Richardson To Stop Using Name of Fallen Soldier
Governor Bill Richardson told MSNBC’s Tim Russert that he would stop mentioning an American soldier who died in Iraq back in ’04. Richardson shared the story of Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin on several occasions.
Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin died a heroic death in 2004:
The Marines were searching buildings in the war-torn Jolan neighborhood when they came under attack in one of the bloodiest clashes between the U.S. military and insurgents that spring.
Austin helped evacuate the wounded and led other Marines onto a roof to operate a machine gun. When the insurgents kept advancing, he took a grenade from his vest and moved into the open for a better throwing position.
“Several enemy bullets struck Lance Cpl. Austin in the chest,” said the official Marine Corps account. “Undaunted by his injury and with heroic effort, he threw his hand grenade at the enemy on the adjacent rooftop.”
The grenade hit the bull’s-eye and forced the insurgents to halt their attack.
When the battle was over, Marines erected a makeshift memorial to Austin in one of the buildings they had fought to defend.
Richardson, meanwhile, adds to the story that when he met the mother of Lance Cpl. Austin, she showed him the check she received from the government, which was only $11,000. According to Richardson, this motivated him “to go to the New Mexico legislature and propose a $250,000 death benefit—life insurance—for every National Guardsman in New Mexico.” The mother denies showing Richardson the check or talking with him about money.
Richardson:
Tim, she—we have different recollections. That family is heroic, that young man is heroic. But let me tell you what that—my attending that ceremony caused. It inspired me to go to the New Mexico legislature and propose a $250,000 death benefit—life insurance—for every National Guardsman in New Mexico. It’s now $400,000. It passed. I made it happen. And then 30 other states—I went to the National Governors Association, and we pushed this–30 other states have made this happen. And the federal death benefit has gone up.
Now, I, I fully respect that family. We have different recollections. But that’s where I learned, at that ceremony, that the death benefit for our soldiers was $11,000. And look, Tim, I am not going to—there is nobody that has done more for veterans, any governor, I believe, than I have. No state income tax for enlisted people. I was just in North Korea two months ago, and I brought back—I’ve been working on this for years—the remains of six Americans from the Korean War. All kinds of initiatives, such as this life insurance policy that has been…
MR. RUSSERT: But if it troubles her, out of respect for Mrs. Miller and her son Aaron Austin, will you stop using his name and her name?
GOV. RICHARDSON: Yes, I will. I will do that. But we just have different recollections, Tim, and—but, but that family is honorable. I attended that service. I was really moved. You know, I call as many of the mothers of New Mexico soldiers that’ve been killed. But no one will ever question my commitment to help our veterans. I was in North Korea. I rescued—I helped rescue, helped push forward the release of—many years ago—of, of an American helicopter pilot. So I believe very strongly that we have to stand up for our veterans when they come back, coming back PTSD, they’re not getting the help that they deserve.
MR. RUSSERT: But if Mrs. Miller feels used, you would apologize for it.
GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, Tim, I—that’s where I learned about this death benefit. There was an individual there that saw a piece of paper being given to me. I, I don’t want to get into this. I want this to—I respect that woman. I will not mention it again.
It seems to me that Governor Richardson would be wise not to mention Austin again. I cannot possibly say whether his recollection of what happened is accurate or not, but I can say, however, that it is politically a bit silly to piss off a mother who lost her son in the war in Iraq.
Cross posted at my own blog.
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11 Responses to “Richardson To Stop Using Name of Fallen Soldier”
I saw part of this interview and had to turn it off. Mr. Richardson, who has so much appeal on paper, was not really honest on this and some other issues. Let me just say, that I had seriously considered supporting him, but did not find him at all credible in the interview. He at first refused to apologize to this mother, and had to be pinned down by Russert before he finally did- of course still claiming he had done nothing wrong.
If you are a supporter of this man, or are considering him….go read the transcript or watch the video on Meet the Press. Then spread the word. I think this man is dangerous !
Cindy Sheehan and the rest of her group used the names of hundreds of American servicemen in their anti-war displays without their families permission and, in several cases, against the express and repeated wishes of the families.
There’s been wrongs done on both sides of this issue as the Pat Tillman case shows us.
Bill Richardson did himself no favors on yesterday’s Meet the Press. Russert absolutely pilloried Richardson on his numerous flip-flops, using Richardson’s book as evidence of numerous instances in which the New Mexico Governor and former Energy Secretary has changed his position.
Some libertarians have praised Richardson for some of his more libertarian views (i.e. supporting legalization of medical marijuana, voting to repeal the assault weapons ban, cutting taxes), but I doubt many libertarians will support him after this interview. Richardson completely fumbled the assault-weapons question:
Richardson seems to being saying that in his heart, he sympathizes with the gun control platform of the Democrats and that he supported the repeal of the assault weapons ban only because such a position is popular with his New Mexico constituents.
There were several other instances in which Richardson appeared to be guilty of flip-flopping (i.e. the war in Iraq, immigration, his favorite Supreme Court Justice).
And then there was the accusation regarding the mother of the fallen Lance Corporal that MvdG mentioned above. It’s impossible to know who’s “recollection” of the events is true, but Richardson certainly didn’t come out that well from the discussion of this issue.
It was somewhat disappointing to watch Richardson flounder so badly on national television given his impressive resume and apparent willingness as a western governor a take the Democratic Party in a more fiscally conservative, socially libertarian direction.
You need to read the original Associate Press story on this matter, which has a third party supporting Richardson’s version. This is another example of no good deed goes unpunished.
Think of the big picture: Because of Richardson the death of a soldier abroad is no longer the financial ruin of the soldier’s family. The family has enough money to keep their house and send the kids to college. 35 other states have now followed New Mexico’s lead.
Following the funeral Richardson took action. Upon learning of the low death benefit, Richardson went to the New Mexico legislature and got the death benefit for fallen New Mexico national guardsmen and women raised. The benefit now stands at $400,000.
Here are some of the other actions Richardson has take to support veterans in New Mexico. It would be great if all governors showed his wisdom, leadership and compassion:
* Elevated Veterans’ Affairs to his Cabinet, creating the Department of Veteran Services.
* Eliminated state income tax for all active-duty military pay.
* Granted extensions for activated Guard personnel to file state taxes.
* Granted a grace period for expired drivers’ licenses for Guard personnel.
* Offered tuition refunds or credits to Guard personnel currently enrolled in school.
* Provided free hunting and fishing licenses to all veterans for one year following their redeployment back to the U.S.
* Granted free tuition to any New Mexico Public University for any child of a New Mexican
Guardsman killed in action.
* Committed to easing the transition between employers and their employees who have been called to serve.
* Granted administrative leave to state employees with family members returning from Iraq.
* Authorized 15 extra days of military leave for every soldier who’s been deployed.
* Presented former Iraqi Freedom POW Spc. Joseph Hudson with the very first “Spirit of
New Mexico” Award, which is designed to recognize New Mexicans who demonstrate extraordinary courage, leadership, and devotion to state and country.
* Invested in veterans’ services:
- Created Vietnam Veterans Memorials in Santa Fe and Angel Fire, NM.
- Funded construction and renovations for veterans’ memorials around the state, including in Farmington, Las Cruces, Gallup, Taos, T or C, and Mora, NM.
- Provided funding to the Department of Navajo Veterans’ Affairs.
I agree that his achievements are commendable, but his performance was pitiful. He doesn’t seem to have the political skill to answer the tough questions that a presidential candidate has to answer about his inconsistencies. He has a tremendous record, but after that performance I found myself wondering how he even got elected governor of New Mexico.
On the issue of the mother and her soldier son and BR, good post mvdg. I’ve just put up a post on TMV about why soldiers dont speak of their war stories often. They loathe it when a politician or media person ‘uses’ their story to make political gain, advert hay, while the story, to the soldier and/or family, remains sacred.
dr.e.
Another one (candidate) bites the dust, it seems.
Its a little early for that, isn’t it? But, I admit the appearance was not a positive one. We had neighbors originally from New Mexico over for BBQ, and they claim he’s been a great governor??
I’d say so, normally; that should be the theme song whenever someone announces the end of his or her campaign. But this may have been a fatal blunder early in the campaign.