Is GOP spin on angry veterans true?

[Lasher]

Republicans have turned the National World War II Memorial into the government shutdown’s poster child.

But there’s one big problem with their protest: Veterans streaming into Washington to see the monument don’t really face any obstacles in their visits, and many complain that they are being used for political gain.

Black metal barricades may indeed be wrapped around the nine-year-old site on the National Mall. But the National Park Service rangers charged with protecting the monument also have been under orders since the day after the shutdown’s start to move the gates out of the way when any World War II veterans arrive.

“We’ve had no problems at all,” said Jim McLaughlin, a lead organizer for the Honor Flight Network, the nonprofit group drawn into the dispute when several GOP lawmakers accompanied its guests during their first visit to the memorial hours after the shutdown started.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/how-much-of-the-gop-spin-about-angry-vets-is-true-98362.html?ml=tb

[KansDem]

1. It's on par with the "Rage in the Heartland" stories that CorpMedia advanced...

...when a lot of TeaBaggers whined and cried about "wanting their country back."

It's all about photo-ops with the GOP and the need to appear like Real 'Murikans™

[marble falls]

2. While military service is not for everybody, it pisses me off when almost all of these ....

flag wrapped teabillies found it inconvenient to have put on the uniform. If you're going to quack like a duck shouldn't you have at least waded in the pool?

The louder the teabilly, the less likely he's/she's educated and the less likely he/she served in anyway -military, Peace Corps, volunteer work past a motorcycle Santa gift run.

If they lost America (and we all have to some degree) its because they support asshat Teapublican and Teabilly candidates

[MADem]

9. If you're going to quack like a duck shouldn't you have at least waded in the pool?

I'm sure many of my fellow ducks got as big a laugh out of that comment as I did!

[DinahMoeHum]

3. ". . .For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that. . ."

". . .and 'Chuck him out, the brute!'
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!. . ."

- Rudyard Kipling - Tommy

[EC]

4. Isn't this an open air monument?

This whole thing is a bunch of hooey.

[Lasher]

5. Do you think people should be allowed to visit the WWII monument unattended?

Remember the green paint on the Washington Monument? There's an even greater risk of vandalism now that there is only a skeleton crew of Rangers. People like to bring in their hot dogs and dribble mustard everywhere. Kids like to climb on the monuments. During the shutdown there's just 12 Park Service workers to watch over Mall area monuments.

Trash cans are overflowing near the World War II memorial because almost all the 300 Mall area service personnel have been furloughed.

[EC]

6. No, too many liabilities. The barriers were like when there is no lifeguard on duty..

Any accident is on you since you went beyond the barrier. And vandalism is the other problem.



What I was asking is, can't it be seen from behind the barriers? So how should I have phrased it so as not to get a lecture?

[Lasher]

7. It's hardly worth going there if you have to stay behind the barriers.

Here, check out this layout and you'll see:



Folks need to go inside to read the names of those who perished, etc.

The Honor Flight Network has been taking groups of WWII vets to the memorial since 2005. Their charter flights are scheduled months in advance. It was a real big deal to these vets and their supporters when they arrived to find the barricades up. That's why there's been an exception for these folks since the first day of the shutdown. They get to go inside.

Sorry about the lecture. Sometimes I'm not as civil as I should be and this was one of those times.

[EC]

8. No problem. n/t

[MADem]

10. Names? There are stars and each star represents thousands.

There are names of states, and bronze wreaths....

The whole thing looks like the Germans built it.

That said, there's no challenge getting in there. You just walk around the barrier and go in.