JOHN McHUGH IS GUNG-HO ON SENDING OUR TROOPS TO FIGHT IN IRAQ BUT DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND A CENT TO TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY IF THEY COME BACK WOUNDED

A day or two ago we ran a post about some of the wingnuts in Congress who have neglected our wounded servicemen, such as far right extremist Steve Buyer (R-IN), ex-chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and C.W. Bill Young (R-FL), ex-chair of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Both were aware of the disgraceful situation at Walter Reed and other hospitals charged with looking after wounded military men and women. They have failed-- dismally-- to do their duty. We followed up today with a story about right-wing nutcase Phil Gingrey, a warmonger member of the House Armed Sevices Committee, who basically blamed wounded soldiers for causing the vermin and black mold infestation at Walter Reed by leaving food around and being messy.

No one disagreed with the jist of the two pieces or with any of the half dozen pieces we've run on this outrageous scandal. But I did get several e-mails yesterday from constituents of Congressman John McHugh. "How could you leave McWho out of your coverage?" chastised Sharon from Plattsburgh. "He's the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and, ultimately, he's responsible for this mess."

Well, I'm not certain that he's completely responsible but there's plenty of blame to go around and a good share belongs to McHugh. For one thing McHugh has a perfect voting record when it comes to health care for veterans and active militray personnel-- a perfect zero. In recent years there have been a dozen roll call votes on health care issues for our vets and military servicemen and McHugh voted against their interests every single time.

Clint from Watertown says McHugh "was in charge of the oversight committee for the well being of our troops at Walter Reed and all the medical facilities in the system. He failed our men and women in those facilities and he failed his constituents and he failed America. If he were in Japan, he would have commited sepaku. In our part of the world, if he was a man he would resign."

Several of McHugh's constituents, North Country Democracy for America, are planning a peaceful demonstration on March 17 to help expose his incomptenece and callousness. In 2002 McHugh was returned to Congress without opposition. In 2004 anti-war activist Robert Johnson opposed him and got 29% of the vote. Last year Johnson took 37% of the vote. Let's call that a trend-- in a marginally Republican district. Johnson forced McHugh to spend three-quarters of a million dollars to retain his seat, far more than he's ever had to spend before. It isn't unreasonable to assume that when folks in the North Country, regardless of politics, find out about McHugh's role in this shameful affair they will agree that it is time for their rubber stamp congressmen to bounce into an entirely different line of work.


UPDATE: PRIVATIZATION ISN'T THE BEST SOLUTION TO ALL PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME

No doubt Cheney's Halliburton pals made a bundle off the Walter Reed deal and, no doubt, plenty of Regime-connected politicians got lots of juicy bribes campaign contributions in return for the opportunity. But many people feel that at least some of the problems at Walter Reed stem from the ideological and avarice-driven rush towards privatization. Today's Washington Post points out a need for some long overdue scrutiny.

The scandal over treatment of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has focused attention on the Army's decision to privatize the facilities support workforce at the hospital, a move commanders say left the building maintenance staff undermanned.

Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned the decision to hire IAP Worldwide Services, a contractor with connections to the Bush administration and to KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary.