John M. Tomaszewski – 11/13/06

This page was last updated on November 13, 2006.

Absence of veterans will hurt; John M. Tomaszewski; Beaver County Times; November 13, 2006.

Since September 2004, this is at least the 16^th letter from Mr. Tomaszewski spouting liberal talking points, with most bashing Republicans and/or President Bush.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The Veterans of Foreign Wars magazine reports that less than one percent of the population serves in the armed forces.”

[RWC] Not exactly. As of 2004, there were about 3.4 million volunteers in the military (active duty, reserves, National Guard, et cetera), or just over 1% of the population. That figure doesn’t include former members of the armed forces.

“The unexcused absence of America’s upper classes from military service hurts our country. In the future, no one in Congress and no president will have served or have any children in the military.”

[RWC] “[U]nexcused absence?” Isn’t this a volunteer military?

I wonder if Mr. Tomaszewski was concerned when Bill Clinton was in the White House. Not only did Bill Clinton not serve, he actually evaded the Vietnam draft by misleading a ROTC colonel. I wonder if Mr. Tomaszewski believes St. FDR should have stepped aside during World War II. After all, FDR didn’t serve in the military, though four sons did.

“This is not good. The military will be overused and support will run out for any project or military action that becomes a political liability. The present recruitment efforts are not based on patriotic duty but on job options and perks.”

[RWC] Mr. Tomaszewski appears to have a short memory. Isn’t what he described in the second sentence what happened in Vietnam despite the fact we had a draft?

In case you missed it, Mr. Tomaszewski is repeating Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) comments from 1972 and the week before the 2006 election. Why didn’t he just admit he agreed with Mr. Kerry?

Go here for the 2004 report on military demographics. Among other things, you’ll find the military has a higher level of education than the general population. This alone blows up the Kerry/Tomaszewski allegation.

What is it with liberals that they fill compelled to impugn the motives of our volunteers?

“However, in the present, I don’t see any move in Congress to have a military draft.”

[RWC] Actually, Democrats like Mr. Tomaszewski did “try” for a draft. In January 2003, Democrats wrote two military draft bills. When Republicans finally called the Democrat bluff, the House version of the bill was defeated 402-2. Even the bill’s author, Charles Rangel (D-NY) voted against it. The only two reps who voted for the bill? You guessed it, two Democrats, Murtha of Pennsylvania and Stark of California.