And who says that Democrats don't have contempt for the military?

Having been shown stats that indicate that members of the armed forces are less likely to be black, poor, or high school dropouts than the American population at large, Rangel was asked a very simple question.

Isn't the volunteer Army better educated and more well to do than the general population?

His response shows the degree of contempt for the US military that exists in his shriveled, anti-American, left-wing heart.

Of course not. I want to make it abundantly clear: if there’s anyone who believes that these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No young, bright individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits. And most all of them come from communities of very, very high unemployment. If a young fella has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq.

Got that -- even though the FACTS show that the members of today's military are more educated and from more affluent backgrounds than at any point in our nation's history, Rangel argues that they are simply poor, dumb screw-ups with no options in civilian life. Given his own contempt for America, I guess that Rangel cannot fathom patriotism and service to one's country, rather than the partisanship and service to himself that Rangel has engaged in for decades in Congress.

So let's remember that Charlie Rangel is the "new" face of the Democrat Party -- despite being a hack politician who has served (himself) in Congress for decades.

And if you wonder why this angers me so, it is because I heard the same sort of crap about Vietnam vets growing up -- raised by a father whose career was serving this country in the United States Navy, including multiple tours in Vietnam. And I remember watching him struggle to serve our country by day and complete both a masters Degree and a Doctorate by night -- so that upon retirement he could spend the next two decades running a Job Corps Center, overseeing a group of Job Corps Centers in the Northwest, and finally end his second career (in education) as a college professor. My father did not serve because he had no choices or no brains -- he served because of a great love for this country that he still manifests to this day, a half century after he joined the Navy straight out of college.

And I know that the men and women of the US military serving today in Iraq are every bit the equal in intelligence, ability, and love of country as he was back then, when he joined and when he continued to serve with pride during Vietnam and the dark years for the military that followed.

H/T Hot Air & Jawa Report

Others blogging on this topic include The Political Pit Bull, Biga, Macsmind - Conservative Commentary and Common Sense » Blog Archive » More Rangel hoof in mouth disease, Y.A.C.R.W.B - Yet Another Conservative, Right Wing Blog » Rangel Pulls a Kerry, Sister Toldjah » Rep. Charlie Rangel disrespects our military - again, Post : Military Matters, Growing Old Disgracefully » Tonight’s surf-bored, Right Voices » Blog Archive » Rangel Does His Best John Kerry Imitation, Stop The ACLU, Curiouser and Curiouser, RAINGULL: US MILITARY STUPID LOSERS « Texas Hold ‘Em Blogger, Ace of Spades HQ, Charles Rangel on What the Left Really Thinks « Woodiah’s BlogThe LLama Butchers, SlublogDumbass IV: Can’t let it go at Imperium ZorlociHang Right Politics - Archives » First, Mississippi. Now, This., BizzyBlog: The Business End of the Blogosphere » Let’s See: There’s Kerry, Strickland, and Now Rangel …..Texas Rainmaker » Rangel’s Alternate Punchline to Kerry’s “Botched Joke”, Dawnsblood, “7.62mm Justice” » Rangel, Sit Down & Shut Up, Bill's Bites, Media Lies, Say Anything, » Democrats and the Profession of ArmsIvory Dome, Sgt Hook - This We'll Defend, Blue Crab Boulevard » Rangel Continues To Insult The Troops, Andrew Olmsted dot com, Church and State, The Moderate Voice, Sam Wilkinson is…Taking It Eaaaaaasy. » Blog Archive » Rangel Hates America, Rangel Hates America…Wait, What?!?, Hoystory » Blog Archive » Keep talking…, The Dread Pundit Bluto, Cop The Truth, Blog-o-Fascists, Bruised Orange » Rangel: I’m With Stoopid, » Blog Archive » Is it Kerry?, Leaning Straight Up, third world county, NW Bloggers