Richard Burr sold lawnmowers. That is what he did. Not that anything’s wrong with selling lawnmowers, but in Burr’s case it speaks volume when you consider what he does now.
Burr was never in the military, had never worn a military uniform, never saw combat of any kind. But thanks to the brilliant thinking of the Republican leaders in Congress, Richard Burr’s lack of military background or expertise somehow made him a perfect candidate as the Ranking member on Veterans affairs. Burr is in charge of the Veteran’s affairs.
Senator Lawnmower, as he is affectionately called by Rachel Maddow, chose Memorial weekend to attack veterans groups, writing an “open letter” to the various groups accusing them of politicking with veterans affairs instead of doing what’s best for America’s bravest. In his letter, Burr hammered the various groups, claiming that they “ignored the constant VA problems expressed by their members and is more interested in their own livelihoods and Washington connections than they are to the needs of their own members.”
Of course, the groups had a lot to say about Burr’s letter, and on Memorial weekend, these Veterans groups were in their own war with the Republican senator. I guess you can say that this Republican is waging a #WarOnVeterans!
Given a chance to apologize for his insensitive remarks in the letter, Burr instead doubled down.
“I absolutely stand by my statement,” the North Carolina Republican said in an email to POLITICO, referring to his controversial open letter blasting some of the organizations for not pressing for the ouster of Secretary Eric Shinseki in the wake of the VA scandal.
“In fact, the reaction from some of the Veterans Service Organizations —VFW, DAV, and PVA — seems to prove my point: their national leadership are far more outraged by my words than they have been about the VA scandal or Secretary [Eric] Shinseki’s mismanagement of the agency,” he added, referring to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
“How many Inspector General, Special Counsel, GAO, and Medical Inspector reports does it take to spur outrage and prompt action? Their position is even harder to understand in light of the statements made by the American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Concerned Veterans for America, and others.”
This one ain’t over folks. I put my money on the Veterans over a Republican any day!
