| Waxman: Disservice to Our Armed Forces |
I have resisted writing
this post, for to indict a federal official, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Los
Angeles), for not serving our armed veterans with proper care and concern, and
especially during a fraught political campaign, is a serious charge which can
smack of crass sanctimonious and sentimentality. Veterans should not be props
for a political candidate or for a political cause. Democrat or Republican,
veterans affairs should be an issue that brings both sides of the political
spectrum together for the greater good of our armed forced and our country.
Congressman Waxman is
responsible for the Brentwood VA, which resides in the current 30th and future 33rd Congressional district. Outside of
the Brentwood VA and adjacent territories, a group of activists on behalf of
veterans, including the veterans themselves, have displayed
the American flag upside down. At first, I thought that
the upside-down flag signaled disgraceful protest, for it is a serious to
present the American flag contrary to its proper presentation. I have since
learned that an upside-down flag is a military signal for distress, particularly
because Congressman Henry Waxman, who oversees the Brentwood VA in his district,
has done nothing short of betrayal to our veterans and their
land.
!["Robert](http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2010-03/52771754.jpg" "\"Robert") |
| Rob Rosebrock in the LA Times: Spokesman for Veterans Revolution |
revelations of the Brentwood VA’s private leases and public disrespect to our
veterans, many of whom live homeless and marginalized around the Santa Monica
Bay, I could forbear no longer. Now that major media outlets, including the
liberal leaning Los Angeles Times and
National Public Radio, have come
forward to report on this issue, the rest of the community must not neglect to
notice this matter.
connection, however slight, to the Brentwood VA. My mother, a nurse and at one
time a nursing instructor, worked briefly at the Brentwood VA. My father is a
Vietnam veteran, and his father fought in World War II. My other grandfather
fought in Korea. Having read about the terrible treatment which our veterans
have received at the Veterans Administration, I have to wonder why it has taken
so long for the mainstream media, or any advocate on behalf of our country and
our veterans, to stand up to the powerful federal interests which have done so
little yet must do so much more for our armed forces upon returning state side.
NPR reports
that the Brentwood VA has some of the most valuable
land in West Los Angeles. Beyond its real estate value, its moral estate on
behalf of our fallen deserves greater attention. However, Carolina Winston
Barrie – a relative of the original donors of the land – recounted to NPR that
much of the land has been converted to uses which have nothing to do with
assisting veterans, including a baseball stadium, laundry facilities, and
storage for movie sets. Congressman Waxman (who oversees the property, since it
resides within his district) and US Senator Dianne Feinstein passed legislation
to forbid the sale and lease of VA property. Yet a legal nicety still permits
private operations on the land because private interests can still “share” the
property. These rental agreements have generated between $28 and $40 million,
yet Waxman has no idea where the money has gone, and three building slated for
$20 million in renovations have seen no action toward the realization of those
projects.
columnist Steve Lopez reported that Waxman
decried his lack of “subpoena power” to investigate what’s going on in the
Brentwood VA. Independent challenger Bill Bloomfield quipped while visiting the
area that Waxman’s lack of interest or lack of bipartisanship has contributed to
the poor status of veterans’ housing. No matter who reports these terrible
circumstances, there is no excuse for this lack of oversight. From 2007-2011,
Mr. Waxman was the chairman of the
House Oversight Committee. Surely he had subpoena power then, yet never used
it.
railed against Waxman-Markey, Obama-Waxman Care, Waxman the Taxman, Waxman all
Washed-Up over the Clean Water Act, Waxman who says “I Don’t Know!” “I’m Sorry!
And “We’re not broke!” Now I write to indict Waxman the Congressman, the
politician who has failed our veterans, and thus has failed to earn another term
in office.
reelection precisely because of his poor leadership and stewardship on the
matter of Veterans Affairs, specifically the Brentwood VA. He had time to go
after Big Government Bush following billion-dollar scandals and waste in Iraq,
he pushed ObamaCare and Cap and Trade (which was dead on arrival in the Senate),
yet Waxman did nothing when he had the power and the presence to demand
necessary reforms on behalf of our veterans.
33rd – even those who have
received letters of response from the Congressman, and those who have good
memories of the legislator, Waxman has been derelict in his duty on behalf of
our veterans, and for that he deserves nothing less than a dishonorable
discharge.
Bloomfield for the 33rd!