Bob Dole considers being without use of his arms "humiliating".

[Career Prole]

"I'm not paralyzed, but my left arm and hand are useless," he says of the episode in January. "With both arms out of commission, I must rely on others to feed me. I can't scratch my nose or go to the bathroom without assistance. It is humiliating."

more in NYT article

I guess while he's at Walter Reed for therapy he can visit the shattered soldiers of his master's war and commiserate with them on their common "humiliation".

People get by every day without the use of one limb or all, Bob.
They're not humiliated...they're just people getting by.
Perhaps it's humiliating to you because it didn't happen in combat?

Edit to add I'm aware of how Dole lost the use of his right arm, but that one caused him no "humiliation" at all. If anything he seemed proud of it.

Stop by The Memory Hole and visit with the other "humiliated" folks you and your president are responsible for, Bob...

[mattclearing]

1. Dole fought, and I don't recall him doing a large amount of pushing

on the Iraq War.

I'd leave him alone.

[mitchtv]

25. dole took part in the trashing of Kerry's record

Destroy him if possible

[mattclearing]

26. True.

Still...the guy can't even unzip his own pants to take a leak.

Sometimes it's easier to let someone have their karma and trust that the cosmos will sort it all out.

[mitchtv]

34. he deserves all the respect

that they gave Max Cleland

[hlthe2b]

43. Yes, I agree with you. Bob Dole served honorably and like the

Walter Reed Iraqi War wounded, has earned the right to say whatever he feels. I may not agree with him and he can be a nasty partisan ass at times, but I will be fair on this issue.

[democracyindanger]

2. Umm...Dole lost use of an arm in combat.

He probably knows what he's talking about.

[stray cat]

3. Sounds like an honest statement to me.

Most people do feel humiliated when they have to rely on others to perform basic bodily functions. It is not a statement about a person's value but it is a major adjustment if one is disabled.

[the_spectator]

4. Um...

"People get by every day without the use of one limb or all, Bob.
They're not humiliated...they're just people getting by.
Perhaps it's humiliating to you because it didn't happen in combat?"

Dole DID lose the use of his RIGHT arm in combat - in Italy in World War II. It was the January accident that additionally gave him problems with his left arm.

[Bluebear]

5. He did lose his arm in combat, CP

'Suddenly, while trying to assist the downed radio man, Dole was hit by Nazi machine gun fire in the upper right back and his right arm was so damaged that it was unrecognizable. Dole was immediately given morphine by an Army field medic to alleviate the pain, and his forehead was marked with an "M" in his own blood to alert medics. He was not expected to live.

Dole waited nine long hours on the Italian battlefield before he was finally taken to the Fifteenth Evacuation Hospital. After a brief stay in a field Army hospital in Italy, he was transported back to the United States and to Topeka's Winter General Army Hospital, where he continued his painful recovery and endured a kidney operation. Then, he was transferred to Percy Jones Army Medical Center in Michigan, where he survived his second brush with death -- blood clotting. He was a patient in that hospital along with Phillip A. Hart, whose name graces one of the U.S. Senate office buildings, where Bob Dole occupied an office.

Eventually, he returned to Percy Jones Army Medical Hospital for extensive therapy on his rebuilt arm. It took about three years and nine operations for Bob Dole to rehabilitate. He learned to strengthen his injured arm, and also had to learn how to write with his left hand, as the doctors could not rebuild the excessive damage done by the Nazi machine gun fire.

Bob Dole was twice decorated for heroic achievement, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star Medal for his attempt to assist the downed radio man.'

http://www.bobdole.org/bio/wwII.php

[Career Prole]

24. The *first* arm, Bluebear. And that one caused him no humiliation.

Now that he's lost the use of the second arm to blood thinners and an accident, now he's humiliated.
I should have been clearer, but I feel had he lost the use of both arms in combat he wouldn't feel "humiliated" at all.

[tx_dem41]

6. I won't criticize a veteran who was disabled in the defense of my ...

..country for his perceptions of his disability.

One of those pictured veterans may one day become a politician and just might be a Republican one day. The question is....will you criticize their perception of their disability then?

[tjwash]

7. Dole is no chickenhawk. He is an actual war hero.

He happens to have a "R" after his name, but I have the utmost respect for his service and sacrifice for our country, unlike people that like to print lies about Kerry for the express reason that he has a "D" after his name.

[Bluebear]

10. If he had a D after his name they would wear purple bandaids to mock him

And wear bad dentures.

[DesEtoiles]

13. You mean like the lies Dole told about fellow-soldier Kerry? NICE - Dole

is an ASS.

[DesEtoiles]

8. Remember how Dole mocked John Kerry's war injuries?

[DesEtoiles]

11. contact bob dole here - www.bobdole.org

http://www.bobdole.org/contact.html


Send him one purple-heart band aid.

[tx_dem41]

9. I just read the part of your post where you demonstrated that you ..

...know nothing about Dole's record as a veteran. Perhaps, one should investigate before so openly putting one's foot in one's mouth.

[DesEtoiles]

12. Bob Dole has lost the right to be called a hero-he's a slime

[tx_dem41]

14. Thanks, for your post...

I needed an example of such a post. And, you dropped it right into my lap. Perfect!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tx_dem41]

19. Cool!

And going out with some rule-breaking as well. Glorious!

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stray cat]

15. I will never diss Dole for his sacrifice

I think he was a complete jerk about John Kerry and I disagree with him on almost every issue. However, I've also been a jerk at times and I would hope I would not be judged just at those instances in my life.

[mitchtv]

28. sure,they fight with daggers

and we fight back with the high road.Like Good dems(losers)

[tx_dem41]

32. Feel free to make fun of a disabled veteran.

Whatever makes you feel good, right?

[mitchtv]

33. no. whatever does the trick

[tx_dem41]

42. Including making fun of a disabled veteran on a matter related to ...

his disability. I guess Uncle Karl has won. Amazing how many people admire the guy.

[mitchtv]

30. say it sister

where's my bandaid? He gets his pension, he got his medals. He fought Medicare, he dumped his wife for some tart. There are no heros in the gop, just like they made it clear we don't have any. Remebber the reason for Clark's separation? ' Character and integrity. they can't give an inch, nor should we.

[Career Prole]

38. So...do you remember Dole trashing Kerry over Purple Hearts, friend?

Such short memories some of you have.

Today Bob Dole suggested that one or more of John Kerry's Purple Hearts may have been fraudulent in some way because they were for "superficial wounds."

Dole knows better.

In a 1988 campaign-trail autobiography, here's how Dole described the incident that earned him his first Purple Heart: "As we approached the enemy, there was a brief exchange of gunfire. I took a grenade in hand, pulled the pin, and tossed it in the direction of the farmhouse. It wasn't a very good pitch (remember, I was used to catching passes, not throwing them). In the darkness, the grenade must have struck a tree and bounced off. It exploded nearby, sending a sliver of metal into my leg--the sort of injury the Army patched up with Mercurochrome and a Purple Heart."

http://bottleofblog.typepad.com/bottleofblog/the_big_liberal_hammer/

Much more here...
http://swiftvets.eriposte.com/appendixc.htm

Laughable, isn’t it? As Dole explained when he was being more honest, his own Purple Heart was the result of a superficial wound—a superficial wound that was self-inflicted! It takes a special kind of man to say what Dole said to Blitzer on Sunday—and it takes a non-existent press corps to look the other way when he does. (Chris Matthews discussed Dole’s Purple Heart on Hardball last night. Everyone else knew to duck it.)

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh082404.shtml

I do my homework...and this particular homework was done nearly a year ago.
Obviously, many missed class at that time.

[Swamp Rat]

44. I will NEVER forget that

I cannot think of the name "Dole" anymore without remembering what he said last year.

[tx_dem41]

45. Please, don't assume what I remember and what I don't.

Attack Dole for resorting to slimy tactics during that issue. I'll be right there with you. If you want to make light of his disability then you lose me. I have too many people close to me who have similar disabilities. And, believe me, you attack my loved ones, and I will show the attacker anger that I could never muster over politics. I find that line of attack repugnant. I'm used to "telling" Uncle Karl that he's repugnant. It's a shame that I see the same character in some Democrat's attacks.

[Placebo]

16. After what Dole said about Kerry...

lets just say, my sympathy card is "in the mail"...:eyes:

Bastard.

[BringEmOn]

18. Those Britney Spears/Viagra boners gotta be humiliating, too

[grimcity]

20. C'mon...

I think it's possible to recognize Dole's service, appreciate the fact that it is humiliating to lose the use of your limbs, and condemn him for his disgusting political tactics/lies in regards to his satements made towards Kerry.
He should be ashamed of what he said, no doubt, but I can't lower myself to disregard his duty served, nor can I lack sympathy for his medical problems... I take no joy in anyone suffering in that manner.

[stray cat]

22. Welcome to DU!

[BringEmOn]

31. Poppy Bush was a "war hero", too

Bailed out of his plane and left his crew to die. There just happened to be a sub with a film crew aboard to rescue him. F*ck 'em all! I'm more concerned about what they're doing to our country the last 40 years.

[deadparrot]

39. Welcome to DU. I agree.

Well said.

[tx_dem41]

23. I saw Republicans treat disabled veterans shabbily during

the last campaign, making light of injuries sustained while protecting our country. It pains me to see Democrats behave just as badly. In fact, it disgusts me.

[mitchtv]

36. they Morphed Cleland into Osama

Dems did nothing-LOST. Any republican is out to permanently destroy the left. We have been sucking it up far too long. Hopefully we can trash Dole in a way that dosn't dishonor his service, but the priority is to trash him.

[Kansas Wyatt]

21. Bob Dole worked in public service his whole life, and came from a modest

Family. Yet Bob Dole is a millionaire.:wtf:

[mattclearing]

27. Thanks to Viagra, Britney Spears, and Pepsi. n/t

[Kansas Wyatt]

29. Millionaire before his late commercial career.

[hfojvt]

37. I always love how they call a Senator a "public servant"

True, I have never had such a job, and TV shows like West Wing or Senator Sterling do not make it look all that easy or fun, but neither are most jobs, and most jobs do not pay $150,000 a year. Please, let me serve the public. I would be thrilled to do it for $40,000 a year.

[Inland]

35. Yeah, I wouldn't have picked Dole re: lack of concern for wounded vets.

Since he is one. Just saying.

[Career Prole]

40. To the Dole apologists...

Don't miss this...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3458571&mesg_id=3458972

[tx_dem41]

46. Funny, I haven't seen anyone apologize for Dole's actions towards...

Kerry's Purple Heart on this entire thread. Can you point out what I might have missed?

[Inland]

48. The point might be

Dole was a pissy little partisan towards Kerry, so we can say anything about him we want.

I am declining THAT invitation.

Dole was a prick toward Kerry, and has been often a shameless partisan, but he doesn't minimize losing a limb.

[Inland]

47. Dole minimized Kerrry's wounds, not someone missing a leg.

Sure, it was scummy for Dole to do the partisan thing about Kerry's wound, but to pretend that Dole had reached the level of minimizing a missing limb--

Well, it's just not true. Worse than that, it's an abuse of the war wounded. To put up a bunch of maimed soldiers and pretend that Dole hasn't seen a man missing a limb or two makes me a little ashamed.

It's not apology for what Dole did to Kerry. It's a recogniztion of what he didn't do.

[amjucsc]

49. Even if he is a Republican...

I can't begrudge a man the use of his arms.