As someone who grew up during a time when the GOP proudly championed its support for our veterans, troops, and their families, I witnessed how it was a defining principle for many GOP members. Of course, this was not exclusive to the GOP, but it was a noble cause that remains relevant today.
However, the present landscape paints a different picture. Prominent New York Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have demonstrated their willingness to gamble with the well-being of veterans and troops by using them as political props in photo ops. This is a mere attempt to disguise the failing support from those elected to serve them.
As a veteran myself, with a family history deeply rooted in military service, I find the politically motivated decisions of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik particularly offensive.
I am honored to have served as a soldier for 20 years, with four deployments, before retiring as an Army lieutenant colonel. I am incredibly proud of my wife, who also served as a soldier in the 1990s, my stepson, a staff sergeant in the Air Force, my father-in-law, who served with the First Cavalry Division in Vietnam, and the grandfathers of myself and my wife, who both served in World War II, with her grandfather also serving in Korea in the Navy.
Throughout the past 80 years, our family has sent loved ones to serve in nearly every American conflict. In many cases, we carried the scars of that service back home. Whether it was exposure to Agent Orange or post-traumatic stress disorder, we have experienced the same struggles as many others who have served.
Military members and their families deserve the unwavering support of an entire nation, which goes beyond mere lip service from those elected to represent them. Unfortunately, this is not the reality we are facing under the current GOP leadership and Rep. Stefanik.
Some examples of the questionable support shown by Republicans for the military include:
- Voting against the PACT Act. This bill, considered the most veteran-friendly in the past 50 years, received opposition from two key members of the NY delegation: Stefanik and Rep. Claudia Tenney. Their opposition was solely because the bill was introduced by Democrats.
- Delaying senior military appointments. Stefanik’s silence in response to Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s monthslong stonewalling has been appalling. While the Senate was able to confirm three top military leaders, Tuberville continues to block hundreds of other military nominations. The stonewalling has been recognized as a national security problem by the Chair of the House Armed Services Committee. Despite this, Stefanik remains silent.
- Voting against the Renaming Commission. Stefanik, Tenney, and Rep. George Santos of Long Island voted to cease the renaming of military bases originally named after Confederate officers. This amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act was introduced and supported by southern GOP representatives. Fortunately, the amendment was defeated, but the opposition from Tenney and Stefanik, who represent the Jefferson County/Fort Drum area, is mind-boggling for New York.
- Potential government shutdown. The threat of a politically motivated government shutdown undermines readiness and respect. Federal funding is crucial for paying our troops, supporting our families, and caring for our veterans. Even a short shutdown will have economic repercussions for many in upstate New York. The unwillingness to fulfill financial obligations appears weak to both our allies and enemies.
The former president, now the current GOP 2024 front-runner, once referred to veterans and those who have served as “suckers and losers.” Unfortunately, this attitude seems to be permeating the GOP’s policies and politics. Previous presidents would have condemned such comments, but it is increasingly evident that the Republican Party no longer embodies the principles of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan, Bush, or Bob Dole. The support for those who have served, and their families, is no longer a defining principle for the Republican Party.
Steven W. Holden of Camillus is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 21st Congressional District.
