Rep. McHenry calls U.S. soldier in Iraq a ‘two-bit security guard.’
Rep. McHenry calls U.S. soldier in Iraq a ‘two-bit security guard.’
During a public appearance on Saturday, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) belittled a U.S. soldier in Iraq who was following orders and wouldn’t let McHenry go to the gym without the proper credentials. McHenry referred to the guard as a “two-bit security guard“:
We spent the night in the Green Zone, in the poolhouse of one of Saddam’s palaces. A little weird, I got to be honest with you. But I felt safe. And so in the morning, I got up early — not that I make this a great habit — but I went to the gym because I just couldn’t sleep and everything else. Well, sure enough, the guard wouldn’t let me in. Said I didn’t have the correct credentials.
It’s 5:00 in the morning. I haven’t had sleep. I was not very happy with this two-bit security guard. So you know, I said, “I want to see your supervisor.” Thirty minutes later, the supervisor wasn’t happy with me, they escort me back to my room. It happens. I guess I didn’t need to work out anyway.
Watch it:
McHenry also claimed that a person died from rocket attacks during his stay in the Green Zone. A U.S. embassy official, however, said “that there were no fatalities from that rocket attack.”
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But he had on his flag lapel pin. Isn’t that good enough???I mean that proves what a great patriot you are,right?
April 4th, 2008 at 9:53 amAnother fine example of Republicans supporting our troops. If only us Libs could follow their lead….then we might actually win this war.
Aye yi yi.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:54 amYeah, those soldiers are all scum, aren’t they Rep. McHenry?
April 4th, 2008 at 9:54 amahhh, another rethug and his faux “support the troops” mantra.
Is this McHenry’s ‘macaca’ moment?
snark
April 4th, 2008 at 9:55 amPatrick McHenry needs an attitude adjustment. The soldier was doing his job, and McHenry isn’t as exalted as he thinks he is. But bravo for the soldier’s supervisor, who sided with the soldier and wasn’t intimidated by a “two-bit” Congressman.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:57 amI just watched the whole clip. Sir,that “2 bit” security guard may have saved your worthless hide. Wouldn’t it suck if the person killed in the attack was said guard???
April 4th, 2008 at 10:00 amDid you know that Patrick McHenry is the current holder of the title “Baby of the House”? He qualifies for this by being the youngest member of Congress (age 32).
And, of course, moments of immaturity like this just underscore that…
(by the way, even though he’s from NC, he’s not MY Congressman!)
April 4th, 2008 at 10:02 amAnd I spent alot of hours on guard detail. I don’t care who it was if they didn’t have the proper I.D. we were aloud to make them lie in the prone positon until they were properly identified!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:02 amSorry “ALLOWED”. I make a MISSTEAK once in awhile. ;)
April 4th, 2008 at 10:04 amMy gawd! Does the (R) label always indicate that it’s all about “me me me”, and screw the rest???
April 4th, 2008 at 10:05 amThank you, McHenry, for supporting our troops (snark)
Did anyone tell the congressman that there was a war going on?
April 4th, 2008 at 10:10 amWow. I mean what kind of a retard says to a soldier “I want to see your supervisor”? Not satisfied with being an ungrateful schmuck, McHenry also has to behave like the anally retentive soccer mom.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:11 amlol
April 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amThe joke, of course, is on all of us. When Bush/Cheney were supposed to be capturing/prosecuting Osama and Zawahiri we were setting up Shiite Governments to “trade” with. I mean really. Aren’t we all 2-bit chumps to the Neocon?
Mighty full of himself all Congressy and everything. That “two bit security guard” is following orders that this political hack can’t comprehend.
This needs to be shown for what it is. “I’m more important than those who serve” attitude. It’s bad enough that this “two bit security guard” is probably on his 2nd or more return tours to Iraq but to be belittled by the same pissant that is touting the virtures of the volunteer soldier.
Mr. McHenry, you disgust me.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amJust another republiscum who claims to support the troops, but actually thinks of them as nothing more than bonded serfs.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:13 amWhere is the outrage among the conservative loudmouths?
McHenry first tried tapping his foot several times but the soldier didn’t understand.
Foot tapping is well understood in McHenry’s male group house (and by other Members of Congress) but not so well understood by the rank and file “men and women who wear the uniform.”
All just a misunderstanding, I’m sure.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:13 amThe essence of a democracy and a free society is indeed the rule of law that applies to all citizens equally without favor or bias to any one individual or class. An aristocracy or plutocracy recognizes the inherent superiority of one class over others. It is merely the fault of the soldier for failing to acknowledge and bend to the demands of his better.
Recognize this country for what it has become, not what you have been taught in school.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amspecialist; how did you like Sir! No Sir?
Ahh, the memories that film brought back.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am“… and the loudspeaker came on and it was duck and cover… I thought, what am I supossed to do?”
This coupled with 2-bit-security guard leads me to believe that what we have here is just another 2-bit-never-served-a-day-in-his-life-CHICKENHAWK!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amTwo bits… about the cost of one of those little green plastic soldiers. I guess that’s how the GOPers view our troops after all, just playthings in their big game, and sometimes this just slips out of one of their mouths. Scum.
PEACE
April 4th, 2008 at 10:16 amIn the movies the people are always able to bluff their way past military security, but in real life these guys generally don’t budge an inch. This is actually a good thing. Baghdad is a ridiculously dangerous place to be. Even Iraqi congress people have complained about having to wait in line and be searched every time they enter the “green zone”. The U.S. congress person should be thanking this soldier for placing his life on the line so he can go on his P.R. tour.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:17 amThis “two bit security guard” sacrificed his family, his life, hell even his sanity, for the country that you represent, McHenry!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:22 amHe has probably seen and done horrors your limited mind could not even comprehend.
HE IS A HERO!
Next time, instead of chomping at the bit in a idiotic rant that places the emphasis on you, maybe you should be thankful, and honored, he was doing his duty. You know, the result of you and your chicken hawks over zealous march to war!
I think TP may have this wrong. From YT commenter TaskOrder151:
“The security guard was a contractor from Triple Canopy, not a soldier. They’re not allowed to let anyone in anywhere w/o the proper ID. They are not allowed to recognize faces as proof of entry because those rights can get revoked. That is the main gym and no exception. Besides, hes nothing more than a glorytourist acting like a primadonna. He wasted tax money by going there. He didnt actually do anything other than travel. He’s a nobody in the green zone. Why should a security contractor care?”
April 4th, 2008 at 10:27 ami guess being a republican, rules mean nothing to McHenry.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:29 amhe must really believe rules are made to be broken.
i guess we need to help this guy running against him.
Gee I thought when you are the biggest flamer in the GOP and was involved with a gay hustler/murderer, you would want to keep a low profile. I guess the Liberace of the House is sure the the hypocrites of the religious right will protect him.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:31 amThat’s OK, McHenry is a penny-ante Congressman.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:32 amThe gym was hit by a rocket? OMG what horrifying story!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am#22: “The security guard was a contractor from Triple Canopy, not a soldier…”
- - Ok, so if the guy was a contractor, then you can also bet he’s WAY above the “two-bit” scale.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:34 am@Sachem
Good point. In that case, Congress can enjoy the unresponsive, unaccountable private contractor state that they and the President’s men have constructed.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:34 amThe fact that McHenry would treat a uniformed soldier of the United States with such disrespect should tell you that he treats all humans who he percieves to be lower in status than him the same way.
Probably tells all what a good christain he is and of course wears his swastica….I mean flag pin.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:35 amHindsight is always 20/20. If the gym was going to be hit, the guard should have let the shitbird in- then we’d have one good rethuglican.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:37 amThat two-bit speech was an incredible collection of wtf’s. He insults one of our brave soldiers, talks of the progress, his feeling of safety in the green zone, rocket attacks in the green zone, the death of a soldier and a Hillary insult in under 3 minutes. But most incredible was this buffoon’s difficulty to decipher the meaning of “duck and cover”. I guess there’s no intelligence requirement for being a low-life, chickensh*t, chickenhawk, neocon water-carrier. I can’t wait to hear what KO has to say about this asswipe tonight.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:41 amLadies and Gentlemen, THIS is your Republican party. THIS is what the “support our troops” crowd really thinks. The GOP loves to use the military as a prop for their jingoistic propaganda, but utterly despise the men and women in uniform.
Remember this, friends, when Republicans repeat the lie that the Democrats are bad for the military, that we don’t support the troops, etc.
I can only hope that this poor soldier who was DOING HIS FREAKING JOB will remember just who it was who treated him this way.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:53 amIf there were a single Democratic strategist–just one! that’s all I plead for!—on Capitol Hill they would be introducing censure motions on the House floor and turn this into a chest-thumping patriotism moment and force the Republicans to condemn one of their own, disavow him, etc.
But there aren’t any Democratic strategists on Capitol Hill. None. They are literally incapable of thinking tactically and are, in fact, sending McHenry conciliatory bipartisan gift baskets as we speak. Eunuchs of the world, unite!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:53 amWhere’s the fake outrage from the reich-wing?
April 4th, 2008 at 10:55 amThe “guard” mighta been Blackwater merc, or some other ‘contractor,’ nest paw?
April 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amI think they’ve withdrawn the real military guys from the safe duty at the mission/embassy and put ‘em humpin’ the boonies for ‘bad guys.’ for peanuts, btw, while the mercs take down the “real” money…
Reich-wingers on the Hill have consistently stated on the record that America owes a debt of gratitude to herr dubyah’s private army/mercenaries.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amChrist. What a complete asshat.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:03 amMcHenry: “…not that I make this a great habit — but I went to the gym because I just couldn’t sleep and everything else.”
Translation: “I’m gay, surrounded by these hot military men, and wanted to ogle some military meat in the gym.”
April 4th, 2008 at 11:03 amPudgy Patrick McHenry: Legend in his own mind.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:08 amWatch him try to have the guard fired.
The_Right_Stuff Says
and the significant difference would be?………
you can’t defend this….don’t try. It just makes you look dumb.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:08 amYo, Stuffy…WTF makes you think that even if the guard *was* a contractor, it gave that congressasshat the right to treat him like dirt…?
Your priorities are completely effed up, boy.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:09 amSachem Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:27 am
and
The_Right_Stuff Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 11:04 am
This in no way shape or form excuses Mr. McHenry for his inability to understand that he isn’t in DC and that there are much more strict rules and SOP’s that are adhered to. I don’t blame the guard for being there. If he’s there thru the military or a private security firm, he is there to perform a duty and not deserving of this creampuff trying to demean him. Many private sector indivuals are following the money stream that has been flowing into Iraq due to no bid contracts by that same tickturd’s party.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:12 amI have met a lot of politicians and elected officials over the years — from local town councilman to US senators — and many, many of them of the among the most arrogant, self-important, rude people I have ever encountered.
While I do believe ThinkProgress has assumed facts not in evidence by postulating that the security guard was indeed a US soldier rather than a civilian contractor or Iraqi policemen, I have NO doubt that McHenry was rude and belligerent
April 4th, 2008 at 11:13 amSure you have. And you own a 5000 sq ft home, 4 cars, a beach front condo, possess 3 doctorates, and own 4 different multi-million dollar businesses.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:15 amSachem Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I think TP may have this wrong. From YT commenter TaskOrder151:
I didn’t see this comment. Where did you see it please? Thanks.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:19 amAnd reich-wingers on the Hill have consistently stated on the record that America owes a debt of gratitude to herr dubyah’s private army/mercenaries.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:19 amShould we call you the pot or the kettle? How about we stick with moran [sic].
I’m sure Right Wing Radio will be OUTRAGED about this!
Oh, he’s a Republican?
Chiiirp Chiirrrp Creeeek Creeeeeek.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:22 amExley, recently, at a business summit in Vegas, we were honored (?) to have as a guest speaker Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin, and Secretary of Health under 1st term Bush (who happened to implement the current Medicare D prescription program).
April 4th, 2008 at 11:23 amAll he talked about was him, what he accomplished, how life is now different for him post secret service, etc.
I was amazed at the self centered egotistical tone of his lecture.
But, he did bring an interesting insight into the presidential election. (Hint: he’s an adviser for McCain)
DRxJ,
Doesn’t surprise me….They are even worse when you try to talk to them, let’s say, at a fundraiser or a town meeting or, like what you attended, a business conference….They act as if they are bestowing this great honor upon you just by deigning to speak with you.
It’s funny — the lower on the political rung, the more arrogant they are! The most arrogant politicians I have ever met have been a Long Island town councilman and a New York Stae Assemblyman….Get over yourself!
April 4th, 2008 at 11:28 amMcHenry still got better treatment there than the average citizen!
Get over yourself, fcuking pig.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:39 amKeerist, I hope NC manages to vote this pudgy little closet queen out of office. Couldn’t come soon enough.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:43 amThis is NOT a joking matter. McHenry reduced this guard to something he considers despicable, “a two bit security guard”. McHenry needs to be kicked out of Congress for this. Over 4,000 “two bit security guards” have given their life for this country. I want him gone, as in out of Congress. I remember when John Kerry made a statement, far less offensive than this, and the Republicans were screaming for his resignation, yet a Republican can make a statement like this and get away with it without anyone in Congress asking for his removal? And BTW isn’t it interesting how security guards, for which there many in America keeping our travel, water and air supplies safe, are held in regard by McHenry?
April 4th, 2008 at 11:48 amThis Delay wannabe needs a foot shoved up his bum.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:51 amYa know, come ta think of of it…
If that had been a Blackwater stopping McHenry, he’d would been most likely so drunk he would have thought McHenry was an Iraqi and shot him on the spot.
So, ergo sum… it had to have been a soldier, and McHenry should resign in disgrace. Mystery solved!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pmWhat a PRICK. He’s probably worse when he’s home. Guys like this are just begging for a BEAT DOWN.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss @ #48 - YouTube Comment Section below video here.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pmSachem, how would this person know that? Where did he get his info?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pmThis is sure to be a candidate for Keith’s ‘worst person’ tonight.
_AIO_
April 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pmI think Rep. Patrick McHenry needs to sit down and have a talk with Rep. Patrick Murphy, the only Iraq vet currently serving in congress.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pmSo he is saying that he was blessed by God and the one supposedly that died was just another “two bit” security guard that was Godless?
He is a Newt wanna-be
April 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pmThat two-bit representative has no clue about security, does he? There is a damn good reason you follow protocols like that to the LETTER. IT SAVES LIVES.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pmspecialist f, thank you for your service
April 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pmI think further investigation will show embelishment or what he said about his stay was just bullshit. Another case of a chickenhawk puffing his chest out too far and shouting his ‘lapel pin patriotism.’ North carolina must be SO proud. I wish the ’supervisor’ had put him on his knees with the butt of his rifle. Maybe not. He may have said, “while I’m down here!”
April 4th, 2008 at 1:08 pmRegarding a poster’s contention it was not a military guard but a contractor, this is from the article Amanda is quoting from:
Since when are contractors referred to as “military guards”?
The title also said:
Last I heard, contractors were not called “soldiers”.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pmWhat a DICK!! This guy needs a Blanket party. You dispicable human being.This soldier is over there doing his duty and this guy pisses on him.People go to congress and let them know about this DICK.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:27 pmMcHenry has a long history of extraordinarily stupid and crackpot statements. He is, simply, a complete nutball. Watch any TV appearance he makes (he gets trotted out by O’Rielly and others from time to time). He has little to say other than strung together talking points, furiously stupid assertions, and outright falsehoods.
I feel sorry for the people of his district. The ones that didn’t vote for him. He’s one of several crazy uncles in NC politics.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pmIn reference to the validity of YouTube Commenter on this video “TaskOrder 151″ a minimal amount of looking reveals the following:
There are several references that indicate that this is probably not US Military. First the reference to “supervisor” is outside the nomenclature of the command structure.
The second more interesting one is the YT commenters name: TaskOrder151. Googling shows that this is a $200 million KBR contract awarded last year for a variety of task including Dep of State support for the embassy in the green zone. He identifies himself as a 58 year old from the Seychelles, where KBR maintains a logistics base.
Triple Canopy maintains their own website as a Va. based mini-Blackwater as security for Dep of State personnel. It all fits and I believe it.
One odd fact: the individual has had the YouTube name longer than the order has officially existed. He may have been there given his venom.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:56 pmBecause some anonymous poster on YouTube says this guy was a private contractor our trolls think we should take it as fact. Unfreakin’believable. Then they move on with the fact we are against private contractors so why are we defending this “security guard”. Maybe they should just STFU and start atoning for 8 years of Bushco.
April 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHuh? What’s yer wolfie point? The attack is on the nutjob Congressman for being a self absorbed liar in a warzone while yelling at the hessians for doing their job.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:11 pmaquarius2 Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 11:48 am
This is NOT a joking matter….
I agree. Who the “F” does this guy think he is. If he was in front of me right now, I’d kick his sorry 2-bit ass!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:10 pmhe sounds eeriely like a pompus Roman senator in the last days of that enigmatic empire. And the barbarians were slowly approaching…a little over the horizon…
April 4th, 2008 at 4:47 pmOf course it doesn’t make it better, Amanda: poor treatment is poor treatment, and “two-bit” is pompous and condescending.
But this isn’t the point, is it?
The point is your shoddy journalistic skills. If you can honestly say that you would have run the story had McHenry said, “a two-bit Blackwater security guard,” then it doesn’t matter. But you can’t say that, can you? It’s only a story because it’s a Republican belittling U.S. troops.
So, you rushed a story (again), and blew it. Last time, at least, you apologized. Now you’re equivocating.
It’s ugly.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pmI’m retired and fishing is tough in the fly-over zone during the winter. So….I watch too much C-Span. MY opinion of McHenry:
He’s the guy that always got picked last in a “choose-up-sides” game.
He’s a wuss. If one of my daughters told me she was going to marry him, I would go into the bathroom and slit my wrists.
Suffers from diarrhea of the mouth. Oughta’ be voted “The Mouth of the House.”
In the bars I drink in, he’ld be skidding out the door and across the parking lot within 30 seconds of entering them.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pmThe nationality or employment status of the guard in question is totally irrelevant. I thought we were all one team, one big “coalition of the willing” , and it is completely unacceptable for McHenry to denigrate anyone serving over there, especially when their job entails protecting his sorry ass.
And yes, the right wing nutosphere would have gone totally berserk over this, as they have frequently done over the past five years.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:29 pmAmanda????
April 4th, 2008 at 10:49 pmHe did not say military guard, Bilbo. He said security guard.
Regardless, the knee jerk headline is wrong. Again, TP is a pice o crap liberal rag of a site.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:45 pmExley Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I have met a lot of politicians and elected officials over the years — from local town councilman to US senators — and many, many of them of the among the most arrogant, self-important, rude people I have ever encountered.
While I do believe ThinkProgress has assumed facts not in evidence by postulating that the security guard was indeed a US soldier rather than a civilian contractor or Iraqi policemen, I have NO doubt that McHenry was rude and belligerent
I’ve heard tell that these very traits can be contagious under the right conditions. What do you think?
April 5th, 2008 at 3:02 amWhen push comes to shove, a Republican will always prove to be a ten dollar thug.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pmThe Huntsville Times is reporting today that a colonel and two other GIs were killed in a mortar attack to their gym in the Baghdad Green Zone two days ago. Does anybody know if this is the same gym McHeny wasn’t allowed to enter because some “two bit security guard” wouldn’t let him in? If so, does he now have blood on his hands?
April 10th, 2008 at 10:29 amhttp://www.al.com/ news/ huntsvilletimes/ index.ssf?/ base/ news/ 120773255647960.xml&coll=1
The out-of-touch toe-tapping hypocrite baby boy continues to display his separation from reality. His behavior in Iraq is consistent with his behavior on the floor of the US House.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:38 pmHe has been seen giggling like an adolescent girl with Hensarling and others while they do their Rethug bantering gotcha antics when they should be doing the work of US Representatives. If he is representative of the people of his state, they should consider “outing” him in the next election.
BUT MAYBE THEY LIKE HIM AND ARE LIKE HIM.
I have met a lot of politicians and elected officials over the years — from local town councilman to US senators — and many, many of them of the among the most arrogant, self-important, rude people I have ever encountered.
While I do believe ThinkProgress has assumed facts not in evidence by
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