by Stephen Dietrich
Recently, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed her finger at her political rival, billionaire Donald Trump, over his charity fund raising for veterans. She accused Trump of not raising as much money as he claimed he’d made for veterans
What Clinton conveniently failed to mention was that she had raised zero dollars herself for veterans, and hadn’t donated to a veterans charity since 2012.
Undaunted by reality, the Clinton campaign paid a dozen veterans to stand outside Trump Tower with signs touting a made up group, “Veterans Against Trump,” to rally media attention on whether he donated the proceeds of his January 28 fundraiser in Iowa to vets.
I am a veteran. And I find the practice of using my fellow veterans as political puppets to be despicable.
While veterans have our opinions and our political leanings — both left and right — I find it insulting and degrading to all those that served to bribe someone to speak on our behalf.
The vast majority of my fellow veterans agree. According to a poll by Morning Consult, veterans picked Clinton dead last when compared to both Trump and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The Horn News reported last Wednesday, in that one evening in Iowa Trump raised over 50 times the amount of money for veterans than Clinton had in years.
Clinton has horded a massive fortune — over $110 million according to some estimates — from lucrative Wall Street speaking tours and book deals in the past few decades. During that time, she’s given little to the veterans she now claims to value.
All of that’s okay. Really, it is.
I’m a firm believer in the free market. In my opinion, Clinton can do with her money whatever she likes. It’s her money, it’s not my business.
But don’t spit on my shoes and tell me it’s raining.
Clinton has insulted the intelligence of the entire voting public by insisting she cares for veterans now that it’s politically convenient.
Clinton had years decades to organize her fellow Democrats to help fix the debacle of Veteran Affairs office. She has had ample opportunity to reach out to veterans groups for fundraisers or goodwill efforts. She consistently declined to do so.
Then, when it is politically convenient, Clinton cuts a check for a dozen or so veterans to dance around for her and wave signs for an invented group, “Veterans Against Trump”?
The Clinton campaign’s behavior at the Trump Tower crossed the line.
Veterans are not mindless catchphrases. We’re not puppets whose strings are there to pull when one wants to make a political point.
Using veterans as squeak toys to attract media attack dogs is disgusting and unacceptable. Clinton ought to be ashamed.
Where was her support when soldiers came back from the Iraq War — which Clinton voted for — mangled and scarred and unable to walk?
Where was this outpouring of care from Clinton when veterans were dying in line waiting for the VA to give them the care they’d earned?
It wasn’t there.
So my support isn’t there now for Clinton.
It is my hope that others agree.
I’m calling on my fellow veterans to wade into the political arena. Not for one candidate or another. I don’t care if you support Republican Donald Trump, Libertarian Gary Johnson, Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, or Kermit J. Frog for president.
As long as you recognize how disastrous a Clinton presidency would be for America — and for veterans — I invite you to stand with me as a “Veteran Against Clinton.”
— Stephen Dietrich is the Managing Editor of The Horn News. He served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Serving ones country is what other people do is the motto of Clinton and so many others of BOTH party affiliations. In the past 15 years about ONLY 2% of those age 19-30 have served in our military. Common to see on commercials on televised sporting events ads for video war games. The ads are geared to adults. However, few of these adults would ever join a service in reality.
HOORAH TO THE VETERAN FOR TELLING US THE TRUTH! YOU DID A FINE JOB! KNOW THAT ALL THE PATRIOTS IN THE USA RESPECT AND HONOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY. WE KNOW OF THE SACRIFICES YOU HAVE HAD TO GIVE AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SHARES HOW I FEEL IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE AND HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO FOR OUR COUNTRY. THANK GOD HE IS A MAN OF HIS WORD AND SPEAKS THE TRUTH!
Please!!! Do not type your post in all caps. It is difficult read and gives me a headache. I skip any messages typed in all caps, no doubt missing much good information.
Sort of like Leona saying “Taxes are for little people.”
Main Street, you are so correct. And may I also add, that immaturity level of those that gravitate towards Violent video games is very questionable, at best. There is no redeeming value in Violence, but most likely a tool for those that want our Country, to fall.
Thank you for your poignant diagnosis and sensible comments. You and your brothers and sisters in arms have my sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for your sacrifice and service.
A sad day for the Republic when our electable candidates are Froghorn Leghorn and the alleged “spouse” of Pepee le Pew.
I served during Desert Storm but stayed in the US during that time frame.I will not give false testimony and claim I was in the shit. Nonetheless I did serve 5years and was honorably discharged.Hildabeast makes me sick and cares nothing for veterans. She would be a walking disaster as Commander in chief and wouldn’t answer that all too important 3am phone call. She already had her audition at 3am and failed miserably.
Thank you for your service. It is much appreciated.
Amen to that, I’m a Vietnam vet and can’t stand the thought of that sorry excuse of humanity being the next commander in chief. All conservatives need to rally behind the Donald or she WILL be the next President. United We Stand…
This Nam Vet stands with Trump. Hillary would be a disaster for America! And I am an Independent voter.
This veteran will never vote for Clinton and my family will be for Trump even though he wasn’t the first choice.
I as a veteran stand with you, veterans against CLINTON BENGHAZI! Thank you Donald Trump!
I agree with the responses I have read here today. Trump gives to the vets and other organizations and doesn’t ask for a thank-you. He appreciates what others do for our country. That is a far cry from Killary who only cares for herself. It would be a sad day for the U.S. if she should become pres. I, like some others, serviced during, but not in, Viet Nam and saw how our country reacted to what was happening then. We had our govt. leaders that where only interested in themselves. not about the service people who where over there fighting and dieing for what? I lost some high school friends and I know a lot of you also did. We don’t need that again. I have come to understand Trump. He may make outlandish comments, but, they are usually right I just hope the American people read, study and listen up to what is going on before the election in Nov..
To all the vets who have posted here, thank you for your gracious service. You are a credit to your families, your friends, your communities, and your country. May God bless all of you.
As a Vietnam Vet with 21 years of service I feel it would be a slap in the face to all Vets if Americans see only that they can elect the first woman as a President and not see the person with the history of failure. We need a businessman to fix our countries debt and with this man having a history of helping Veterans when he had no political reasons in the past to do so is a plus. Veterans that will take money to help Clinton in my book must be kin to Hanoi Jane Fonda. Vote Trump!!!