It seems the "most likely to have earned a section eight" crowd, found a another brow beating tactic. Slimy Scotty Ritter often beat up newsies with a similar tactic; whenever a newsie would begin to question Ritter's 180 degree flip-flop.
If your "thanks for their service" doesn't calm them; you might want to respond with something like:
Tell me sir, what did you think about Billy Daley (when in Chicago, otherwise Algore) disqualifying out our soldiers/sailors overseas absentee ballots? You've been hanging with the same crowd which supports the Daley (Gore) military voter disenfranchisement scheme.
If you get any response other than agreement with you after that zinger, they are not a veteran. This veteran thanks you FReepers for supporting the young men and ladies of the US Armed forces. Don't forget to e-mail the troops with your FReep stories. 
They're watching CNN.