RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)--Some Navy SEALs feel caught up in President Obama’s re-election bid.
Former SEALs, and even some current ones, have been vocal about their disgust over what they see as President Obama using them as ammunition in his bid for re-election.
Local SEAL John McGuire said it’s to be expected, that almost everything the military does can spark a debate no matter which side of the political fence you’re on.
On the anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of SEAL Team Six, some of those same SEALs are raising a red flag over a campaign ad, where the Obama campaign claims the president took a more honorable path than Republican hopeful Mitt Romney would have when it came to dealing with the world’s most wanted man.
McGuire said it should come as no surprise, that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or anywhere in between, military operations can always ignite a heated debate when the real focus should be on the men and women that followed orders and carried out the mission.
“The only thing evil needs to exist in this world is for good men to sit around and do nothing,” said McGuire. “These service members aren't looking for glory or a lot of recognition. They do it because they love this country."
In the ad, former President Bill Clinton points out the fallout had the mission not been successful. "Had it gone the wrong way," Clinton said, the political outcry would have been swift.
McGuire said he couldn’t agree more. “Had that raid gone the wrong way,” said McGuire. “It would've definitely made an impact on the President. So he did good on that."
I polled my followers on Facebook for their viewpoint.
In a non-scientific analysis, it was a mixed reaction. Sherrin Alsop has no problem with it. “He [the president] made the call,” she writes, while Chris Craft said, “It was not his accomplishment, it was SEAL Team Six.” He added he thought the president was looking for votes anyway he could get them.
