November 8, 2005
Chickenhawk Update: Congress' Vanishing Veterans
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
"Chickenhawks." It's a term BuzzFlash often has occasion to use in connection with the Bush administration. We even have a "Perspectives" page dedicated to the idea.
http://www.buzzflash.com/perspectives/chickenhawks.html
The New Hampshire Gazette has some Chickenhawk web pages, too:
http://www.nhgazette.com/news/chickenhawks/politicans_platoon/
Now Parade Magazine, which is delivered to heaven knows how many homes along with numerous Sunday newspapers, has published the following "Intelligence Report" by Lyric Wallwork Winik in their November 6, 2005, edition:
Congress' Vanishing Veterans
There are more than 25 million veterans in the U.S., but fewer and fewer in Congress. Of 100 Senators, 31 served on active duty or in the reserves. Just eight saw combat, including World War II pilot Ted Stevens (R., Alaska) and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye (D., Hawaii). In the House, 110 out of 435 are veterans, but just 29 saw combat. Only one vet is a woman: Rep. Heather Wilson (R., N.M.).
The vet total adds up to just over 26% of both houses -- a huge drop from 1978, when it was 77%. Does it matter? Well, Congress sets the budget for our military. But critics worry more about a failure to appreciate the sacrifices of our armed forces when Congress votes to send them into harm's way. What's more a 2004 report listed only 14 members, including three Senators, with children in uniform.
To summarize:
As the Parade sub-headline states: "Only 14 of the people who can vote for war have kids in uniform."
Only 26% of our elected representatives currently serving in the House or Senate have served in the armed forces, compared to 77% in 1978.
31 of the 100 senators are veterans; only 8 saw combat.
In the House, 110 out of 435 are veterans; 29 saw combat.
Does that explain why veteran and Senator John Kerry was attacked mercilessly when he ran for president?
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS