Letter: Lack of support to veterans shows GOP’s hypocrisy

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 | 8:49 a.m.

The hypocrisy of the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress has never been more evident than their demonstrated attitude associated with the funding of care for the veterans. While trumpeting the necessity for support of the troops in Bush's Iraq War, they fund billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq while shortchanging Veterans Affairs programs by more than $1 billion.

The growing casualty reports from Iraq indicate the number of wounded and maimed now exceeds 13,000. This does not include the numbers that will carry mental images and scars that will haunt them the rest of their lives. What has become of the promises that our nation has made to the returning veterans from this and other wars?

Bush was quick to ask Congress to make permanent his tax cuts. Those cuts have only added more wealth to the coffers of the very rich. The wealth of this nation can be tied to the sacrifices of the veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Now Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress disregard those sacrifices, letting the wounded and the weary fend for themselves.

When one listens to the Republican rhetoric from the president and those on the House and Senate floor, it makes you wonder, "Where is their value system?" The shameful hypocrisy that spews from their lips is truly nauseating.

RAY HARBERT