Rick Santorum loves to wrap himself in the flag, and was one of the first to protest the end of the Republican war for oil and conquest in Iraq. He also went ballistic in blaming Obama for Defense cuts recommended by the Joint Chiefs, claiming that Democrats do not support our troops. One of the best measures of who supports our troops, and who doesn’t, is the way in which they treat veterans, who deserve the best we can give them. Santorum’s record is completely Republican.
…The Armed Forces Retirement Home, which is run by the Department of Defense, bills itself as "premier home for military retirees and veterans." The facility sprawls across 272 acres high on a hill in northern Washington, DC, near the Petworth neighborhood. The nearly 600 veterans who now live there enjoy panoramic views of the city—the Washington monument and US Capitol to the south, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to the east. At its peak, more than 2,000 veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War lived at the Home.
But with the rise of the smaller all-volunteer military, the Home began to run into serious financial problems. It was clear that one of its primary sources of revenue—a 50-cent deduction from the paychecks of active-duty servicemembers—wasn’t enough to keep the Home operating fully. In the 1990s, the Home scrambled to find ways to avoid insolvency, trimming its staff by 24 percent and reducing its vet population by 800. Still, the money problems began to show, with its older historic facilities slipping into disrepair and decay. To grapple with its worsening shortfall, officials running the Home eyed a valuable, 49-acre piece of land worth $49 million as a potential financial lifeline.
Under one scenario, by leasing the parcel of land and letting it be developed, the Home could pocket $105 million in income over 35 years for its trust fund, David Lacy, then-chairman of the Home’s board of directors, told Congress in 1999. Lacy stressed that the Home wanted to keep the property, and not offload it to a buyer. "Once land is sold," he said, "it is lost forever as an asset."
Enter Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.). At the behest of the Roman Catholic Church, and unbeknownst to the Home, Santorum slipped an amendment into the 1999 National Defense Authorization Act handcuffing how the home could cash in on those 49 acres. The amendment forced the Home to sell—and not lease—the land to its next-door neighbor, the Catholic University of America. Ultimately, the Catholic Church bought 46 acres of the tract for $22 million. The Home lost the land for good, and by its own estimates, pocketed $27 million less than the land’s value and $83 million less than what it could’ve made under the lease plan. Santorum’s amendment sparked an outcry from veterans’ groups and fellow US senators, who barraged his office with complaints.
Laurence Branch, then the executive director of the Home’s board, says Santorum’s amendment was "a travesty" and the Church’s lobbying for the land a case of "coveting thy neighborhood’s goods." To this day, Branch says he blames Santorum for the Home not receiving more money for the 49-acre parcel of land. "I’m convinced Sen. Santorum is no friend of veterans," Branch says. (A spokesman for Catholic University did not respond to a request for comment.)… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Mother Jones>
There you have it. Santorum, frothed all over our veterans, ripping them off for $83 million to assuage the greed of his church. As much as Republicans claim to support our troops, they only support their own prerogative to use our troops as cannon fodder. Republicans do NOT represent our troops, and they do NOT represent you!
14 Responses to “How Santorum Supports Our Vets”
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I didn’t have any idea! Both the “church” and it’s foul excrement – santorum were screwing our vets! god bless amerika! These NDAA’s are just chock full o’ nuts every year aren’t they! There’s no end to the secrets they divulge years later of course it’s the only bill that they feel pretty certain any a-hole representing the country as its current dictator will sign and overlook any crap that the evil lords of vengeance opt to include! Now the “evil lords of vengeance” exact further mayhem on the country by running for dictatorship themselves!
That’s the problem with NDAAs, Lee. They are the military budget, and if the President vetoes it the troops don’t get paid. Every year Congress critters insert garbage, no matter who is President.
Santorum’s name says it all.
Indeed!
Like all repubicans and Talibangelical christianists, they love their lucre – especially if they’re able to screw the little guys in getting it
So true! Great pic of Santorum praying.
Makes me wonder what else is hiding in the bushes ; JFK was a model in his dealing with the concept of the separation of Church and State ; Santorum does not have that sense—He is hard line , conservative Catholic – and will ,, has, governed from that perspective . In my thinking -he seems to believe in inflicting his religious perspective on this country, this is only one example– America has been a pluralistic country , respecting the rights of every citizen to worship as they choose ,;with no state religion, Sanctus , and the rest of the Repug crew will inflict their belief on the Nation , if they are allowed to do so– Frankly not a way I look forward to living
I agree. I would not oppose anyone because of religion, unless they considered shoving it down our throats a presidential prerogative.
Republican claims and republican results are two very different t things. In other words, what they say and what they do bear no relationship to each other.
Jerry, there actually is a relationship in a funny way. Whatever they say Democrats are doing, that’s what they are doing themselves.
Good point, TomCat. If you want to see what the republicans are up to, look at what they are accusing the democrats of doing.
Thanks Jerry. Exactly!
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti Santorum. Amen
I don’t think so! I will admit my bias — I have no great love for the Roman Catholic Church, the corporate church, not the people. So when I see such manipulation by one who proclaims his beliefs (and yes he does proclaim! his beliefs) and tries to insist that the country should be run on the basis of those ultra conservative proclamations, I cringe. It appears that Santorum is trying to buy his way into heaven by paying allegiance first to his church, rather than serving the people he swore to serve as a senator. Certainly a common belief in the Middle Ages. But this is not the Middle Ages and God demands that we love our neighbours as ourselves. So in manipulating the land purchase for his church, he has scoffed at his neighbours and in essence said in typical Republican/Teabagger style, “Stand on your own 2 feet! Look after yourselves!”
TomCat — “Santorum, frothed all over our veterans, ripping them off for $83 million to assuage the greed of his church. As much as Republicans claim to support our troops, they only support their own prerogative to use our troops as cannon fodder. Republicans do NOT represent our troops, and they do NOT represent you!” AMEN!!!
To those who might be offended that I use the In Nomine, I apologise. I am offended by Santorum and his holier than thou attitude towards the everyday American people, people he has, and will (God forbid!) swear to serve should he become POTUS. I am offended that he should swindle an organisation that looks after Americans that served their country in time of war.
I agree, Lynn. I have known many Catholics who were fine people of faith. They were also highly upset at the behavior of the hierarchy.