Congressman Calls Soldier in Iraq "Two-Bit Security Guard"

by: Brandon Friedman

Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 10:59:13 AM EDT


Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has done it again.  This time, the bellicose 32-year-old called a soldier in Iraq a "two-bit security guard."  Here's the video:

It's no wonder the guy's Wikipedia page describes him as "a fervent war supporter who has never served in the military."  What's funny is that McHenry was probably surprised at the lack of respect he got from the troops when he visited Iraq for a couple of days.  Both North Carolina and America's Armed Forces deserve better.

Carolina Politics Online has more here.

UPDATE: Okay, so it was a Peruvian security guard--not an American soldier.  Big deal.  McHenry is still an asshole.  ThinkProgress has the updates. . .including a link to McHenry's apology.
Brandon Friedman :: Congressman Calls Soldier in Iraq "Two-Bit Security Guard"
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Congressman Calls Soldier in Iraq "Two-Bit Security Guard" | 20 comments
Could this guy be.. (4.00 / 1)
a bigger asshole???
Most definitely (4.00 / 4)
There is always room to be a bigger asshole.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama
[ Parent ]
I'm glad he (4.00 / 1)
doesn't represent the district in NC where I used to live. Plenty of combat-tested National Guardsmen there who would take umbrage to such a comment.

Geez, what an asshat.  

[ Parent ]
I dont (4.00 / 1)
see the asshole in that picture. Oh wait, is that the guy that plans to veto our post 9/11 GI Bill?
[ Parent ]
i think... (0.00 / 0)
calling him an asshole give him too much credit. I'd say he's more of douchebag.

Dickhead Cheney's  "so?" comment... now there's an asshole.

[ Parent ]
not to nitpick... (4.00 / 2)
... but do we know that the "guard" he refers to was soldier and not a contractor?  I know this distinction can't justify this comment, but we know that the right wing loves to play fact police (for everyone else but themselves).

What really disturbs me is that this guy treated the guard (who presumably is one of the guys actually making all this "progress" the right loves to talk about) with contempt and demanded to see the guard's supervisor at 5 in the morning.  Someone should tell this congressman that flaunting his (meager) authority over some poor dude standing a rev watch makes him (McHenry) an asshole, not a leader.

I'm going off (0.00 / 0)
what ThinkProgress and Carolina Politics Online have reported above.  They say it was a soldier.  If McHenry wants to fight this, perhaps he should come out and explain just who exactly he was calling a "two-bit guard" at five in the morning in Iraq--if it wasn't a soldier.  
[ Parent ]
For accuracy sakes.... (0.00 / 0)
...he was probably not talking about a US soldier, but one of the Peruvian Triple Canopy sentries who guard various checkpoints in the IZ.  The guys are private security, but they are very professional, only make about $1,000/month, and I would hardly call the people protecting me at night from trouble "two-bit".  I mean c'mon, it's Iraq, did he think security was going to be lax?!?  It's pretty clear the guy is an ego-maniac.  
more fuel for the fire... (0.00 / 0)
You might get a kick out of this: Congressman McHenry made sure to record video of himself with damage from that rocket attack smoldering in the background.  The video has all elements of the Republican Strategic Triad: attribution of military experience to the candidate, a few religious references, and a chubby white guy.
[ Parent ]
Jesus fuckin christ... (0.00 / 0)
...what a clown (excuse my language).  The only "glorious" thing that happened during last week's rocket attacks is that 2 US Government employees were killed.  How can that be used for political gain.  It's only one thing: tragic...
[ Parent ]
It should also be noted... (0.00 / 0)
...that he violated OPSEC by saying where the rockets hit.  Thanks, asshole. (note: no one was killed during the Easter rocket attacks).
[ Parent ]
"A signifcant eye opener for me in terms of . . . (4.00 / 1)
being in a war zone"

Perhaps wide enough to get him to trot on down to the local recruiter's to sign on the dotted line, get his own ruck and rifle, and turn into a "two bit security guard."

Naw. Ain't gonna happen. Like any chickenhawk, he will have better, more important things to do.

Agreed. What an asshole.

Holy crap (4.00 / 1)
Yeah, not sure if the guard was a soldier or not, BUT this guy just seems like an a-hole, how could anyone in that crowd not be cringing as he spoke . . . very poor storyteller.  Oh well.  
Yeah (4.00 / 1)
whether or not it was a soldier this guy was referring to, this guy sucks.
This is one of those instances... (4.00 / 1)
...where you just gotta ask, "Hey, fella, who the hell do you think you are?"
Seriously.... (4.00 / 1)
...who would've thought the embassy in Iraq would need tight security.  Kind of a no-brainer.
[ Parent ]
McHenry Issue (4.00 / 2)
He is nothing but a chickenhawk, closeted homosexual who has gay porn ties.
The gym? C'mon.... (4.00 / 3)
...he should know gyms in the Green Zone don't have thigh-masters.  
McHenry is a two-bit Congressman (4.00 / 1)
I'm sure his constituents are very proud to have a spineless, fence-sitting, thumb-twiddling bush yes-man representing them.

sometimes I wonder how these people ever got into the US House.

ha! (4.00 / 1)
McHenry is a two-bit Congressman

looks like an ad in the making?  

[ Parent ]
Congressman Calls Soldier in Iraq "Two-Bit Security Guard" | 20 comments
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