A belated response from our esteemed (cough, cough) Senator Lautenberg

e-mail | June 15, 2004 | Frank Lautenberg

[sonrise57]

June 15, 2004

Dear _______________________:

Thank you for expressing your opinion about my April 28th speech on the Senate floor. I appreciate your concerns about the political tensions triggered by America’s mission in Iraq and this year’s Presidential campaign. Regarding your letter, I feel it is important to clarify the circumstances surrounding my speech.

Nothing concerns me more than the well-being of American troops. As a veteran of World War II who served in the European theatre, I have first-hand knowledge of the rigors and chaos of war. My experiences in Europe left me with a lasting commitment to provide all necessary equipment and services to our troops. Because of this I have supported legislation to increase hostile fire pay to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, raise family separation allowances for reservists, and guarantee veterans health care services for all our veterans – all provisions that the Senate has had to fight against the Bush administration to pass. I am proud to say that my efforts have successfully contributed to each of these goals.

Despite his early promises of uniting our country, George W. Bush has been as divisive a president as I can recall. The Bush campaign contributes to this ongoing division by engaging in personal attacks against Senator Kerry. Beginning on April 25th, the Bush campaign sent Vice President Cheney and Karen Hughes on national television to attack the anti-war demonstrations Senator Kerry engaged in over 30 years ago. At a speech at Westminster College, Vice President Cheney’s personal attacks against Senator Kerry were so forceful that the president of the College felt compelled to apologize to the faculty, student body, and staff, and invite Kerry for an unscheduled rebuttal.

I made my “Chickenhawk” speech because I am sick and tired of people who never answered the call to duty defaming John Kerry – a true patriot – as weak on defense. That is preposterous. When the call came to defend our nation’s interests, John Kerry answered the call and he has served our country ever since. John Kerry has a strong record on defense both on the battlefield and in the Senate. As a former soldier, he has an excellent idea of which military systems deserve funding and which are faulty wastes of money being pushed by corporate lobbyists. John Kerry has voted for virtually every successful weapons system in use by today’s military. The list includes the Apache Helicopters; the F-15; F-16; F-18; F-117; USS Ronald Reagan Aircraft Carrier; M1A1 Abrams Tank; and the Tomahawk Missile.

I appreciate your passionate stance against my defense of Senator Kerry. Although I welcome your position on this matter, I will not stop defending him from the Bush campaign’s mean-spirited attacks, especially when they are made by people like Vice President Cheney, who received numerous deferments that allowed him to escape serving our country in Vietnam. When they stop attacking, I will stop counter-attacking.

Thank you again for your correspondence.

[sonrise57]

Just wanted to share with you all the e-mail I recieved from Senator Lautenberg in response to a letter I sent to him taking him to task for his rabid anti-bush "chicken hawk" speech. I don't know if it is a form response or not, but I thought you all would like to see the thinking of our one our more lefty Senators.

[counterpunch]

The John Kerry Files

[plain talk]

I made my “Chickenhawk” speech because I am sick and tired of people who never answered the call to duty defaming John Kerry – a true patriot – as weak on defense

patriot? My dictionary defines patriot as "one who loves his country and zealously defends its authority and interests". Does this describe Senator Kerry? Is Lee Harvey Oswald a patriot? Oswald was a veteran. Kerry is a veteran who became a traitor to his country.

[MEG33]

My opinion is in my tagline.The attacks on Bush are relentless from the dems...

[beelzepug]

"As a veteran of World War II..."

I'd have guessed Spanish-American War. Foolish old fart.

[Cyphas]

I think the thing that irritates me the most about his response is his repeating the mnatra that Bush is divisive.

I am getting pretty sick of Democrats saying that. I mean the whole notion of such a comment is just stupid. Divisive why..because you disagree with him?...I mean come on. Spare me. Liberals call Bush a Facist but HE is the one being divisive...So in short the only way we can not have a "divisive president" is to elect one that the democrats will like. And the notion that he is the most divisive ever..I mean spare me. What was he asleep during the clinton years...or has he completely forgotten that half the country despised him.. These sort of comments are as pathetic as they are vapid and dishonest.

[kimoajax]

Many years ago I worked for Lautenberg when he was running ADP. He was a complete and embarrasing bore that took every opportunity to drone on and on. He has not changed.

[altura]

He can't help being old but he needs to work really hard on the

Foolish and Fart part.

[Zeppo]

I had considered writing a letter to Senator Lautenberg to take him to task (from the "left") for insinuating that FDR was a 'chickenhawk'. I don't remember FDR having served in the military (although I might be mistaken)... The vile words that he used apply equally well to FDR, who, no doubt, is one of Lautenberg's heroes.

[Publius]

The day after the 2002 election, Lautenberg decided to go down to the Hoboken rail terminal to thank people for voting for him. The first person he came up to was a woman who had gotten off a Morris-Essex Division train.

"Good morning," he said, "I'm Senator-elect Frank Lautenberg, and I'd like to thank you for voting--"

She cut him off abruptly. "Get the f*ck out of my way. Can't you see I'm trying to get to work?!"