After President Pledges Support, Jindal Snubs Veterans

[babylonsister]

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2496


After President Pledges Support, Jindal Snubs Veterans
by: RockRichard
Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 22:39:26 PM EST



In an address to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama had much praise and pledged much support for Veterans and Servicemembers:

We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.

And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.

As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.

In the Republican response, Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal failed to mention the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, or Veterans and the issues that are important to them.

Change has not come to every aspect of Washington: providing legitimate support for Veterans is still not on the mind of the Republican party.

Jindal also had this to say about troop funding:

Now is no time to dismantle the defenses that have protected this country for hundreds of years, or make deep cuts in funding for our troops. America's fighting men and women can do anything. And if we give them the resources they need, they will stay on the offensive ... defeat our enemies ... and protect us from harm.

Just to reiterate, from the President's remarks:

o relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.

Maybe, the Governor played ostrich during the President's address.

The full text of the Republican response is below the fold located here

UPDATE: Adam Blickstein at Democracy Arsenal has another take on Jindal's speech.
.