Pandering is the key word that U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., used in deciding to vote no again in the U.S. Senate in a 94 to 1 vote, this time on the day preceding Veterans Day.
Interestingly the bill was unanimously passed by the U.S. House in a 422 to 0 vote and is one to assist veterans. Why was DeMint the only no vote in Congress?
James Werrell, an opinion page editor of the Rock Hill Herald, in a somewhat lukewarm pat on the back criticism, calls DeMint’s vote wrong, but consistent (column reprinted Nov. 19 in The Sun News), but where is the reasonable man standard that should be applied to the votes and acts of our elected officials? This is the standard required in jury trials in judgment of parties’ acts in civil law suits that jurors are charged by the court to use to determine what a reasonable person would do under the same or similar circumstances involved in the litigation. So, what would a reasonable man do with such a vote? I think that the vote count of Congress should answer that question, i.e. 516 to 1.
According to DeMint, the bill was unfair to other Americans out of work and he perceived his fellow senators pandering to the veterans by voting yes. But the obvious perception of this odd vote is that DeMint is the one apparently pandering to his Republican Party candidates for president of the United States of America for a spot on the 2012 national ballot as vice president, regardless of what he says about not running for re-election.
His vote is a disgrace to all veterans, especially those native S.C. citizens and veterans who must suffer with DeMint as their unreasonable senator of no.
The good news is that the measure passed both houses, but the bad news is the DeMint rationale for voting no. The proposed law offers employers tax credits for hiring veterans out of work for at least a year. Note: The bill does not require the employment of veterans, but simply gives employers the option with tax credits, so in the long run the employers can hire whomever they want. So, Sen. DeMint, you are not fooling this retired Navy JAG captain and S.C. native citizen with your no vote.
The writer lives in Myrtle Beach.
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