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Shoonra

(518 posts)

79. Missing the real point

Mon Mar 2, 2015, 12:22 PM

Mar 2015

Bob McDonald's real military record is published for everyone to see in his Senate confirmation hearings, so he wasn't trying to get something tangible in a one-on-one conversation with a homeless vet which CBS overheard. It turns out that McDonald did do some Army training with Special Forces although he was in the Airborne and not a member of the Green Berets. So he exaggerated that a tiny bit to try to get a conversation going with a homeless vet. BFD.

What nobody seems upset about is that here was a Green Beret veteran who was forced to live in a cardboard box on the street, in the middle of a brutal winter, with no home and no secure source of food or warmth. McDonald was sufficiently upset about that to try, desperately, to converse with that vet but the rest of us want to throw rocks at McDonald instead of showing concern for the homeless Green Beret.

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VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In Special Forces [View all] alp227 Feb 2015 OP

he should resign. mopinko Feb 2015 #1

Why? Because he attempted empathy with one down on his luck veteran...really? Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #10

vets will have no respect for him. mopinko Feb 2015 #17

Small error... catnhatnh Feb 2015 #26

Since you want to speak for vets, are you yourself a veteran? HubertHeaver Feb 2015 #37

I don't want to speak for vets or anybody. former9thward Feb 2015 #55

My challenge is to the inclusive statement HubertHeaver Feb 2015 #70

Well I agree with that. former9thward Feb 2015 #71

nope i am not. mopinko Feb 2015 #56

You are accusing a man of "stolen valor" HubertHeaver Feb 2015 #73

did i say i wasnt speaking for myself as well? mopinko Feb 2015 #74

Mopinko speaks for this vet, GGJohn Feb 2015 #62

that was my first thought. We can't be hypocrites here, condemning one guy like CTyankee Feb 2015 #51

oh, he was telling that one for the veteran's benefit CreekDog Feb 2015 #43

small error? more like big problem- mopinko Feb 2015 #59

I was in the Praetorian Guard Tom Ripley Feb 2015 #2

Yeah, but you're old. Adsos Letter Feb 2015 #3

True Tom Ripley Feb 2015 #4

Ah... Adsos Letter Feb 2015 #6

I was a Terra Cotta Warrior rpannier Feb 2015 #12

extremely minor Enrique Feb 2015 #5

I agree Tom Ripley Feb 2015 #7

How can an abject lie be minor? He was on camera claiming a history TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #9

He claimed no "history".... He was attempting to engage, not mislead anyone....he has an Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #11

Huh? Anyone honorable in the military knows you NEVER claim a service TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #13

So...he should....resign?? There was no mention of medals/honours, education, etc.....Context. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #14

Maybe he should. Is the truth flexible for him? TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #15

least of all special forces ferchrisakes. mopinko Feb 2015 #20

The defense seems to be "well, it was JUST a homeless vet." I mean, THOSE are TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #21

So it ends. With a strawman. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #25

"He said this in passing to a homeless man? So minor..." TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #31

I agree Fred. elias49 Feb 2015 #32

Hmm jollyreaper2112 Feb 2015 #38

Some advice, not mine: Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #49

Outrage first, facts and logic afterwards. It is the way of the Internet. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #42

Remember when you tried to shame a poster for flying the Rainbow Flag during the Olympics? CreekDog Feb 2015 #44

I am honored to have you as yet another fan club member bearing ad hominem and strawman gifts. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #45

It's not ad hominem to bring up your own words CreekDog Feb 2015 #46

The shame should be in distorting the position of another on LGBT rights. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #47

if your behavior doesn't represent your position, that shame is on you CreekDog Feb 2015 #48

You're calling for facts when defending a liar? That is novel. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #66

a good way to see how minor it is Enrique Feb 2015 #16

Williams, O'Reilly, and Kyle were not Cabinet members, public servants TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #18

No, it's not. Veterans have been lied to enough. Don't need another liar. n/t jtuck004 Feb 2015 #24

except this mopinko Feb 2015 #60

He said this in passing to a homeless man? .......so minor as to be laughable. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #8

Because it's totally ok to lie, as long as it's just a homeless person. ForgoTheConsequence Feb 2015 #23

Strawman? Correct? Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #27

To whom must he say it before it counts? Recorded by CBS news, to a homeless man, is ok? arcane1 Feb 2015 #28

Reasoned argument always loses out to firmly held outrage. Forgive me, you win. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #30

laugh at this mopinko Feb 2015 #61

Not possible since you are on Full Ignore. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #63

Obviously not on Full Ignore GGJohn Feb 2015 #64

Maybe he should have told the guy, "Oh, you're homeless? I'm homeless too!" Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #67

Phony DustyJoe Feb 2015 #19

What a moron. iandhr Feb 2015 #22

That can't even be the "least untruthful" approach Jack Rabbit Feb 2015 #29

I'm guessing Sgent Feb 2015 #33

Everyone knows exactly what the term "special forces" means. former9thward Feb 2015 #58

A rather rinky dink comment caught on tape Kaleva Feb 2015 #34

Ah jollyreaper2112 Feb 2015 #39

Like I said, it matters to people who get a boner over stuff like this. Kaleva Feb 2015 #40

Like you said, getting a boner over all things military...all lies are equal is actually being said! Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #69

At least he didn't claim to come under sniper fire and that he had to run with his head down into progree Feb 2015 #35

While accompanied by his daughter. HubertHeaver Feb 2015 #36

He needs to resign immediately. nt Sienna86 Feb 2015 #41

Get a life. elias49 Feb 2015 #50

I don't know how people misremember such important information. Renew Deal Feb 2015 #52

IIRC all special forces, rangers and airborne go to jump school HereSince1628 Feb 2015 #53

nope. you have to go through sere training. mopinko Feb 2015 #57

Lying about service from an officer... nil desperandum Feb 2015 #54

Update - so it ends with much ado about next to nothing, as predicted.............. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #65

Sorry, but that was no mis-statement, it was a false statement. GGJohn Feb 2015 #68

Yes, let's talk about Putin's lies too, are you on board with that? CreekDog Feb 2015 #72

Biggest strawman I have seen in weeks....on topic, too bad about no one asking anyone to resign. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #75

I guess you don't read your own posts CreekDog Feb 2015 #78

at least he admitted it and apologized. mopinko Feb 2015 #76

I have a hard time accepting his apology, GGJohn Feb 2015 #77

Missing the real point Shoonra Mar 2015 #79

Insightful post. Thank you. greatlaurel Mar 2015 #80