Patrick McHenry Statement And The Misrepresentation From The Left
Thinkprogress ran a story today under the headline “Rep. McHenry calls U.S. soldier in Iraq a ‘two-bit security guard“. Here is what he said:
We spent the night in the Green Zone, in the poolhouse of one of Saddam’s palaces. A little weird, I got to be honest with you. But I felt safe. And so in the morning, I got up early — not that I make this a great habit — but I went to the gym because I just couldn’t sleep and everything else. Well, sure enough, the guard wouldn’t let me in. Said I didn’t have the correct credentials.
It’s 5:00 in the morning. I haven’t had sleep. I was not very happy with this two-bit security guard. So you know, I said, “I want to see your supervisor.” Thirty minutes later, the supervisor wasn’t happy with me, they escort me back to my room. It happens. I guess I didn’t need to work out anyway.
The expected “Republicans hate the troops” comments flowed onto the website in just a few short minutes. Air America also picked up on this story saying:
An American stationed in Baghdad followed orders on Green-Zone security only to get mocked by a conservative lawmaker who never wore a uniform. Classy.
Somehow, I have a hunch that if McHenry were a liberal Dem, and he called an American serviceman or servicewoman serving in Baghdad a “two-bit security guard,” it’d be quite a while until we heard the end of it.
For the record however, unlike when Democrats belittle our soldiers and recieve cheers from the left, no such cheers came from the right, with Ed Morrissey calling the comment “Exceedingly dumb and offensive“.
There is only one problem however, the “two bit security guard” in question was not a U.S. soldier as reported by ThinkProgress:
Think Progress provides the video, but at no point does McHenry indicate that the “security guard” is an American soldier. In fact, if Amanda had bothered to call McHenry’s office, she would have learned that the security guard was one of the foreign contractors so reviled by the left–an individual who in any other circumstance Amanda would likely label a “mercenary.” I did call McHenry’s office and the congressman’s press secretary offered this statement from his boss:
“It was a poor choice of words to describe the foreign contractor, but anyone who was there knows that I delivered a speech praising the heroism and sacrifice of those who are serving our country in harm’s way”.
Of course this doesn’t excuse Rep McHenry’s derogatory remark towards someone who was simply doin his job, however it does highlight the lengths some will go to disparage a Republican Congressman.
Sphere: Related ContentIf you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Does it really matter whether it was a soldier or contractor? Either would be there to defend and protect our interest and in this case McHenry’s back side.
It was an inappropriate comment regardless if it was a soldier or not.
Ashamed to Be a Member of McHenry’s District in Hickory, NC
I agree Mary, but I have read elsewhere that the video was edited to take his statement out of context. Supposedly the statement was sarcastic due to the fact that the building was hit by a rocket half an hour later. Either way thinkprogress and others stated he was referring to a US soldier without checking the facts first, and the facts need to be brought out.
In all due respect my husband oversees civilian contractors as a Quality Engineer in Ft. Greely, AK and my observation is this:
Senator McHenry and his staff could not even answer my questions regarding the funding of the ICBM Project on his latest conference call.
On behalf of both the civilian families, military families and contractors serving to keep our nation safe they deserve more.
My husband has endured -52 degree weather this past winter (inc. windchill) and continues to serve his country with the upmost dignity and respect.
When Patrick McHenry has served in any capacity on the front line talk to me.
Until then I pass of the “sound bite” lecture as an excuse.
We have another 3-5 years and more than likely Poland facing us before we can have any stability in our lives.
Pardon me if the answers on very pertinent questions facing this country appear to allude Mr. McHenry.
On his conference call he was more interested in some 4 lane highway bypassing Spruce Pine.
Months passed by before anyone on his staff answered my email question regarding the ICBM and even then had to be reminded what it was.
Mary,
Unfortunately, so many of the facts have been skewed by Lance Sigmon that you’re upset about something that just didn’t happen as it was portrayed. It’s already coming out that Sigmon (and his wife) are denying he said (or published) “American soldier” and he changed his website without issuing a correction. <a href=”http://mchenryrocks.blogspot.com/2008/04/sigmon-has-no-problem-lying-and.html
I’ve always gotten quick answers from Congressman McHenry’s staff, and I know constituent service is one area where he has a particularly good reputation. No one is perfect, however, and it’s too bad that your experience wasn’t good.
My facts are based on personal experience, not something I read somewhere.
My conclusions do not come from drinking the Kool Aid.
Mary