Letter: Lee, Cruz do not represent Utah veterans

Published: October 17, 2013 1:01 am
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Texas Rep. Ted Cruz, along with Sara Palin, led the Million Veterans March (or usurped it) in Washington on Sunday. The Tribune's picture of Mike Lee in Monday's edition, addressing the group, microphone in hand, chin up and jutting with his arm stiffly outreached, simply reminded me, and I suspect other senior veterans, of pictures of Italian fascist Mussolini during World War II. The similarities are striking.

A vigorous search of the Internet gives no evidence that Lee, Cruz or Palin ever served in America's military, yet there they were, proclaiming that they represent veterans.

As a 30-year Marine Corps veteran, regular and reserve, I deeply resent them using military veterans for their political ends when they, themselves, have never worn the uniform. They don't represent me. Their actions are the height of hypocrisy.

Let every Utah veteran remember on Election Day. They never served themselves but pretended to speak for us.

John Dwan

Salt Lake City

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