Pentagon's Carr Refutes Kerry, Damon: Poorest Only Underrepresented Group in Military

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

John Kerry's notorious "stuck in Iraq" statement, echoed by actor Matt Damon, suggesting that the United States military is a last resort for those without the education or finances to pursue other options, has been roundly refuted by Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Bill Carr. Among other areas, Carr has responsibility for recruiting and retenton. Secretary Carr appeared on yesterday's edition of my "rightANGLE" TV show. In addition to commenting on a wide range of recruitment-related topics, Sec. Carr had this to say about the Kerry-Damon remarks:

"Two-thirds of those entering the military are drawn from the top half, so we have a clearly disproportionate, strongly educated, high-aptitude military. With regard to financial status of the parents, that's also misrepresented. The only group that is underrepresented in the military are the poorest. If you look at the zip codes from which they come, and then you compare the incomes, using commercial sources, from those zip codes, we're represented exactly as we should be except we're seriously underrepresented among the poorest, and somewhat overrepresented in the middle class. And could I add, the financial elite . . . are represented in exactly their proportion in the population."

Carr theorized that health care issues might explain the underrepresentation of the poorest Americans in the military.View video of Sec. Carr's comments here.

Although Secretary Carr was too diplomatic to suggest it, my own research indicates that among members of our military, there is another signficantly underrepresented demographic: millionaire movie stars.

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[Frank_2001]

Well stated!

[potlatch]

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I am literally LOL!

[potlatch]

Thank you!

[Grampa Dave]

Neither the drug abusing Jon Carry and Matt Damon would be able to get into today's volunteer military.

Also, neither one is smart enough to get if they passed their drug tests, which is doubtful.

[LWalk18]

Keep in mind also that the military does not accept just anyone who wants to join. Many of those in the poorest communities may have criminal records that would exclude them from military service.

[Grampa Dave]

Superb!

[potlatch]

Thank you Dave

[TigersEye]

sKerry-lib logic: "I was in the military. I'm dumber than a fence post. Therefore people in the military must be dumber than a fence post."

[roses of sharon]

This needs to be emailed to Damon and the union headquarters for actors, a little education would do them good.

[HardStarboard]

I'd be interested in a statistic that shows mumber of U.S. Senators and Represenatives whose offspring are currently in the military split out between Republican and Democrat.

We should strive for balance and diversity don't you know

[devolve]

A Hall of Fame Classic!

[potlatch]

Lol, you don't have to go through all of these one by one. They are 'etched', ETCHED your memory!!

[devolve]

Hoo moi?

[potlatch]

Only you

[devolve]

The Inkspots recorded that didn't they?

[potlatch]

The Platters