake up. Sadly most either don't vote or are repubs.
craigmatic
Jul 2015
#97