They Asked For It

Mitch McConnell, Lead Obstructor for the Republicans in the Senate, caught a break this morning when his top two potential rivals for his seat next November, State Auditor Crit Luallen and Attorney General Greg Stumbo, appeared to decline to compete in the Senate race. Emboldened, apparently, by this good fortune, McConnell decided to tar every American soldier who ever served in combat by claiming that those who volunteer for the military... deserve to die? Get what's coming to them? Ought to be thankful to be sent into necessary wars with a target on their backs and no proper body armor? What the hell is the point he's trying to make here?

“Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win. Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."

Andrew Horne, a Kentucky Iraq war vet who may yet challenge McConnell for the Senate seat, responded over at VetVoice:

"I would say that Mitch McConnell owes every member of our service and the families of the fallen an apology, but no apology from him can take back the venom he has spewed at our troops, this time. For anyone to believe that casualties of war are somehow more acceptable because they were not draftees is disgusting. For the Republican leader in the United States Senate to say that is beyond repugnant."

"This is just Mitch McConnell once again demonstrating that he has no idea of - and has no interest in learning - what our troops have sacrificed. Whether it is filibustering a bill that would give proper time at home for our overextended troops, or voting against increased funds to take care of veterans who have come home, Mitch McConnell has shown nothing more than complete ignorance about our military and those who serve our nation in it."

"To my fellow service members and veterans, let me apologize on behalf of Kentucky for Senator McConnell's putrid comments. He most certainly does not represent our views, nor the high regard in which we hold you and your families."

We learned this week that military families, who've been burdened with practically the entire cost of this war, favor Democrats in large numbers. Perhaps the insensitivity of "leaders" like Mitch McConnell, who regards men and women in uniform as nothing more than meat to be ground into sausage, is the reason why.