Pure Class:Idaho Style

From the Eye on Boise blog:

Larry LaRocco, who served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam war, noted that he’s the only veteran running, saying, “For 50 years we’ve sent a veteran to the U.S. Senate, and I think we should do that again, so that I can be there to understand and help the veterans that have served so bravely.”

Rammell said, “I support the military 100 percent. I’d have made a good warrior, by the way – if I could’ve went to the military, I would have.” Rammell, who is 47, was too young to serve in the Vietnam era. “I think Larry brings up a valid point with Jim – by all rights he ducked going to war, when he should’ve been there,” Rammell said. “He avoided going to war when Larry went. I would have gone had I been asked. This is a valid point that you need to think about.”

Thanks to LaRocco for serving his country. What Rammell says though is similar to Obama’s statement. How does there being a war on have anything to do with your ability to serve in the milirary? This is similar to something Barack Obama said. It’s okay not to serve but spare me the “if I could have, I would have” GI Joe talk. 

However, the cheap shots against Jim Risch finally got an answer from the Lieutenant Governor:

Risch, when it was his turn to speak, said, “Let me talk just a little bit about military service. In 1968, some important things happened – No. 1, Vicki and I fell in love. We also decided that we’d get married and start a family. We also decided that I would serve my country before we started a family, so I went down and I enlisted. I was told that I could get a commission since I had a college degree, I could apply for a commission. I declined that and enlisted as an infantryman, and I was turned down for health reasons. I had an ongoing ulcer, and they didn’t want me.”

Is having ulcers a disqualification from serving in the U.S. Senate? I’m struck by the irony. Most of these people who serve our country at war come home and lead quiet lives. Most Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart winners remain unknown to you and I. The courage of their service is only strengthened by how they carry themselves. They demand no special privileges beyond the basic benefits they were promised when they went in.

On the other hand, we have Starship Trooper candidates, particularly here in Idaho with Walt Minnick and Larry LaRocco. These candidates deserve thanks for serving their country, even if they didn’t bring home medals for extraordinary valour and courage.

Unlike most veterans, they take their military service and use it not just as a plus for themselves, but as a way to attack and belittle their opponents.

Neither Bill Sali nor Jim Risch served in the military. However, neither one dodged the draft and sent someone else in their place. Risch tried to enlist and couldn’t. Sali wasn’t of age when the draft was in place. Risch has spent a lifetime in public service in positions that have been prominent as well as some that have been unglamourous. In addition to his public service, Congressman Sali and his wife have poured themselves into their children, homeschooling all five of them. Having met some of them, I’ll say that there’s not a better testimony to the type of man, Congressman Sali is.

There are good points to both Democrats in these races. However, their attempts to turn their brief military service into an attack on their opponents is off-putting to say the least.

 I also have to say this is a line of attack will wane over the years. Less and less people are serving in the military. The days are past when that can be used as a major factor for choosing a candidate for office.