Veterans Groups Demand NH GOP Chair Apologize
Veterans groups demand New Hampshire GOP Chair Jack Kimball apologize to troops and military families for saying if President Obama is reelected, those who died in war will have died “completely in vain.” Kimball’s comments were captured on video while addressing the Hillsborough County Republican Committee Flag Day Picnic on June 12, 2011.
Groups condemning Kimball’s comments include VoteVets.org, the largest progressive group of veterans in America with over 100,000 members; the Truman National Security Project, a national security leadership institute; and VetPAC, a political action committee formed by American veterans and military family members.
Iraq War Veteran and Interim Chairman of VoteVets.org, Ashwin Madia:
“Jack Kimball owes our troops and their families a deep apology. He has attempted to trivialize their sacrifices in order to launch a partisan attack on their commander in chief. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the military did so in service to America, fighting for our values — the most important of which is our democratic system of government, where people freely choose our leaders. Kimball’s statement displays a deep ignorance of our military and contempt for our system of government — he should immediately apologize.”
The Truman National Security Project’s Vice President, Michael Breen, former US Army Captain and New Hampshire native:
“It is disgraceful for a partisan official to claim that men and women are dying for party rather than their country. Americans who put on the uniform in defense of their nation do so without regards to partisanship – we swore an oath to the Constitution, not the President and certainly not a party. He needs to apologize.
“Jack Kimball should know better; he served in the Navy and the lessons learned in uniform should have stuck with him longer than they have. Mr. Kimball must apologize for so blatantly using the deaths of service members in petty political games. With hundreds of thousands of men and women in harm’s way in the mountains of Afghanistan and the streets of Baghdad, he owes them an apology too.”
Other veterans condemning Kimball’s remarks include Colonel Richard L. Klass, USAF, Retired on behalf of VETPAC; Michael Rodriguez, US Marine Corps veteran from New London, NH, who served in Iraq; Andrew Vera, US Navy Veteran from Hanover, NH, who served in Iraq; John Thornton, US Army veteran from Nashua, NH, who served in Iraq; and Terron Sims, Former US Army Captain, Arlington, Virginia.
