What a coincidence that just as Allen West has a new campaign ad touting his military service, Fox Nation has a post promoting it, too. As an added bonus, the "fair and balanced" website used the post to attack President Obama's standing as Commander-in-Chief. Somehow, Fox Nation forgot to point out that West's own military record is kind of disgraceful. (h/t Christopher S.)
As the New York Times reported, during his Army service in Iraq, West fired a pistol past the head of an Iraqi police officer while he was being interrogated. In doing so, the Times noted, "Colonel West deliberately disregarded Army rules and regulations, gambling -- and eventually losing -- a successful 22-year military career that seemed destined for further advancement." West avoided a court martial but was fined $5,000. He was allowed to resign with full benefits.
But you'd never know any of that from reading Fox Nation's post. Tnat was little more than a West-promoting/Obama-attacking quote from West's Facebook page:
As a retired Army officer I am appalled at the Obama administration’s actions to bring a lawsuit against the State of Ohio for the early voting privileges it extends to our Men and Women serving in uniform," West writes. "To have the Commander in Chief make our US Servicemen and Women the target of a political attack to benefit his reelection actions is reprehensible. The voting privilege extended to these Warriors who represent the best among us should not be a part of the collective vision of this inept President who is more concerned about his reelection than sequestration. As a Combat Veteran, for this President to unleash his campaign cronies against our Military is unconscionable….how dare this President compare the service, sacrifice, and commitment of those who Guard our liberties not as special and seek to compare them to everyone else. Barack Obama is undeserving of the title Commander-in-Chief."
President Obama may be undeserving of the Commander-in-Chief title but Allen West is in no position to be pointing any fingers.
Antoinette commented
2012-08-04 21:30:27 -0400
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NOTE TO WEST
You are ticked because Obama is the first black president, and you are not. Crabs in a basket syndrome.
d d commented
2012-08-04 19:54:27 -0400
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Hmm, I wonder if FOX “news” (and West?) thinks that Mittens might be looking to West as a VP choice? I’ve heard/read rumors that Mittens might be looking at a surprise choice as his running mate.
mj - the same one commented
2012-08-04 19:24:42 -0400
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From Think Progress:
“Since 2005, Ohio has had in person early-voting in the three days prior to the election. This year, however, the Republican legislature in Ohio eliminated early voting during this period, except for members of the military. *The Obama lawsuit is attempting to restore voting rights for all Ohioans, not restrict them for the military or any other group.”*
From the Obama lawsuit, filed in federal court: Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day â a right exercised by an estimated 93,000 Ohioans in the last presidential election. Ohio election law, as currently enacted by the State of Ohio and administered by Defendant Ohio Secretary of State, arbitrarily eliminates early voting during the three days prior to Election Day for most Ohio voters, a right previously available to all Ohio voters.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/04/640491/romney-smears-obama-falsely-claims-he-filed-lawsuit-to-restrict-military-voting-in-ohio/
As for West, no matter how much Fox tries to polish that turd, it’s still a turd . . .
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