Nov 11, 2011
Print This Post
The mayor of Richmond, CA is under fire for her decision to skip a Veterans Day memorial to attend an Occupy Rally.
Mayor Gayle McLaughlin sent an email to the San Jose Mercury News explaining why she would not be attending a Veterans Day salute that included a re-enactment of the launch of a World War II-era ship at the Richmond shipyards.
“I choose to honor our veterans, not only on Veteran’s Day, but daily, but supporting an end to military warfare to prevent further fighting and dying in needless wars,” she wrote. “I am a strong supporter of Veterans for Peace and Iraq Vets Against the War.”
The mayor said that since the city is not sponsoring the Veterans Day salute, she chose to attend an Occupy rally – an event that she has been actively promoting.
“I think it’s disgraceful,” said Jeff Rubin, who organizes Pinole’s Veterans Day memorial. ““This is not a war issue. This is an issue of honoring people who sign up to protect your rights.”
Rubin told Fox News the mayor has ties to the Richmond Progressive Alliance and has a history of creating controversy in the city.
“It’s disrespectful,” he said. “Just because you’re in politics doesn’t mean everything is political. There are some things that transcend politics and this is one of them. Regardless of your feelings about America’s involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan, you have to respect the troops.”
Rubin sent the mayor an email urging her to reconsider.
“What a thoughtless thing to do,” he wrote. “What a shame that Richmond’s elected leader has no respect at all for the people who have fought for her right to have a ‘speak out’. Absolutely disgraceful.”
In her reply, McLaughlin told Rubin that she was not responsible for her schedule.
“I had no input whatsoever in scheduling the event,” she wrote. “I was invited to attend and accepted the invitation.”
But Rubin told Fox News that wasn’t entirely accurate.
“Her chief of staff, husband and campaign manager organized the event,” he said. “It’s hard to believe the mayor had no input or knowledge.”
Michael Klasno, the director of Gold Star Dads of America, told Fox News that the mayor’s decision is a “slap in the face” to veterans.
“I think she’s insulted every veteran that’s ever fought for this country – every veteran who’s signed on the dotted line even during peace time,” Klasno said.
Klasno is a Marine veteran. His son was a member of the California National Guard. He was killed on Mother’s Day 2007 in Iraq. He said veterans across the region are very upset over the mayor’s actions.
“Blowing off Veterans Day is one of the last things I would ever do,” he said. “She could pick any day she wanted to attend these protests. Why choose Veterans Day?’
The Contra Costa Times blasted the mayor in an editorial – calling her decision a “bad choice” and wished “our elected leaders would show more respect for veterans.”
“McLaughlin should set aside her hard-core politics for just one day,” read the editorial. “Sadly, she doesn’t seem to understand how her planned actions undermine the very cause she’s trying to promote by alienating some of the people it’s trying to attract.”
Related posts:
FOX News Talk
Time to vote someone out. Without the Veterans, there'd be no Occupy.. Bitch be trippin'.
The Mayor has made her choice. Election day all veterans in her city will make their voice and choice heard.
Shame on her. She choose party over Vets.
Soldier's Walk
Our stride is soft, our.
aim held high.
Marking our steps as we march by.
Crisp to the beat of thousand taps.
Lines form for a thousand claps.
Holding our friend on our shoulder.
What can you say if we were bolder?
Plenty of cheers, with a few boos'.
Not one flinches, to some who are fools.
Uniforms move as a sea of…red, white and blue.
Our hearts sing to a patriotic tune.
No one can say when it will be our turn,
Marking our time until we return.
Soft our stride as we step one, two and three.
Plenty of guts to say we are free.
Too tired to weep, too proud of our talk.
Only Free Soldiers can walk the walk.
Fight by land or by sea.
Ready to defend you to be free.
Won’t accept defeat as you see.
Carry me home if I can’t, send me back if I can.
Don’t say you’re sorry, less you are me.
holding a silent salute, please don't cry.
As our brothers and Sisters March by.
For our last step as this might be.
A soldier’s walk is never free.
By Dario Gonzalez.
Beautiful. Thank you for your service.
You honor our country.
Thank you for your service and your poem. You hit the nail right on the head. MOLAN LABE!
John Gerstenschlager Thank you all.
John Gerstenschlager Damn… you look the same. Still at Bragg?
Let me guess she is a Liberal Democrat.
Actually, she's a member of the Green Party.
THIS MAYOR NEEDS TO BE DEPLOYED FOR A FEW YEARS. SEE WHO WOULD REMEMBER TO THANK HER. SHAME ON HER.
I have no input into my schedule! Is that thje equilalent to I do not recall? Or I was not informed?
Or Bush did it. These libs can never stand on their principles because they have none. Liars all!
This displays her real ideology. What a disgusting person. It does drive home, however, one of the main reasons why I moved my family from California.
Me too. I had to be born there. No choice. But, I ain't got to live there or be stationed there again…Besides I don't like the earthquakes. She'll rue this day she spit on the Vets. hoorah!
Spit on the Vets? I thought she just used the freedom that some of those Vets fought for to attend a Occupy event.I may be wrong but if it is obligatory for every elected official in the U.S.A. to attend only Veterans Day events on that day we start to look more like North Korea than the U.S.A.
I have added something new to my vocabulary lately.,, actually since the Obama Administration came about. It applies to this woman: Piece of Sh*t.
Just another lib that hates the USA, hope the people of Richmond remeber this at election time. Than she will "love" the vets when she needs their votes. Hey mayor, go see if those wack job protesters will die to protect your rights? She should be thanking them, not spitting in the face. SHAME ON HER!
Fuck this ignorant, liberal bitch. How about YOU wear 50lbs of gear in 142F heat, with little water and walk 10+ miles? That's what I thought… keep walking you fat ugly excuse for a human being. "Oh I'm for the Vets – I'm a supporter of Peace in Iraq" blah blah blah. Typical liberal response to how they support the troops. News flash – THEY DON'T. THEY DESPISE THE MILITARY. You want to disrespect me and other Vets and then lie and make excuses? Then FUCK YOU TOO. I have more honor in my pinky than you do in your entire body.
recall
Don't forget to vote and clean up Congress too…let's make the 2010 elections look like a day of kindness
I am getting sick of tese socialist pigs. supporting losers like those at OWS Who shit on the flag & rape young girls, what in the hell has happened To my America Its time for people like her and those like Obama to go back to the stink hole they came out of.
Gayle McLaughlin turned her back on the Veterans today. Mic check — SHAME SHAME SHAME ((( SHAME SHAME SHAME ))) The whole world is watching you! ((( The whole world is watching you! )))
wonder if cbs nbc or msnbc will put this in the news or hold a press conference to honor the OWS MAYOR I don't live in california, but I think this Mayor did a great disservice to the vetrans of california as well as all the vetrans and present members of the Armed Services, of our county they are to be admired and honored for they are the true heroes of our county. Thank You All and may God Bless You and keep you safe.
INFAMY! INFAMY! She DOES NOT deserve to be a mayor. What a great display of poor leadership! What a disgrace to our country! I am deeply insulted by her actions, and this is unforgivable. Nothing she can do or say will justify her intentional slap to us. Richmond, CA residents you all will be live in infamy until you remove her from office!
I wish I lived in Richmond just so I could lead the movement to toss this lady out of office on her ear. It is truly a shame that people like her can stick around and take advantage of their country and their lives because someone she gives no value to whatsoever.
has died for her. Shame on you Mayor. Shame. Shame on Richmond, Calif if they don't rise up and throw your disrespectful a$$ clear out of office and town. If I lived in Richmond, CA I would be carrying the sign and the petition towards your office right now.
Signed,
A proud Marine and American.
She is a dsgrace. Everyone knows when veterans day is and any other activities scheduled for that day far ahead. It is a slap in the face of those who have served their country particularly thoase who have given the utlitmate price for our country. Since she fails or does not want to remember those who gave their time and some their lives in service of their country then the people of Richmond should send her a message on election day she is not deserving to serve in her present capacity.
Whew, this makes me glad I'm a 1%er. Biker, 24 yr Vet. Don't want to hang out with the other 99 percent.
Im sure the Mayor does t tcare that you are going to lose more of your retirement promises as vets we need to lobby for the promises that the gov said at our induction We would have not turned our back on the vets as the mayor has. We can do both but today was about the Veterans that gave the mayor the right to be where she felt she needed to be, but when election time comes she will be out of a job. because of turning her back on the veterens. Not opionion just facts and Your brothers in the servicee are dying in places We both may have served. The movement will go on tomorrow but today was Veterans Day. Our day to honor our fallen Thanks for not living any where close to me or my family. God bless our veterans and The USA
I had many other things on my calendar today. The observance of Veterans Day however, is by far the most important, and the respect they deserve for what they have done to protect you and me far out weighs any other event on my calendar.
The Mayor, City Council and City Staff of Pinole were all on hand to honor them at the Pinole Veterans Day ceremonies today along with hundreds of citizens and our 95 member High School Marching Band.
This day also represents veterans from WWII as well as other conflicts. You madam, are like Michelle Obama, not proud of your country. Hope the voters remember this.
What a disgrace. After Richmond's past history, doing more than their part as a community during World War II to build ships to support the soldiers, ships that were built by the wives, girlfriends and sisters of soldiers, now finally with a Rosie the Riveter Memorial in their honor, this is a complete disregard to Richmond's residents and their ancestors. She has spit on everyone in Richmond who has ever had a relative fight in a war and return, and even more disrespect for the ones that fought and didn't return.
in the uk the fallen are driven through a small village and everyone turns out to say thankyou as the hurse drives past sounds like this mayor has no loyalty.
here is an idea–how about this mayor is terminated! how dare her do something like this!
Seriously? Given this person's political views people are outraged? What else would you expect from someone of this political bent? You might as well be outraged by the outcome of building a Dingo Farm across the street from a Daycare Center as anything this idiot says or does.
The Constitution guarantees her the right to be ignorant, uninformed and stupid and she is exercising those rights to the fullest. Semper Fi
Her choice speaks volumes regarding her intent and character. Yet to her credit, I think one has to acknowledge, when looking at the nature of the protests versus the sacrificial nature of our armed service men and women, she undoubtably felt much more at home with anarchists and whiners.
I'm an Iraq War vet. How nice to know that fighting back on the turf of Islamofascist zealots—anywhere in the Middle East—who attacked this country and want us all dead, is 'needless'.
Insufferable assclowns like McLaughlin use the military as an outlet for their nihilist politics. Give the Left a war that promotes their agenda, without the possibility of America protecting its interests and security, and they’re all for it. They're quick to undermine wars we've already won, but will agitate for conflicts that are not in our interest and won't be fought. The fact that America already gained a substantial victory against Islamofascist swine in two wars, is just too hard to take.
show more
Just arrest this scumbag with the rest of the miscreants at the local 'Obamaville'.
Maybe even a little pepper spray first.
"Ooooh…sorry mayor, didn't know that was you. Man, that's gotta sting. Could you please just put your hands behind your back for me, dear…atta girl…"
http://www.planetcommonsense.wordpress.com
You just don't get it do you,some of those veterans fought for her right to do whatever she pleases on Veterans Day,to attend any event or no event.If you demand that she and all other elected officials attend only Veteran Day events or are barred from attending any other event of their choosing then that just makes you a little dictator doesn't it. All you people herethat are so big on "freedom",why don't you write the rules for us so we know what we have to do to be good Americans just like you.You're all a bunch of phonies!!!!
Would you prefer I email those rules or should I just post them here for you?
Glen Hazelwood— Just post them Mien Fuhrer!
Rule #1….When faced with a scheduling conflict between an event honoring people that put their lives on the line to protect your constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights, and one for a bunch of miscreants doing nothing but befouling a park, spreading nonsense and disease and intimidating frightened local businesses into giving them free Big Macs, you will go to the one for the veterans every…single…time.
It's not only politically sound, it's the right thing to do.
Learn it…know it…live it.
Is there anything else you need my guidance on?
http://www.planetcommonsense.wordpress.com
Why yes Mien Fuhrer. If I see a veteran at an Occupy event what should I do, honor him or tell the lowlife to get a job. Please help!
Rule #2…There will be no Occupy events. If you wish to protest in this manner, that's fine. You have seven days to come up with a reason and a set of talking points that can be used as a legitimate starting point for reasonable dialogue.
If you cannot come up with a logical and tangible reason for your taking up everyones time and tax dollars in one week, then you are going home. If you do not wish to go home, then you are going to jail until such a time as you are more reasonable about going home.
So your problem is now solved. See, I'm making your life easier already.
Listen, it's been mildly entertaining playing with you, but I'm about done with it now.
You can even come back here like you 'won' or something and pretend you got the last word, ok?
Ok, bye now.
btw…it's 'mein', not 'mien'. C'mon, man…seriously.
Mein Fuhrer you didn't answer my question.What should I do if I see veterans at an Occupy event,thank them for their service or tell the "miscreants to get a job.Please tell me what to do. And please don't run away I'm learning so much from you,I'm making a book called "The Rules of Fuhrer Glen" and I need more than just two. And thanks for the spelling lesson I appreciate it.
Hey Glen (I won't call you that other thing anymore) please answer my last question .If I see veterans at an Occupy event what should I say to them? You can't cut and run just because you don't have a good answer.
Glen Hazelwood Hey Glen ,you ever going to answer my simple question?Did I ask a question that's to difficult for you to figure out? I CAN SEE IT RIGHT NOW ,YOU HAVE STEAM COMING OUT OF BOTH EARS.BE HONEST, YOU DO DON'T YOU.
Hey Glen I got you pegged as the type of guy who cannot stand to lose an arguement,your ego just can't take it ,am I right? That's why you won't answer me because I made a point and you cannot find a proper answer for it.Why don't you just say that you hate all the Occupy protesters and even if some are veterans who have fought for their country, they can go to hell too.