If you watch The Rachel Maddow show most nights as I do, you may have seen her November 21 show in which she spoke of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, a “a little noticed, genuinely bipartisan bill named for a heroic veteran who took his own life, and designed to address the challenges of treating returning war veterans.”
Clay Hunt was exceptional. He fought his demons heroically. After his military service, he threw himself into service for others. But he lost his fight.
Here is the video from Maddow’s?November 21 show, explaining the full background on the bill and the young fallen soldier after whom the bill is named.
The bill has been approved by the House, but now it looks like Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) — aka Dr. No — will try to block this bill. Why? Well….just because he can. No other reason. Clay Hunt’s parents, who are Texas Republicans, believe that Coburn is concerned about the cost and they’ve made a personal plea to Coburn to not block this bill. We aren’t buying the “cost” excuse, of course. This is politics. Coburn is?a jerk and he’s playing the game.
Coburn is also being criticized by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and Military.com.
Anyhow, you can watch below the interview with Richard and Susan Selke, the parents of an amazing young man who served with honor — before and after his time in active duty. I choked up. Rachel Maddow choked up at the very end of the video. You guys probably will, too. Screw Tom Coburn. This is all just too much, too painful.
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Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
