Walter Reed or Walter Reed?

by: Brian McGough

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 15:06:17 PM EDT


Editor's note: This is a guest post from Brian McGough.  This story is both ridiculous and weird. . .but it needs to be out there. --Brandon

In October of 2003 I was wounded in Iraq when the vehicle I was riding in was struck by shrapnel from an IED. After being airlifted away from the attack site I went to Baghdad for emergency brain surgery to remove shrapnel from my skull. After I was stabilized, I was sent to Germany to begin my recovery. When I was deemed recovered enough to return to the states I was flown into Andrews Air Force base and loaded on a bus to go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington DC.

This is what Walter Reed Medical Center looks like:

Continued after the jump.

Brian McGough :: Walter Reed or Walter Reed?
I spent over 2 years at Walter Reed as both an inpatient and an outpatient. I have walked the halls numerous times. I met fellow patients and their families. I became friends with others in the same situation as me. I shared in the joys of good times and the sorrows of bad times. For me it was a very important place.

Last night John McCain gave the first part of his speech with the backdrop of Walter Reed behind him.

But it wasn't my Walter Reed. It was Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, Ca.

So, they either goofed up by using a picture from the wrong place or weren't allowed to show the real hospital, so they chose a fake. It wouldn't be the first time they chose a fake stand-in when they couldn't get the real thing (Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video). My money is on the fact that some one goofed up and no one cared enough to change anything. Either way it is disrespectful.

It is disrespectful for a number of reasons. But here is what gets at me. It is the same as them showing the 9-11 video but failing to mention that the are not even really looking for the people who perpetrated the attacks on us.

Sen. McCain wanted a back-drop of Walter Reed so that he could be seen as a champion for reform in DC and to remind us that he will never allow it to happen again. And if that is the case why did Sen. McCain vote against an increase in funding for military and veterans hospitals(Roll Call Vote)? He voted against it because the "maverick" sided with his party in order to keep tax cuts for the wealthiest.

McCain allowed the wrong back-drop to be used at his speech because he didn't care. McCain voted against increasing funding to the hospital because he didn't care. But I do care. And thats why it bothers me that some one who is running for The President of the United States does not.

Crossposted at DailyKos.

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Reason not to care. (4.00 / 2)
I agree that McCain doesn't care.  The question is why?  The general belief of the republicans seems to be once you make it, everyone else is on their own.  McCain is from a privileged family.  His current marriage is to a woman from a VERY wealthy family.  With that kind of money do you think McCain will ever need the VA?  He doesn't care because he has the money to pay for  whatever medical care he'd need, regardless of if he has insurance coverage.

Sean L.

The Senate. (4.00 / 1)

He is a Senator, the American public is paying his medical bills.

[ Parent ]
dis-abled (4.00 / 1)
So can someone please tell me why he still gets DI from the NAVY? Anyone? Some of you guys are probably selling prized possesions to pay the cost of extensive med costs and Cindy McCain wears 300,000 outfits?
Doesn't that  piss you off?

Marie Antoinette McCain needs more cake.


[ Parent ]
Don't you get it? (4.00 / 1)
If we all just followed McCain's example and married women worth hundreds of millions of dollars, we'd all be wealthy!  

[ Parent ]
These 'people' are totally disfunctional...just a little while ago (4.00 / 1)
that this was a 'planned' slice of American life...to show a school.

Are we supposed to eat these road apples with a spoon?


Joe Biden: Virginia Beach, VA (4.00 / 1)
Joe Biden spoke to an audience of veterans in Virginia Beach, VA on September 4, 2008.

 

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson


Great comment... (4.00 / 2)

America is not at war, the military is at war.

[ Parent ]
Purple Heart Bandages Last Time (0.00 / 0)
This time the strong on National Defense GOP 'Spit' on a Veteran of Iraq using their False Patriotism Chants!



'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson


Adam Kokesh (0.00 / 0)
Adam Kokesh is a great asset to our cause.

http://ivaw.org

Peace...


[ Parent ]
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