Chip Coldiron Respnds to Reporting on President Trump’s Comments Toward Veterans

Chip Coldiron, the Democratic nominee for U.S. House in Indiana’s 3rd District and Afghanistan Veteran issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s reporting that President Trump has consistently made hurtful and dismissive comments regarding the sacrifices of our military veterans:

“Yesterday, I was shocked when I read the reports of President Trump’s comments regarding those who have sacrificed their lives for this country. As an Army Veteran, and more importantly as an American, I am disgusted. The sacrifices generations of American troops have made are not to be dismissed, they are to be honored, respected, and appreciated.

Whether it was in the French countryside in 1918, Normandy Beach in 1944, the skies above Hanoi in 1967, or in Afghanistan when I served, Americans who sacrificed their lives and futures for our country are not “suckers” or “losers”. They are the opposite: they are heroes.

This is not petty partisan politics or a policy disagreement. We as Americans cannot accept such disparaging language from our President. The men and women of our Armed Services rely on having a Commander-in-Chief who takes their service to this country seriously. The President has the power to make decisions of life and death, and hearing such disregard for the reality of those decisions is as dangerous as it is insulting to the commitment of our service members. 

Mr. President, you may not understand “what was in it for them” so please let me explain: it’s about honor, dignity, duty, and service to country and community. A failure to understand those values weakens our nation at home and abroad.

I am not the only veteran in this race. I ask my opponent, Rep. Jim Banks, to join me in acknowledging the danger of these comments to our national security, disavowing these insults, and calling on President Trump to apologize to the millions of service members and their families who have committed their lives to this country. 

The Hoosiers of Indiana’s 3rd District deserve a leader who doesn’t pay lip service to the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform, but who backs their words up with action. If elected, our district will know their voice in Washington will always fight for and honor our troops and their families, and I genuinely hope Rep. Banks is able to set aside partisan politics to demonstrate that same commitment.”