This is so
typical of the hyper-partisan Capitol Hill shenanigans that led to the shutdown
(and possibly a default): It turns out
that the “closed” World War II Memorial that has become such a focal point in
this morass has actually been open on a daily basis.
typical of the hyper-partisan Capitol Hill shenanigans that led to the shutdown
(and possibly a default): It turns out
that the “closed” World War II Memorial that has become such a focal point in
this morass has actually been open on a daily basis.
According toPolitico, the metal barricades around the open-air monument have been opened
for visitors as they arrive by National Park Service rangers since the second
day of the shutdown. Politico found that veterans have easy access to the site
– and they are upset that the memorial has become the scene of such political gamesmanship.
for visitors as they arrive by National Park Service rangers since the second
day of the shutdown. Politico found that veterans have easy access to the site
– and they are upset that the memorial has become the scene of such political gamesmanship.
The shutdown
began with the Obama administration placing barricades around the National
World War II Memorial, a symbolic move to demonstrate the consequences of
congressional malfeasance.
began with the Obama administration placing barricades around the National
World War II Memorial, a symbolic move to demonstrate the consequences of
congressional malfeasance.
But by Day Two
of the shutdown the Republicans had turned that image on its head, making the
monument the scene of political theater as the GOP painted the administration as
anti-veteran.
of the shutdown the Republicans had turned that image on its head, making the
monument the scene of political theater as the GOP painted the administration as
anti-veteran.
On Day 14,
Sen. Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin were key speakers at a rally at the memorial that
got the tea party folks so riled up that they grabbed metal barricades and
hauled them over to the White House. When the protesters started piling up the
barricades at the White House gates, the police arrived and the angry crowd
began calling them “brown shirts” and “Gestapo.”
Sen. Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin were key speakers at a rally at the memorial that
got the tea party folks so riled up that they grabbed metal barricades and
hauled them over to the White House. When the protesters started piling up the
barricades at the White House gates, the police arrived and the angry crowd
began calling them “brown shirts” and “Gestapo.”
We’ve come a
long way from the days when the GOP was the party of law and order that had
little tolerance for rowdy demonstrators.
long way from the days when the GOP was the party of law and order that had
little tolerance for rowdy demonstrators.
Jim McLaughlin
is the lead organizer for the Honor Flight Network, the nonprofit group drawn
into the dispute when several GOP lawmakers helped its guests gain entry during
Honor Flight’s first visit to the memorial hours after the shutdown started.
is the lead organizer for the Honor Flight Network, the nonprofit group drawn
into the dispute when several GOP lawmakers helped its guests gain entry during
Honor Flight’s first visit to the memorial hours after the shutdown started.
He told Politico
that his group, while attempting to stay out of the partisan bickering, has had
no difficulty bringing several hundred more veterans to see the monument since the
congressional standoff began on Oct. 1.
that his group, while attempting to stay out of the partisan bickering, has had
no difficulty bringing several hundred more veterans to see the monument since the
congressional standoff began on Oct. 1.
The Honor
Flight Network also hasn’t made any changes to its flight schedules — many of
the chartered aircraft were reserved weeks or months in advance, including
several groups of veterans who arrived Tuesday from Arizona, Texas and Missouri,
according to Politico.
Flight Network also hasn’t made any changes to its flight schedules — many of
the chartered aircraft were reserved weeks or months in advance, including
several groups of veterans who arrived Tuesday from Arizona, Texas and Missouri,
according to Politico.
Paul
Rieckhoff, the outspoken founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,
has blasted Democrats and Republicans for the way they have tried to use the
WWII Memorial for political gain.
Rieckhoff, the outspoken founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,
has blasted Democrats and Republicans for the way they have tried to use the
WWII Memorial for political gain.
“Veterans are
America’s favorite political chew toy,” he said. “Both parties love to use our
veterans and talk about our veterans, but right now, neither party’s delivering
for our veterans.”
America’s favorite political chew toy,” he said. “Both parties love to use our
veterans and talk about our veterans, but right now, neither party’s delivering
for our veterans.”
