The more I learn of politics and politicians, the more disillusioned I become. Especially lately, legislators seemed to be focused on their own needs at the expense of those of their constituents. It makes me think the whole system is rigged and corrupt, which is utterly depressing. There are, however, a few exceptions. Tammy Baldwin is one of those exceptions: a decent, honest legislator who really does care about the needs of people like me. I learned that firsthand several years ago. Tammy Baldwin fought for me, and I will fight for her in return.
About eight years ago, when I was living in Madison and Congresswoman Baldwin was my representative, I sought her help. You see, a very good friend of mine, SPC R., was serving in the Army National Guard at the time, stationed in Iraq. SPC R. had originally enlisted so that she could earn money for college and to serve her country. She didn’t complain when she was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as she took her commitment seriously, even though the volunteer National Guard was never intended to be used to fight on the front lines of a war. But when SPC R.’s unit was involuntarily extended-for the second time-my friend was devastated.
The 32nd MP’s had been out on the tarmac waiting to begin their journey home, their belongings already boxed up and sent to their families, when they received word that they weren’t going anywhere, that they would likely remain in Iraq for an additional six months.
SPC R. had been spending her days and nights in the bristling heat, on the most dangerous stretch of road in the world at the time, Airport Road, and her company was still reeling from the recent loss of fellow reservist, Michelle Witmer, the first member of the Wisconsin National Guard killed in combat in over 60 years. Understandably, my friend, SPC R., became convinced that she would not return home alive.
I sent many letters and emails to her, telling her not to give up hope, that I would do whatever I could to help bring her home. In tears, I went to Congresswoman Baldwin’s office in Madison to plead for help. As I exhausted their Kleenex supply, her staff kindly and patiently listened to me and took notes. I wasn’t sure if they actually planned to something to help, or if they were just placating me to get me out of the office quickly.
I soon learned that Tammy Baldwin does not placate her constituents; she fights for them.
Along with Senator Feingold, Baldwin worked hard to bring the 32nd MPs home asap. SPC R. was surprised when she learned they were actively working on her company’s behalf, because it felt to her like nobody cared about them, that they would be completely forgotten and left to perish in Iraq. She started to have faith in the efforts of our legislators, and that gave her hope.
That hope was what kept my friend going when she wanted to give up. It helped her make it through the seconds, minutes, hours, and days until her boots touched the ground in America.
SPC R. returned home to her family shortly thereafter, and remains incredibly grateful (as do I) to the politicians like Tammy Baldwin, who got her home months sooner than she would have had they not stepped in and taken action.
That’s just one of the many reasons I, personally, will do whatever I can to help Congresswoman Baldwin win the Senate Seat of retiring Senator Herb Kohl.
There are many more.
Tammy Baldwin has proven, over and over, that she will fight for the rights of “average” people like myself. Her defense of the Glass-Steagall Act and her introduction of the Buffet Rule prove that she is on the side of the 99%, not the 1%. And just last Friday, she reached across the aisle to work with Republican Representative Reid Ribble to protect Wisconsin manufacturers from unfair trade policies like those of China.
Baldwin’s work to provide affordable healthcare to all Americans also clearly shows where her priorities lie.
And that she has voted with integrity and not simply along party lines illustrates that she cannot be coerced into doing things she doesn’t think are right.
But the fact that Congresswoman Baldwin gives a damn about people who can offer her no monetary compensation in return for her representation is what excites me the most.
Now, I’m not naïve enough to think that if we simply elect legislators like Tammy Baldwin we’ll be able to pry open the death grip that special interests and corporations have on our state and country. We’ve got a hell of a lot more work to do before that happens (like reversing Citizens United, implementing campaign finance reform, and restoring the Fairness Doctrine, among many other things).
But we do have an opportunity before us to send a decent, hardworking, honest person who will fight for the middle class to the Senate. That gives me hope.
Tammy Baldwin gives me hope.
“the volunteer National Guard was never intended to be used to fight on the front lines of a war.”
That is not correct. By the end of the Vietnam War, the National Guard was essentially combat ineffective, poorly trained and badly equipped. During the 1980’s the Department of Defense launched a reorganization of the National Guard with the aim of making them capable of responding to the threat of Soviet aggression in Europe. Mission statements were updated, and National Guard combat brigades were aligned with Active Component divisions. During my time with the 1st Infantry Division, we were aligned with the Kansas National Guard and actively worked with them to ensure their readiness. Their armor battalions received the M1 Abrams tanks and their Infantry got Bradley fighting vehicles. They were held to the same standards (ARTEP) as their active duty comrades. If the balloon went up in Germany, we would deploy first, but the National Guard was mobilizing right behind us.
“National Guard men and women and reservists are taking on an increasing burden in Iraq and the war on terror. A commitment which used to amount to several weeks a year has become full-time service. According to a NEW YORK TIMES interview with Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas F. Hall, since the September 11 attacks, these part-time soldiers have been called to full-time service in numbers not seen since World War II. The National Guard, or “weekend warriors”, most often served their states in emergency and disaster relief roles. According to the Department of Defense, today, there are over 160,000 guardsmen and reservists currently on active duty worldwide. Out of the 2 million soldiers who went to Vietnam, only about 9,000 were Army National Guard members.”-Bill Moyers
http://www.pbs.org/now/society/natguard.html
Perhaps I could have worded my statement differently using the exact language provided by Bill Moyers (above) but my message was not about the technicalities of war. It was ultimately about Tammy Baldwin and how she helped my good friend.
Thank you for reading my post. 🙂
Indeed, we can’t shine a big enough light on the damage we have inflicted on tens of thousands of men and women who have had to fight this dubious war. Our military was never designed to be engaged in a 10 year conflict. It will take another generation to repair the damage.
Constituent service. The unlauded advocacy of power. I learned this young, and it stuck with me. As a beneficiary of veteran’s survivor benefits, it became all-too-clear the realities of red tape and how important the aid of a US senator or congressman could be. I don’t even remember the party of the persons involved, and that’s how it should be.
This echoes many stories I have heard or read about Tammy really going to bat for her constituents. I just donated to her campaign yesterday. Wasn’t the first time and won’t be the last. Probably before this is over, I will also volunteer. Love Tammy. She is a prize.