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Colbert: U.S. Troops Don’t Sacrifice Enough Already

Stephen Colbert

No one appreciates American veterans’ sacrifice more than Stephen Colbert. But why should Colbert keep honoring the troops if they’re not still sacrificing when they come home?

That was the subject of Colbert’s “The Word” segment on Thursday. Leaders of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees sent a letter to the deficit super committee, voicing support for capping veterans’ affairs funding.

“With this letter, Congress is sending our troops a clear message: that we can take for granted that service members are willing to give up more than the rest of us,” Colbert said.

America’s wealthiest certainly can’t be the ones to sacrifice, Colbert said. “We’re not used to it,” he said. “I have never given up anything in my life.”

If the troops could just accept fewer health benefits, Colbert said they would surely deserve a medal for their sacrifice. Well, maybe not a medal — brass is expensive — but a sticker at least!

Watch the video:

Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert, Super Committee, Veterans
David Taintor

David Taintor is the Front Page Editor at TPM, where he contributes to TPM's Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com

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JayBreneman 5 pts

This issue isn't new, but it is fantastic that Stephen Colbert is shedding light on it.

You can sign this petition below, it calls upon the writers of the offensive letter to rescind it, apologize, and commit to stengthening veteran services. The senators and congressmen that wrote the letter will get your petition, as will their chiefs of staff.

http://www.change.org/petitions/congress-rescind-i...

bearsense 9 pts

Every time someone sez "thank you for your service" (21 years) I wonder what my reply should be .......

paulgibson53 201 pts

bearsense "I am proud of my service and hope that these sacrifices serve as an example to members of congress..... then burst out laughing (in pain)....

hotch 579 pts

bearsense "Thank you. It's not easy killing innocent people."

SchoolyT 274 pts

Very funny!

On a more serious note, I would like to ask people here to contact their US Senators to support S.277 and their US Rep to support the companion bill HR 1742, bills related to caring for civilians and military personnel affected by contamination of water at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Commie Dearest 542 pts

Awww, just 'cause we as a society demanded wars to get those Mooslims doesn't mean we have to pay for the costs, does it? C'mon. NO NU TACKSUS!!!111//!/??1!!

paulgibson53 201 pts

Ax a Combat Veteran, I cannot begin to express the warmth i feel (and my Brothers and Sisters) when our Government thinks about us.

I remember serving with the kochcaine siblings in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with mitch mcconnel in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with trent lott in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with john kyl in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with john boehner in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with mitt romney in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with dick armey in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with santorum in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with dick cheney in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with karl rove in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

I remember serving with newt gingrich in combat.... ooopss, didn't serve

and the list of repulsive publteanuts goes on and on...

draw your own conclusions

tao 298 pts

paulgibson53

Knowin' that as true. I remember Exxon, Ford, Goldman Sachs, Wal*Mart, Bank of America, United Health Care, and so on, which revel in their new found citizenship united massively funded equality as "people," sorta didn't serve either.

Those who did serve did so for a number of reasons ranging from love of god and country, to not being very good at draft dodging. Each and every one was witnessed to raise their hand and swear in. There was a lot of swearing associated from that point on. In the end the grunts soldiered and went on to achieve citizenship or in some cases died trying. Arlingon and 145 other national cemeteries will attest.

And now the not even REMF minions of the war masters urge us to send our children and grandchildren to serve an empire dedicated to corporate citizens united for fun and profit. Let them cough up the cash to buy mercenaries and fuel and equipment for their profitable wars and peace will break out everywhere.

keepntch 55 pts

This man's programs should be mandatory watching/listening for every politician several times a day. If nothing else it might make them realize just how ridiculous and useless they really are.

Commie Dearest 542 pts

keepntch "They" refers to the politicians and not Colbert's programs, right?

mj913 113 pts

If not a sticker, maybe we could just tattoo "sucker" on their foreheads.

jtoomey 18 pts

hmmm.....but tattoos are soo much more expensive! here's a permanent-ink marker.... mj913

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