Rangel wants draft back to punish rich kids

New York Post ^ | July 8, 2010

[bjorn14]

Rep. Charles Rangel yesterday again called for bringing back the national draft -- right at the Times Square recruiting station. For the third time since the Iraq War began, the Harlem Democrat announced his plans to introduce a bill requiring all Americans to serve in the armed forces. "If you love your country, be prepared to serve," said Rangel, a Korean War veteran. Congress should stop funding the war and, instead, use tax dollars to bring troops home, he said. Rangel, who this year was stripped of his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the bill calls for men and women 18-42 to sign up for the draft during wartime. It will likely be introduced next week.

[SandRat]

Yet when we had a draft he was the biggest loudmouth wailing for the abolishment of the Draft. You decide what to call him just remember FR rusles if you post the name.

[arthurus]

A universal male draft done right would be great. I think every male sometime between the ages of 17 and 19 should be drafted, excepting only for medical and some judicial reasons should serve 6 months rigorous basic and infantry training with no deployment to station in that time. Perhaps it should even be under some other authority than direct military in command structure but should be run by military personnel. Perhaps enlistment in the regular military should be banned for a time period, 3 or 6 months maybe, after completion of the draft training. Such a system would not disrupt career or educational paths as it would be universal and it would preclude the college age frantic opposition to draft, war, and the military in general. One reason for the opposition to draft and wars is the fear of going into the military and its unknowns. With that training universal, the country would have no problem recruiting when it is necessary to fight an actual war because most will have lost the fear of the unknown of military life and would have some familiarity with it and would already have some essential training. The attitude toward enlistment would be quite different generally.

[Carley]

Rangel insists that it’s not patriotism but the lack of jobs that force people into the military.

I have had long discussions with his office with regard to this. It’s all politics and he’s not about to admit the truth.

[BenKenobi]

Post of the day.

[BenKenobi]

It was uphill, both ways.

We were lucky if it didn’t snow and we had boots.

[sodpoodle]

He is unfamiliar with the concept of patriotism. I know of several young men who were not college bound and believed the military was a good alternative.

It takes a special kind of young man or young woman to challenge themselves; physically, mentally and with no guarantee for success except internal fortitude.

[antiRepublicrat]

Just pandering rhetoric. Rich kids can always get out of a draft anyway.

[Carley]

Given the way Rangel has exploited his own community for decades it’s a wonder the fools continue to support him.

He stole from the Apollo Theater and is banned from ever being on their board.

He had FOUR rent controlled apartments in Harlem. His financial corruption is well known and yet all we hear is what a great guy he is.

DISGUSTING

[AustinBill]

Re: Draft History

History shows that with the exception of the Civil War conscription in the U.S. has been enacted/expanded under Democratic administrations. See Wikipedia for an overview:

• 1917 (WW I), Wilson, Democrat
• 1934, Roosevelt, Democrat
• 1951, Truman, Democrat
• 1964, Johnson, Democrat

Who ended the draft? Nixon in 1973. Who reinstated mandatory Selective Service registration? Carter in 1980. And of course most recently we've had Rangel's calls for a new draft.

Yet generations of students have been told (and blindly believe) that it is Republicans who will draft them. Just shows what poor marketers are to be found in the GOP.

[Texas Fossil]

Yep, and the Lefties are scared to death of a Patriotic Military. And they should be.

[RedStateRocker]

I think Robert Heinlein had it right: The military should be volunteer, but unless you serve you cannot vote, hold office or any government job.

No one should be forced to serve (I tried to enlist three times but was rejected for hearing), but if you aren’t willing to serve you shouldn’t have a say.

[arthurus]

I got rejected by the draft and had to enlist.