[dpwiener]

One always wonders about a story like this. Is it PR spin? Did Buyers truly want to serve, or was he in fact happy to have an out?

I'm inclined to believe that he did want to serve, and that he is indeed (justifiably) pissed about being turned down. If nothing else, serving in the war would have been a huge boost to his political resume.

Buyers should have fought the decision, if necessary by resigning from Congress. At the rate things are going, the war will soon be over, and he could have been home in time to run for Congress in the special election to fill his own vacancy.

[sausageseller]

Steve Buyer is a first rate guy. If you said it was about PR to his face I believe his first thought would be to punch your lights out for calling his patriotism into question. ( All though he would of course restrain himself!)

But if he did it I might look the other way.