Kentuckians Slam McConnell For Comment Belittling Troop Deaths
By Greg Sargent - December 11, 2007, 12:51PM
As we reported here the other day, GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell appeared to belittle the deaths of American troops, saying the following in a meeting with constituents:
“Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win. Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."
The comment seemed to suggest that the deaths of professional soldiers isn't a huge deal because, well, they signed up for this.
Now McConnell's constituents are teeing off on him for the remark in letters to Kentucky's Courier-Journal.
Troy Torstrick of Louisville wrote: "The naked contempt that this comment displays for the men and women in the military is simply astonishing...If he had any shame, he would resign."
Added Steven Gregson of Owensboro: "Does this mean that he thinks that the lives of professional soldiers are somehow worth less than the lives of draftees? We Kentuckians have a big problem in Washington: His name is Mitch McConnell."
And one out of stater wrote: "Coming from a family with several career-long members of the military, including one in naval intelligence and another who was stationed at the Pentagon for years, I find McConnell's remark abominable and disgusting...I urge the citizens of Kentucky to make sure that this is his last term in the U.S. Senate."
You know, it's an awful cliche to say this at this point, but imagine if a Dem -- Harry Reid -- had said what McConnell said here, irking his own constituents. It would be a story for days and days and days. There's simply no question about it. But has a single major news organization picked up these quotes?
http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/kentuckians_slam_mcconnell_for_comment_belittling_troop_deaths.php