Purple Heart group gets flak over nod to Sen. Clinton

Scripps Howard ^ | 20-FEB-06 | LISA HOFFMAN

[ncountylee]

WASHINGTON -- It was a simple plaque, the sort handed out every day on Capitol Hill by interest groups showing their appreciation for a legislator's efforts on behalf of their cause.

In this case, it was the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization that presented an award to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., last Thursday.

The nonprofit group honored Clinton for her stewardship of measures calling for a commemorative Purple Heart postage stamp and the establishment of Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Recognition Day, as well as her advocacy for veterans' health care.

But a story on the conservative media outlet NewsMax.com left the impression among some readers that Clinton had been awarded a Purple Heart medal itself by the group.

While the article described her award as "symbolic," its opening sentence implied otherwise. "New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has put in for a Purple Heart award _ and she received the decoration yesterday," the Friday story said.

Angry veterans erupted in protest.

No fans of Clinton to begin with, the upset vets pilloried the Purple Heart group, which is made up of recipients of the military's heart-shaped award to those wounded or killed in combat.

"Of all people, is Jane Fonda next?" retired Marine John Cooney of Jacksonville, N.C., wrote via e-mail to the Purple Heart group after the NewsMax.com story appeared.

[bmwcyle]

They better not call me on the phone.

[darkwing104]

That she accepted shows she has no shame or real pride.

You can bet she'll use that award in her campaign for President.

[buck61]

You are very fortunate to have a VFW that is not liberal.

[kinsman redeemer]

ping