This Just In ...

As a federal government shutdown looms, keep in mind...

Posted by Kevin Fischer on April 8, 2011

Only the president can shut down the federal government.

If President Obama, our Commander-in-Chief shuts down the federal government, our brave men and women in military uniforms would not be paid. That, of course, would be outrageous and an appalling insult to our troops.

Rush Limbaugh said the following on his radio program today:

“If the troops are not paid by their commander in chief -- I have a question. If the troops still engage in battle, if they go to war and they execute the orders issued by their commanders, if the troops are thus not paid by their commander in chief, are they his slaves? What would you call it? Can those serving in the military just walk off the job? I don't think so. So if Obama does not sign the bill to pay his troops, then it sounds sort of like forced labor to me. I mean, it's one thing, folks -- and we can all agree on this -- it's one thing to have to pick cotton. But to be forced to risk your life overseas without being paid, that's the worst kind of forced labor to me.

Are you kidding me? How can the president of the United States, on the eve of the anniversary of the Civil War, the 150th anniversary, threaten to withhold payment to Americans who not only risk their lives for their country but are required by law to serve or face court martial after they volunteered? I believe desertion in wartime is still a capital offense. But if these wars are just kinetic military operations, maybe an unpaid warrior who walks off the job only gets jail time. Because we're not at war -- the regime won't say so. These are kinetic military actions.”