Fallen soldier’s family slighted by Cantwell and Obama

| January 2, 2011

Sean Collins was killed in Afghanistan last month and, according to The News Tribune, were overcome by support of friends and family. But they were underwhelmed by the reaction from politicians;

One slight came in a letter of condolences the family received from the office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

At first, the Collins family appreciated that Cantwell had taken the time to send a letter acknowledging their son’s sacrifice.

But the letter misidentified the slain soldier in its last paragraph, which reads:

“Again, please accept my warmest condolences. May your memories of Bryn and the knowledge that he made a positive impact on the lives of so many serve as a source of comfort to you during this time of sorrow.”

The letter was dated Dec. 20 and delivered to Sean Collins’ mother, Linda Collins of Yelm. The error conveyed to the family that Cantwell had sent a form letter.

Cantwell, was one of the Senators endorsed by the VFW-PAC, yet her staff couldn’t find the time to proof read her letter to a Gold Star mother.

But the story doesn’t end there;

The other slight came when [Sgt. Collins’ father, Lt. Col. Patrick Collins (Ret.)] called the White House and asked to have President Obama call his ex-wife, Linda, to talk about their son.

He was told that Obama did not regularly make phone calls to the families of fallen soldiers.

Later, Patrick Collins read a story about Obama’s phone call to Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie. Obama reportedly praised Lurie for giving quarterback Michael Vick a second chance to play football after serving time in prison for running a dog fighting ring.

“That burns,” Patrick Collins said Thursday.

“Any soldier that gets killed in action, you’d think the president would be calling someone in the family. There’s no politics in it. His predecessor did it,” Collins said.

Not to mention the countless vacations. Thanks to TSO for the link.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Support the troops, VFW PAC

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Old Trooper

shocked I am not.

tankerbabe

I yearn for the day when our Fallen Heroes and their families are the TOP priority of every soul living in this nation.

To the Cantwell Collins family – my deepest condolences and my eternal thankfulness for your son and for those of you who nurtured him and raised him to be the man he was. May God give you strength each day as you mourn the loss of Sean.

Old Trooper

Well said TB

minuteman26

tankerbabe – ditto. But why would the family want a call of condolence from a Marxist regarding an American hero? If that was my son and Obama called I tell him to go screw himself.

tankerbabe

Thank you Old Trooper

minuteman26 – the article clearly stated, “The other slight came when [Sgt. Collins’ father, Lt. Col. Patrick Collins (Ret.)] called the White House and asked to have President Obama call his ex-wife, Linda, to talk about their son.” If the family requested that call Obama should have dropped everything immediately and made it. That’s all I’m saying.

Michael in MI

“Any soldier that gets killed in action, you’d think the president would be calling someone in the family. There’s no politics in it. His predecessor did it,” Collins said.
==========

If Obama actually cared about anything, he’d be hurt by that burn that Dubya cared for the troops better than he does. But, let’s recall that Obama cancelled a trip to a military hospital in Germany back during the 2008 campaign, I believe, because he would not be allowed to bring in media with him. As Lt. Col. Patrick Collins (Ret.) mentioned, if there is no politics in it, then Obama doesn’t care.

Just one more example of how Obama is detached, unfeeling and unemotional.

As far as the Collins family, I echo tankerbabe’s sentiments.

Patrick Budowski

Condolence to the families.
What shocks me is that 39% of the American Citizens still approve of this TIC….
God Bless all our Military Members and their families….

Doc Bailey

it would be one thing if he were slammed with work, but. . . at least I feel Like Bush cared.

RobD

I’m sure his excuse will be that it is a long distance call from Hawaii and he is trying to reduce the deficit…..

YatYas

Agree with your comment, Doc Bailey.

If Obama would have called I would still dislike him as POTUS, but would have more respect for him as a person.

streetsweeper

Hey! Maria Cantwork! Suck it up girl. Go pay that family a visit, in person and correct your asinine stQQpidity! You dumb a$$! How’d you graduate from high school again? No wonder you live on Mercer Island…

OldSoldier54

Man … Obama just NEVER fails to disappoint.

USMC Steve

While Bush has his faults, and I found several, he was at least a MAN. Nobama is just a fucking punk. He has no social skills and no class. Expecting any form of adult behavior from him is just not realistic. At least he is a perfect asshole. He gets that right.

Ancient Marine

Now , now… we MUST give Barry a break… he wasn’t raised to THINK, but simply to parrot those madrasa style rantings(oops)teachings only covered how to overthrow, as opposed to build anything.

To the family, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice, most of America’s hearts go out to you

UpNorth

My condolences to Sean’s family and friends. And, I agree with what everyone’s said so far, but OldSoldier hit it on the head, Obama never, ever fails to disappoint.

DaveO

When someone of note passed on, I’d pull up the last letter of condolence the Boss had approved. After changing the date and name, I’d see if anyone knew anything about him or her. Then I’d send it in the Boss, along with all research conducted.

Sometimes, that was enough and the letter went out that day. Other times the Boss would take the time to re-write the letter because of a shared history.

From that, Senator Cantwell’s staffer who failed to ensure a correct letter of condolence is unprofessional and should be fired. No less an action than immediate termination is warranted.

As for the POTUS, well everyone knew during the campaign, and knew after his swearing in that he wasn’t Mr. Bush. One can not expect a leopard to change its spots simply for the twin sakes of duty and obligation.

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MCPO NYC USN (Ret.)

This does not shock me at all.

As we celebrate the US Marines during their birthday week, I can only recall that the Commander In Chief believes the Marines are in a corpse and they should stand ready to hold an umbrella.