Says she and Dems put illegal immigrants first
A local veterans’ advocacy group is blasting Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other state Democrats for their support of illegal immigrants, calling it “selfish political theater” and demanding they put veterans’ services at the top of their list — or feel the heat.
“We’d like to see our leaders re-examine their priorities, put this at the forefront — if we have to, we’ll knock on some doors in D.C.,” said John MacDonald of Veterans Assisting Veterans. “We need to take care of veterans first before we decide to take care of people who are illegally here.”
In a two-page open letter to “all Americans,” the group — which has funded all-terrain wheelchairs for local vets as well as horse therapy at Ironstone Farm in Andover — slams the “selfish blatant ignorance of the politicians that have chosen illegal immigrants over US Veterans” and calls for readers to support VAV’s cause.
The letter also targets U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano and Seth Moulton — an Iraq war veteran — and Mayor Martin J. Walsh for failing to speak out about veteran homelessness and health care problems, specifically calling out Warren and her “misguided antics.”
“Senator Warren and others like her should know the difference between legal and illegal activity and chose instead to act out negatively in selfish political theater,” the letter reads. “Where’s your rally for US Veterans, Senator Warren?”
VAV member Dennis Moschella, who co-wrote the letter, said the group’s goal is to inspire the public to demand more action on veterans’ issues from the congressional delegation.
“We want every veteran, every family member, to start making calls, put them on the spot,” Moschella said. “We want to know how Warren, Markey, Capuano stand on this issue.”
The only Republican the letter singles out is Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam War POW — who “has seemed to forget about his fellow veterans and the deep troubles at the VA.”
The offices of Markey, Capuano and Moulton did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, Warren spokeswoman Lacey Rose said the well being of veterans is of “utmost importance” to the senator, and that she wanted to ensure they received benefits and services they deserved, but said Warren would do that while also criticizing President Trump’s immigration policies.
“She also knows that standing up for our veterans and rejecting President Trump’s unlawful, immoral, and irresponsible attacks on immigrants are not mutually exclusive issues,” Rose said.
“We have immigrants and children of immigrants who serve with honor in our military, and she is committed to doing everything she can to protect the rights of all of our service members,” she said.
MacDonald says he doesn’t buy arguments that state politicians can faithfully support the plight of illegal immigrants and that of beleaguered veterans — and he thinks vets are getting the short end of the stick.
“It’s clear we’re not doing both. Too many politicians that have forgotten about our veterans refuse to even engage in the issue,” he said.
“How about we hold a press conference to eradicate veteran homelessness? Marty Walsh is ready to open up his office in City Hall to make a sanctuary city, why not make a sanctuary city for veterans?”
Department of Neighborhood Development Chief Sheila Dillon said the Walsh administration supports permanent housing for veterans, as opposed to a temporary shelter in City Hall, and said the city has housed 850 homeless vets — including all chronically homeless veterans — since 2015. The city plans to open 100 units of veteran housing in Brighton next year and officials meet every week to discuss veteran homelessness, she said.
“The mayor made it very clear in his homeless plan that he wanted veterans prioritized,” said Dillon. “They’re first, front and center in our plan.”
Open Letter to All Americans.pdf
Don't forget what John Kerry said about American soldiers:
"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." --John Kerry
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