| A Fayette County "teaparty" activist is planning to protest the opening of a Veterans Affairs clinic.
That's right. A VA clinic. You know, where veterans receive their benefits earned through years of service in our military. The teabaggers' hatred of taxpayer-funded social services extends even to those who have fought and risked death to protect our nation.
Chris Boyle, the teabagger in question, serves as Vice President and Secretary of "The Fayette County Taxpayers' Coalition," and apparently just wants to protest Congressman Lloyd Doggett. Seeing as Doggett is participating in the dedication of the VA clinic, what the heck? Looks like a great opportunity to rail against Doggett and the evil socialist agenda of giving benefits to our fellow Americans, especially those who served in the military.
Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka called Boyle and suggested that perhaps, just maybe, the opening of a VA clinic might not be the most appropriate venue for this. From the Statesman:
Janecka, saying he made the call after a VA representative expressed concern about the protest, stressed that he didn't tell Boyle to can the protest. He said Doggett's office did not contact him about the protest.
The judge said: "There is no way in hell I would ever tell anybody they can't go protest anything. I just told her it would not be good for the veterans."
Boyle, a retiree, said of the judge's call: "He told me he wanted me to stop this 'tea party.' He said this is going to make the veterans feel like you're against the clinic.
[Boyle responded] "I said bull... no it's not, they know better than that."
Actually, you know, I think someone calling for secession at best and treason at worst really might in fact offend people who were willing to fight and die for America. That means all of America, including Texas. Oh, and what funds the military and the VA? That's right! Tax dollars.
But no surprise. Perhaps Boyle read about the VA in Wikipedia and decided that they must be stopped!
It is a socialized government-run health-care system, and the American government's second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense. With a total 2009 budget of about $87.6 billion, VA employs nearly 280,000 people at hundreds of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, clinics, and benefits offices. (Emphasis mine.)
Uh oh, sounds like socialist Obamacare! It must be stopped! Someone make a sign with a hammer and sickle, quick!
The Statesman story continues:
Regardless, Boyle said, she plans to be there to urge Congress to heed the Constitution, uphold free speech and to stop meddling in people's lives.
Yes, Congress. Stop meddling in the lives of those veterans and giving them medical care. Especially stop here in Texas, where one third of vets are otherwise uninsured, and many more live in rural areas where they can't access a VA clinic at all. This new facility in Fayette will actually help America keep its promise to our veterans. As such, it must be protested at all costs!
As for Judge Janecka, he regrets even opening up this big old bag of crazy:
"It's so sad that it's getting to this point," he said. "People sometimes are just looking for a fight. I wanted this to be a day for the veterans of Fayette County."
It can be hard to focus on what's best for all of America when a crazy few try to hijack the conversation with all of this "teabagging" ridiculousness. America needs health insurance reform. America needs more VA clinics. America needs access to health care for all.
And just think -- with a strong public option, Chris Boyle herself would be able to seek psychiatric help. Ironically, maybe while she's there she should thank Congressman Doggett for standing up for Americans like her, who clearly need all the help they can get. |
