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Rep. Rangel: Lack Of Options Makes Soldiers Enlist
Mark Rodriguez, WCBSTV ^ | Nov 26, 2006 | CBS

Posted on 11/26/2006 9:43:09 PM PST by mdittmar

Congressman Charles Rangel said most enlisted soldiers join the military because they do not have the "option of having a decent career."

Speaking with Fox News reporter Chris Wallace on Sunday, Representative Rangel voiced his belief that soldiers in America's armed forces join only for lack of a better choice.

He said, "I want to make it abundantly clear: if there’s anyone who believes that these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No young, bright individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits."

Rangel also said of American soldiers, "And most all of them come from communities of very, very high unemployment. If a young fella has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq."

The Congressman also continued to press for the return of the draft, saying "I have been advocating a draft ever since the President's been talking about war."

Last month Senator Kerry told students at Pasadena City College that, "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."

His words were seen by Democrats and Republicans as demeaning to enlisted men and women, implying that they enlist because they do not "make an effort to be smart." However, the senator later apologized, calling his statement a "botched joke" on President Bush.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: botchedcongressman; bushhaterswin; cinobackstabbers; cutandruncinos; cutandrunfleepers; grandpamunster; gravelthroatedcreep; iraqbackstabbers; lbackstabbers; losertarians; sanfranciscovalues; terror; usarmy; usmarines; wot
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1 posted on 11/26/2006 9:43:10 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar

Someone should have pointed Senator Rangel to the dictionary to look up the word "patriotism". I know it's a big stretch, but many of those 'kids' joined because they loved their country. Not all of them, to be sure, but a goodly number, I'll bet.


2 posted on 11/26/2006 9:47:11 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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To: Laptop_Ron

this needs to be talked about a lot this week. Rangel is one scary guy.


3 posted on 11/26/2006 9:50:15 PM PST by pushforbush
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To: mdittmar

Hmmm, basically just another 'dumb soldier' statement. Wonder if our soldiers will come up with something for Rangel, like they did for 'Carry'?


4 posted on 11/26/2006 9:53:26 PM PST by Theresawithanh (Every time I hear the word "exercise", I wash my mouth out with chocolate.)
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To: pushforbush

And unless my memory is fuzzy, didn't this draft (his own bill, btw) come up in Congress and even HE voted against it?


5 posted on 11/26/2006 9:53:39 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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To: mdittmar

Hope this keeps up, Rangel will make sure the Democrat party is thrown out in 2008


6 posted on 11/26/2006 9:55:22 PM PST by bigbob (2)
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To: mdittmar

Rangel is making no bones about the fact he knows so little, other than being racially ignorant and demeaning those in the military and the state of Mississippi.


7 posted on 11/26/2006 9:55:28 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity)
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To: bigbob

I wouldn't count on that. Pelosi is smart enough to know that the Dems can't look totally stupid and still win in '08. I think she'll rein him in.


8 posted on 11/26/2006 9:58:00 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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To: Theresawithanh

Deer Charly ranglE,
All we wanted wuz a jobe, butt nnow wee hav to fite! That iz knot y wee ar heer!
Pleez send us moor help!


9 posted on 11/26/2006 10:00:39 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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To: mdittmar

Dear Charlie Wrangle,

Jon Cary sez puhleeze due knot tawk ubout stuf dat kin hirt yur dimcrap pahty


10 posted on 11/26/2006 10:05:00 PM PST by Enchante (America-haters and Terrorists Around the World Embrace Chamberlain Democrats)
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To: mdittmar

"He said, "I want to make it abundantly clear: if there’s anyone who believes that these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No young, BRIGHT individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits.""

Nope, Chuck, just the dumb ones. The dumb youngsters, that is. Why, their skulls have hardly hardened enough to protect their naive little brains! Does it truly never occur to this elitist baboon that gobs of men and women actually choose the military because they want to serve their country? Does he not get that plenty signed on after 9/11, knowing full well that they'd be facing wartime deployment and full-on battle? I love that he thinks he speaks for them.



11 posted on 11/26/2006 10:06:42 PM PST by TXBlair (My pet peeves: It's converse, not conversate; and realtor, not realitor. Thanks.)
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To: Laptop_Ron

This stuff needs to be rammed down the lying throats of the Demagogues and the MSM. They all tried to say it was a lie for us to take Jon Cary's "joke" as a slap at the troops, but sane minds knew exactly what the scumbag said and what he meant by it. Now, once again, Charles Rangle displays the depraved and venomous heart of the Demagogic Party for all to see.

No soldiers or Marines could be patriotic and dedicated and brave, they are just too stupid to stay out of the snares of the eviiiillll Republicans and their lackeys in the Pentagon. That is the real view of a huge proportion of the Demagogues, and they are allowed to get away with shamelessly lying that "we support the troops" etc. when in fact they loathe and despise everyone who is associated with the military. That's why they always have to find some opportunist charlatans with military background to given the 'Rats cover in the MSM and with the more gullible members of the public.


12 posted on 11/26/2006 10:09:27 PM PST by Enchante (America-haters and Terrorists Around the World Embrace Chamberlain Democrats)
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To: mdittmar

Sure is a shame neither Daniel 'Chappie' James, Jr. nor Colin Powell had the "option of having a decent career."


13 posted on 11/26/2006 10:11:54 PM PST by Bender2 (I am off politics until Nancy moves to Tehran... There to be taken straight to the ever after!)
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To: mdittmar

No young, bright individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits."

--

Thanks, Charlie.. You senile a-hole.

Courtesy of a Marine recruiter, I was looking at a $4,000 infantry bonus and GI bill benefits to use for college after service and if I survived a stint in the Marines straight out of high school.

A wrestling buddy of mine had lost an older brother the previous year. Did that make me "wise-up"? No.

What will it take to wise your tired old arse up? another 9/11 here on our ground?

Do us all a favor and retire while you have what few brain cells that are still functioning left.


14 posted on 11/26/2006 10:13:27 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... Cornyn / Kyl in '08)
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To: TXBlair; Grampa Dave; pinz-n-needlez; canadianally; ScaniaBoy; Marine_Uncle; STARWISE; Txsleuth; ...

Action alert!! Rangel's disgusting comments need to be thrust in front of the MSM all week! He proves that Jon Cary meant exactly what we all thought he meant. [ok, it's not exactly "proof" but no one with any sanity can doubt that both Rangel and Jon Cary think only idiots get "stuck in Iraq"]

If any Republicans said this kind of crap it would be a thermonuclear MSM meltdown, but of course the "journalists" will try their best to give Charlie Rangle and Jon Cary and their fellow smear-artists a pass....


15 posted on 11/26/2006 10:14:29 PM PST by Enchante (America-haters and Terrorists Around the World Embrace Chamberlain Democrats)
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To: Enchante

Did Kerry mean to say what he said? No, he didn't. It would be too dumb to say out loud, even for Kerry. However, it WAS a Freudian slip. That's how he feels and it slipped out.


16 posted on 11/26/2006 10:15:27 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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To: mdittmar

What a sad commentary on the Democrat Party that they hold up people like Rangel as their leaders and parade them in public. Rangel’s worth to our nation is insignificant compared to our military troops and he dares to insult them by belittling the reason they serve. It’s a pale, pathetic philosophy the Democrats offer to our citizens.


17 posted on 11/26/2006 10:16:00 PM PST by Unmarked Package
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To: mdittmar

LOL Too funny. Pelosi will not be able to shut Rangel up. And Rangel is just one of the looneys she will have to deal with while trying to appear centrist. She should have been more careful what she wished for.


18 posted on 11/26/2006 10:18:27 PM PST by daybreakcoming
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To: Laptop_Ron

I won't argue the point that Jon Cary's remark was probably inadvertent, since he would not want to openly state what he really believes on the subject. However, I do believe he thinks in about the same way on the subject as Charles Rangel -- the only difference is that most times Jon Cary would not want to say it in public. However, he certainly did "mean" what he said in that it is what he truly believes and not some "botched joke" as he tried to pretend afterwards.


19 posted on 11/26/2006 10:19:22 PM PST by Enchante (America-haters and Terrorists Around the World Embrace Chamberlain Democrats)
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To: Enchante

I certainly agree with you. It is something he truly believes, but to think that he would actually want to say it aloud is a bit crazy...even for him.


20 posted on 11/26/2006 10:23:47 PM PST by Laptop_Ron
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