Four years ago, I opined on the hubris of the incoming President concerning ending a 6 decade old tradition of attending the Medal of Honor "Salute to Heroes" Inaugural Ball. This Ain't Hell had reported on the missing POTUS, through their own attendee, TSO, who was there as part of the American Legion which sponsors the ball.
The Washington Examiner reports that he will again skip the ball. I cannot say I am surprised. Well, I'm a little surprised. I know he's a smart enough politician that I thought he might learn from his previous mistake. But this time, he has nothing to lose by not attending. He can't run again. And the fact is that not attending in 2009 was forgotten by the voters in 2012 anyway. Or rather, too many voters just didn't care, even in 2009.
But, he has demonstrated an ambivalence to Our Nation's Troops and Veterans, if not antipathy. He has consistently called for cutting Our Troops, their equipment, and the budget to support their efforts. He has asked Congress to cut the National Guard and Reserve's monthly pay in half. He has attempted to charge Veterans for their service connected injury health care. He has stumped for cutting 100k Soldiers and Marines. He has told the Air Force to patch up old F-15's rather than fund next generation F-22's. The Navy is making do with fewer aircraft carriers than the mission dictates.
As to Veterans, Obama appointed the worst General of the 90's and Oughts as Secretary of the VA. Shinsucki brought his same demoralizing policies from the Army to the VA. He blindly supported the POTUS's efforts to charge Veterans, and pay for the DoD budget with the surcharges on VA Health Care paid out of the pockets of Disabled Veterans and Military Retirees. Under Shinsucki, backlogged claims skyrocketed and delays in settling them jumped to many extra months.
The number of attendees at the ball is also down, from 48 to 25 Medal of Honor recipients. They are aging and dying off. Even after 11 1/2 years of war, there have been fewer new awards than there have been previous recipients that we have lost to old age. And the physical capability of those remaining is declining.
The Citizenry failed to hold him accountable for his anti-Troop policies in his 1st 4 years, for his snubbing of Our Nation's most proven Heroes 4 years ago, and have lost their respect for Our Troops and Veterans. This Nation has not returned to the general antipathy and loathing it exhibited towards its protectors in the 70's, but it has turned away from the respect and honor it demonstrated them in the 50's and 80's. That is reflected in and amplified by in the politicians in Washington.
Stumble It!
