Political Quotes

“It is good to see the senior Senator from Vermont back and in good health. I know he has been struggling a little bit with this crazy weather we are having, and we are glad to see him back. On November 5, 2009, a radical jihadist, by the name of Nidal Hasan, who happened to also be a major in the U.S. Army, opened fire at Fort Hood, TX, claiming the lives of 12 U.S. soldiers, one civilian, one unborn child, and wounded more than 30 other people. It was a shocking tragedy and event. Shortly after the attack, it became clear that Hasan was motivated by the same poisonous ideology that spurred the attacks on September 11, 2001; in other words, this was an act of domestic terrorism. Yet due to the narrow and outdated definition of ``international terrorism,'' the Fort Hood victims have not been awarded the same medals and recognition as other military victims of terrorism. Furthermore, the Obama administration took the position of claiming that the 2009 Fort Hood victims were not eligible for Purple Hearts because this was workplace violence--believe it or not. They further said they didn't think Hasan was acting under the explicit direction of a foreign terrorist group, so they were not qualified for these Purple Hearts and this recognition. When our men and women in uniform come under hostile fire from a terrorist, they and their families should receive the full honors and full recognition and benefits that accompany such courageous service.…”