There was a lot of stuff that disgusted me about Womack’s attack that his staffer swears wasn’t an attack on Ken Aden’s military service. But I want to draw your attention to one of the many revolting aspects of it:
When asked about the Force Skills Competition, the congressman compared it to “intramural sports” that gave the soldiers something to do.“Bless his heart, Ken Aden does not need to over-embellish being a member of the Force Skills Competition,” said Womack, who at 54, is 20 years older than Aden.“The primary mission over there was not related to what I call kind of an intramural sport. … It’s surprising that anyone would try to make some hay out of being on the Force Skills team,” said Womack.
Now look, I have never once in the past taken a shot at Womack’s, Griffin’s, Crawford’s, or anyone else’s military service, and I never will, nor will I allow anyone that writes or may someday write for this blog to do so. It’s wrong, pure and simple. I have gone after Tim Griffin for running on his service after working to disenfranchise soldiers serving overseas and I have gone after all three of our GOPer Congressmen for voting to protect their pay in the shutdown but not that of troops serving overseas (Crawford pretty much called me a liar for that one. But what’s that the teabaggers shrieked about last cycle? Oh yeah, read the damn bill Congressman.) But in those cases, it wasn’t their service I was attacking, but their treatment towards soldiers while waving their own uniforms at us.
So back to the picture. See, Womack, to my knowledge, was pretty much a part time soldier who’s overseas service amounted to his six month trip to the Sinai Peninsula in 2001 where Ken Aden served under him. That’s still admirable service and I’m not attacking him for it. (And if I inadvertently said something uncalled for or untrue I’d own up to it and not send La Voix running out to cover for me the way Womack hid behind his staffer.) But Womack started this by dissing Aden’s service, and after suggesting that Aden, a decorated veteran who saw combat in two countries, was exaggerating his service to get votes, you’ve got to admit that it’s pretty hypocritical of Womack to have run on “the courage to lead” based on his short stint in Egypt and then dis Aden for supposedly exaggerating his service. Again, any service is admirable, but trying to attack a decorated combat vet for supposedly exaggerating his service
I love the smell of charcoal lighter fluid in the morning…
I’d bless Steve Womack’s heart, but I can’t be sure he has one; so I’ll bless his ego instead since it’s so easy to find! Personally Mr. Aden, I want to thank you for your service to our country; doubly so since you had to start your career serving under such an arrogant officer. Our country is a better place for your presence.
About a month ago, I read a news story about Pfc Bushling; an NW Arkansas resident who has gone missing from his unit and his family fears he is dead. I wondered how it could be true that Congressman Womack had shunned the father of this missing serviceman; now I see how easy it is for Steve. His question to Mr. Aden “How much money have you raised” speaks volumes about Steve Womack’s values. Steve Womack cares nothing for the people who served under him in the National Guard, those who serve in the military nor the people he was elected to represent.
Steve Womack cares for money. That’s great for the 1%, but the rest of us will do much better with a Congressman who is courageous (41 months in combat), intelligent and caring. Ken Aden is the antidote to Steve Womack’s arrogance and greed.