Thomas D. Segel
mailto:tomsegel@acnet.net
(956) 423-3126

Republicans Could Lose Retired and Active Duty Military Support 955 words

Harlingen, May 15, 2002: The presidential election of 2000 was won by George W. Bush and the Republican Party by the narrowest of margins. It is a historical fact the election was won in the state of Florida. It is also a fact that the vote count was so close, winning numbers were assured only with the overwhelming support of men and women who submitted military ballots. We are now moving into another very close race for control of both the House and Senate. Can the Republicans count on their military supporters again?

According to some, that support is fading ... fast. Across the United States members of veterans and retired military organizations are starting to rethink their solid conservative support for GOP candidates. Where once they saw this party as a champion for military issues, they now see an administration which has failed to keep its campaign pledge that "Promises made are promises kept." Time and time again, those with disabilities, health problems, and other retirement concerns have watched as the President or key members of his administration have refused to support their legislation.

The Bush administration has refused to support improvement in the Tricare health program, which is the only insurance held by many active duty and retired military families. Improved funding was urged because most doctors and many hospitals are refusing to accept Tricare patients. Republicans killed any action to enhance that program in a House committee.

A bill which would give some relief to disabled retirees by partially removing a portion of the dollar per dollar deduction from retirement pay for disability compensation received, has a threatened veto from the President because it is too expensive.

This concern for about 5 billion dollars which would be too expensive for retired military personnel came at the same time President Bush was signing a greatly expanded 190 billion dollar bailout program for farmers. Disabled retirees have also not forgotten the bailouts of the airline industry and the railroad workers pension fund which were far more costly than anything done for those who defended this country during the most productive years of their lives.

A class action suit filed on behalf of more than 18,000 military retirees by Medal of Honor recipient and attorney Colonel "Bud" Day has worked its way to the steps of the Supreme Court. The suit charges our government failed to keep its promise of quality lifetime earned health care to career military personnel and their families. To date the courts have ruled in favor of the military petitioners, saying the government did break its promise. The Republican Administration and the Justice Department are still fighting that ruling.

Added to these rejections of military quality of life concerns are other legislative requests which have received no support from the Republican administration.

The leadership has done nothing to advance the requested removal of a reduction from a base 55% to 35% of retired pay for military widows 62 years of age or older, under the Survivor Benefit Plan. This is particularly offensive to the retired community because military members paid into that program all of their retired lives. When they have gone and their widows are most in need, the government takes away part of the benefits.

The administration has also failed to support a modification of the Former Spouses Protection Act, which most observers feel discriminates against the military careerist. In many cases a former spouse can be awarded the majority of a service members retirement and is not required to relinquish this monthly check even after children have grown or the recipient has remarried.

All of this negative and often confrontational attitude on the part of Republicans has started a grass roots backlash. Though not supportive of the liberal Democrat agenda, military personnel are strongly rethinking their traditional conservative support.

A grassroots military voting block organization has been established which will only support candidates it can trust to keep promises. Other organizations, such as the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees and the Military Services Grass Roots Group are calling on members to reject the standard party line and look only at those officials who seriously work on their behalf. Some members are even suggesting those senators and house members who refuse to work on behalf of military career issues be targeted for removal.

Along with these actions, messages are being sent to brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances on active duty. These messages are loud and clear....if the politicians won’t keep their promises to the military retired community now...what makes you think they will keep them to you on the day after you hang up your uniform for the last time?

Many from the retired military community are also advising young men and women to reject the idea of a uniformed service career. They tell these potential young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to be very wary of anything which is forthcoming from a political mouth.

"Politicians will say anything that sounds good or patriotic when they need you", says Jack Gross, a former Marine combat correspondent, now retired in San Antonio, Texas. "Then when the bullets stop flying, you are no longer of any value and they toss you on the trash heap."

Military retirees are not pleased with the view from their place on that repugnant pile. If those in power won’t change things, these former warriors may just arrange for some political company on their government mandated "trash heap". They will do this by voting with their feet, as they walk away from those who have long benefited from their solid support.

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Thomas D. Segel is a retired Marine combat correspondent and former Texas state official. Twice recognized for valor, he holds the Bronze Star and was also awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, in addition to two Purple Hearts and Joint Service Commendation Medal, along with Navy, Army and two Air Force Commendation Medals. In 1973 he was named Military Journalist of the year and received the Thomas Jefferson Award for journalistic excellence. He is a past national president of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association and now resides is Harlingen, Texas.