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TX-Sen: Draft-Dodger To Decorated Veteran, "Reveal Your Military Records." |
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The Texas GOP seems to think Swiftboating veterans still works. Today, they have asked Democratic Senatorial candidate and decorated veteran Rick Noriega to release his military records to the public:
The Republican Party of Texas, and by extension, Senator John Cornyn, has requested that I release my military records to them. I am astounded and outraged at the implications of this request. Over the past few years, some Republicans have conducted the most dishonest and disreputable attacks on veterans that our nation has ever seen.
This is funny. Why? Because given the chance to serve his country, Senator Cornyn obtained a student deferment under dubious circumstances in 1971:
According to an Associated Press article of 9/28/02 entitled "Kirk, Cornyn Debate Defense Amid National Wrangling Over the Issue"
Both (Cornyn and Kirk) were in college during the Vietnam War. Cornyn, now 50, said he registered for the draft and his number was 28, which meant he was likely to go to war. Cornyn had a college deferment all four years of college. In his senior year, the draft ended, he said.
"I thought college was important and I think certainly I would have been willing to go if we had continued to have a draft at the end of my college deferment," he said.
This is really odd given that student deferments were to have come to screeching halt in 1970. The entire rationale for the draft lottery was to even the playing field for those being called into service. Prior to the lottery, student deferments were possible for those enrolled full-time in four year colleges/universities. Students had to demonstrate they were in good academic standing in order to receive deferments.
Now, the draft-dodging Cornyn is asking for Noriega's records. The implication is that the records will be used to smear Noriega as something less than the honored veteran he is.
Noriega plans to release the records, of course, but in due time:
I welcome honest scrutiny of every aspect of my service. It's been my privilege to serve our nation for nearly 27 years in places like Afghanistan, and on the Texas border, and I fully intend to release my military records, subject to security review and updating of my most recent training and commendations, to the public. As I am currently serving as the Commander of the 1-141 Infantry, 36th Infantry Division and potentially subject to redeployment, I am not going to allow my family, my soldiers or my country to be put at risk as a result of your political games. You are welcome to view my military records at the same time as the citizens of Texas.
The intellectual dishonesty is astounding. Republicans, the self-styled party of national defense, resorts time and time again to smear tactics against American heroes that happen to play for the other political team. Instead of standing up and defending his multiple votes against troop redeployment in Iraq and health care for veterans, John Cornyn plans to swiftboat a strong challenger.
Somehow, I doubt the straight shooters down in Texas will stand for it. I won't stand for it either. Join me, sign the petition against these types of smear campaigns, and help keep the debate about the issues.
As an actively serving military member, and a commander no less, Rick Noriega is wise to keep his military records private. There are ongoing attempts to use military members' personal information, be it from released records or social networking sites, to target them and/or their families for harassment or attacks. The groups interested in this information range from domestic groups with an anti-military agenda to overseas and domestic jihadists and sympathizers. Putting your own life on the line for your country is one thing, opening up your family for attack is another. Shame on the Texas Republican party for pressuring him.