Military Groups to Call for End to Government Shutdown

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Virginia): "We have to make a decision
that’s right long-term for the United States, and what may be
distasteful, unpleasant and not appropriate in the short run
may be something that has to be done," Griffith said after a meeting
of the House GOP, joining a long list of Republicans who have
dismissed the consequences of blowing through the debt ceiling
and causing a default on the nation’s payments.(ThinkProgress)

That will be enough now, Republican Party: Do your job.

A broad coalition of military groups is calling for the GOP shutdown to end now.

They will be meeting Tuesday morning, October 15th at the World War II Memorial.

This call comes as the GOP members of Congress contend to make the most imbecilic statement on the shutdown yet. From ThinkProgress:

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) offered a curious analogy this weekend, comparing the impending default to the American Revolution.

Griffith was asked about the fast-approaching debt ceiling, which if not raised, threatens to drag the U.S. economy back into a recession. He told The Hill on Saturday that he is not concerned with the economic consequences so long as he and his party get their way.

From the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America:

The Military Coalition, a coalition of 33 of the leading veterans and uniformed services organizations that represent more than 5.5 million members, are coming together with other leading veterans organizations at the World War II Memorial Tuesday morning to demand an end to the government shutdown.  The shutdown has been devastating for the nation’s military readiness and for the veterans, servicemembers, families and survivors in the uniformed services community.

Veterans who receive disability and GI Bill benefits and survivors who rely on survivor benefits don't know if they'll get their next check. National Guard and Reserve monthly training has been cancelled, affecting critical troop readiness and pay. Many services that military families count on daily are suspended. Veterans make up 27 percent of the federal workforce and don’t know when they will get to go back to work. The 435,000 veterans in the VA disability claims backlog have to wait even longer.

WHO: Speakers include leaders from the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Military Family Association, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 15th at 10 a.m. EDT

WHERE: World War II Memorial (17th Street SW)