One of the biggest problems facing the Republican Party right now is the Tea Party movement. Very few conservative writers and commenters wish to acknowledge this, but the fact remains inviolate; without that unregulated, loosely organized association of independents and disaffected quasi-republicans, the GOP stands little chance of ever winning a single election...even with the horrendous poll numbers facing Obama. So what can the Grand Old Party do?
Well, one of the things that can be done is to show more than lip service in support for those men and women who battle on a daily basis for the freedoms our forefathers gave us. The voters would love it and besides, it is the right thing to do. I doubt a single high-priced campaign manager would agree, but good will is far more valuable to a campaign than a six figure check.
When I discuss the lack of a USO at McCarran Airport with members of the Tea Party movement, to a person they are angered and outraged. When I tell them what their representatives in Washington and here at home have and haven't done, they are not surprised. No wonder the party leadership on both sides of the aisle hate and fear these folks. Here is more on the USO battle:
As I wrote before, in the Las Vegas Valley we have the only airport of its size in the entire country that has no facility to offer rest and relaxation for our uniformed men and women. I wrote about the frustration had in attempting to change that situation. Some of those engaged in preventing a USO style center being opened at McCarran International Airport were unfortunately Republican Congressmen and Senators. Neither John Ensign nor Dean Heller could even be bothered to pick up the phone in support of the effort. They were not as opposed as Congresswoman Shelly Berkeley. Berkeley’s representative Roxanne actually became hostile over the issue. I suppose asking a member of Congress to actually do something more than talk is considered bad manners these days.
Since that last column a few things have happened. I have been put in contact with a very supportive Colonel in the USO leadership who has given me some very pertinent information. Some of that information indicates just how far off base some of the spin being put forth by our Washington representatives is.
Congresswoman Dina Titus claimed that the USO told her it would take anywhere from 3 to 6 million dollars to put in a center. When I mentioned that figure to the Colonel he used the word “insane” in his reply. From what he told me the highest cost for an airport facility installation is about $50,000. The space at McCarran is already wired and plumbed, so the cost would be less than $10,000, most of that going towards insurance and incidentals. If the donations come in as they usually do for this type of facility, the cost would plummet further. So where was this multimillion dollar figure really going to go, hmm? Nobody’s talking.
The big hang up with Clark County was the paperwork; business plan, security, insurance and so on. If the USO was allowed to participate all that is taken care of. They do have a bit of experience in that regard. What they really need is to know if there is community support. Toward that end I have an address and some phone numbers for your reference:
USO World Headquarters
2111 Wilson Blvd, Ste. 1200
Arlington, VA 22201
703-908-6400
703-908-5265
This email address is for the retired General supposedly in charge of supporting Southern Nevada’s troops. He hasn’t done much. If you would, please let General Hill know you want him to do more and that you support a USO facility at McCarran:
jhill@uso.org
Because of Obama’s insistence that Afghanistan needs to become his Vietnam, more and more of our troops are going to be sent into harms way. This means that Nellis, 29 Palms and the other training facilities that McCarran is used for as a hub will be receiving more and more soldiers coming though that airport with nowhere to rest, sleep or eat with any ease. The need is going to become more and more urgent. If the USO is willing to do their part, we will do ours and more.
Right now the USO is putting out a push for donations through their At Home In Our Hearts campaign. Please join with me in telling them that they are currently ignoring hundreds of thousands of our fighting men and women; willfully or not, it doesn’t matter. This situation needs to change and it can be changed easily and at little or no cost to the organization.
Let’s show the powers that be that grass roots are where the real power is. Contact the USO and contact your representatives. Let them know that actions get your vote. Empty words will put them out of office.
Bob L. Beers was a member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 21 in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to his election in 2006, he was an author involved in graphic arts and illustration.
Originally from Eureka, California, Beers attended Arcata High School and Humboldt State College. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada with his wife and son.
