This Should Frost You: 50 Bucks to Watch the Wrong Debate at the VA

Robert L. RosebrockOP-ED

Fellow Veterans and Friends of Veterans:

The disrespect for disabled and homeless Veterans continues as the flagrant misuse of their facilities will now be switched to hold an adversarial political debate on behalf of both political parties’ Presidential candidates at the VA's Wadsworth Theater on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Called “40 Hours to Decide,” the 1:45 debate will be between the husband and wife team of Democrat James Carville and Republican Mary Matalin.

Cost to attend is $50 for general admission, and $125 for VIP reception and reserved seating.

How much money comes in? Who gets it?

Care to ask U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), the public servant elected to oversee this sacred trust.

He claims he is clueless about how more than $40 million came and went, and why there are so many homeless Veterans in L.A.

One thing for certain, the proceeds from the $50 to $125 tickets will not be going to help homeless Veterans. Rest assured there will not be any debate about how homeless Veterans' lives are in extreme danger and their deeded property is also in extreme danger, while the neighboring elite trespass on these sacred grounds.

When the Disabled American Veterans and Vietnam Veterans of America organizations each wanted to host a Veteran gathering on the VA grounds this past year, they had to first prove that there would be nothing “political” about their events.

How do non-Veteran outsiders come in, take over, charge exorbitant admission fees, and hold a political debate on Veterans property?

Ask Henry. Don’t Give up.

Again, ask Henry Waxman, who is seeking a 19th term in office (38 years) and admits that he has not devoted attention to the largest VA in the nation in spite of the Veterans Home being desecrated, abused and abandoned while 20,000 Veterans are exiled and remain homeless. Yet there are a public dog park, public community park, public golf course, private school playground and more.

Henry further admits that he has no vision on how to care for these misplaced American heroes. Nor does he know where the tens of millions of dollars have gone when the VA misappropriates this land for non-Veteran use.

If there is to be any political debate on Nov. 4, on Veterans property, let it be between Henry Waxman and Bill Bloomfield, his Independent challenger in the 33rd Congressional District, and let it be solely about the Los Angeles VA land abuse and neglect of disabled and homeless Veterans, the merits of the ACLU lawsuit, and let the moderators be Veteran advocates and the admission be free to Veterans only.

Neither of the two-party candidates for President or Vice President are Veterans. There are no longer any Veterans on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The United States of America is a free and independent nation.

We hold free elections because men and women serving in our U.S. armed forces pledge their lives to defend the U.S. Constitution and the American way of life. Many make the ultimate sacrifice while many more sustain lifetime disabilities from their war injuries.

In sum, our military actually defends the U.S. Constitution while the justices on the Supreme Court are responsible for upholding and enforcing the Constitution.

Should Be Mandatory

There should always be at least one Veteran on the U.S. Supreme Court at all times

Of the four Americans recently killed during the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, two were former Navy SEALs … both highly decorated military Veterans.

At what price must our Veterans continue to pay before they are heard in America?

Isn't it about time that Veterans have a voice …. at least on their own property and how it should be used to care for our disabled and homeless Veterans?

On behalf of all military Veterans, this is a respectful request to VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to immediately step in and cancel this political debate as it is being promoted.

Instead, he should convert it into a political debate over Veterans land, the necessity of supportive housing and care for our disabled and disadvantaged Veterans, and the debate would be between Henry Waxman and Bill Bloomfield so that Veterans can decide who will best serve their needs, and not the wants of the neighboring communities.

God Bless America and the Veterans Revolution!

For the debate: http://wcce.ajula.edu/forms/frwcce40.aspx

Mr. Rosebrock may be contacted at RRosebrock1@aol.com