Green's record on vets doesn't rate award

Well, isn't this swell?

Rep. Mark Green will hand over a $450,000 check to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King today, and in return will get an “outstanding leadership” award from Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

Green's press release didn't say, but it's probably not a personal contribution from Green. It's not even Green getting rid of his tainted Tom DeLay money. Most likely, it's taxpayers' money from the federal budget, although Green may have helped earmark it as his piece of pork. And it's probably not even a real check.

The event is as phony as the award he's going to get from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, which is still run by a Republican-appointed board and a Republican secretary, despite the fact that Jim Doyle has been governor for three years.

Green likes to talk about veterans and lead the cheers for the war in Iraq (he started the Victory in Iraq caucus in Congress, you'll recall.) But he was so busy getting a law degree that he only managed to serve five days -- that's right, five days! -- in the armed forces himself, and his record in Congress on veterans issues has been far from stellar.

Some examples, from previous posts:

Green voted for vets' health care after he voted against it.

With friends like Mark Green, our veterans don't need enemies.

Green's a classic example of a guy who says one thing to veterans in Wisconsin and does something entirely different in Washington.

But you can bet the award he gets today will show up on campaign materials in his run for governor. That, of course, is what today's new conference is all about.