Senator McConnell shows what his party thinks of soldiers

Who could fail to be appalled at this statement by Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky)?

Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers.

Would Sen McConnell be so glib about these brave men and women if he knew any of them? But given the way young Republicans have ignored the need for more leadership in the war on whatever it is this week, it seems unlikely he would. It's all noblesse, no oblige. Whatever happened to "To whom much is given, much is expected?"

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Horne has responded to McConnell’s repugnant comment:

“I would say that Mitch McConnell owes every member of our service and the families of the fallen an apology, but no apology from him can take back the venom he has spewed at our troops, this time. For anyone to believe that casualties of war are somehow more acceptable because they were not draftees is disgusting. For the Republican leader in the United States Senate to say that is beyond repugnant.” [From Ditch Mitch KY | Ditch Mitch McConnell ]

If this is how the Republican leadership views the men and women they have sent into harm's way, it's no surprise their own able-bodied men and women have declined the nation's call to serve. Why would you volunteer to risk your life if your mentors and role models consider it so contemptible? I'm sure the families of these 63 soldiers wish they had known that the leader of the Senate Republicans thinks that volunteering is for chumps.

[hat tip Political Cortex: Military Families Turn On Bush Republicans]