Nonini response shocks veterans
On July 23, I sent Senator Bob Nonini a notice that there was going to be a meeting at the American Legion with representatives of the state office of the Veterans Administration to discuss the possibility of building a Veterans Home in North Idaho. The balance of this letter is my message to Senator Nonini, the response I received (which was followed by a note from him that he would be out of town) and my response.
My message:
Dear Bob:
I am the Legislative chairman for American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls. At 655 members, we are the largest American Legion Post in Idaho and one of the largest in the nation.
I am writing you about a meeting concerning the opportunity to secure a Veterans Home for our Community and ask you to attend a special meeting next Tuesday (July 29th) at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post in Post Falls on Poleline Avenue. The purpose of the meeting is to receive a presentation from the consultant hired by the State of Idaho and the Veterans Commission to prepare a feasibility study for the project.
This project is almost three years old now, and throughout that time has been strongly supported by the Veterans Community, the City administration and the citizens of North Idaho. We are heartened by the fact that the project finally appears to be slowly moving forward in Boise and the VA.
The location of a Veterans Home in North Idaho is vitally important to all Veterans.
Thank you.
The response I received Thursday morning, July 24:
Hello Len,
I will forward your request to my husband ... However your request is received with some bittersweet feelings. My husband, the good Senator, and I have always enthusiastically supported the American Legion, as you know. It was hurtful and disappointing that you and Mary chose to support my husband's very liberal and unkind opponent in the recent Republican primary. Whalen became very ugly and mean in the last weeks of the campaign and your financial support helped with his personal attack of my husband.
Bob has done an excellent job in Boise and the campaign was one of the ugliest we have ever seen. I am proud that my husband kept his campaign clean and focused on his record and issues, while your candidate chose to personally attack and tried to malign my husband's reputation. Interesting that now you ask for Bob's assistance and interest in your issue.
Cathyanne
My response:
Dear Senator Nonini:
I am shocked by your response. I am not asking you to represent me but to represent the Veterans of our Community and the Citizens of District 3. It is very sad to see that the single Senator from District 3 who is elected by ALL the people to represent ALL the people in District 3 picks and chooses the issues he supports based on who supported him politically. Perhaps you should review the concepts of "Representative Government" as embodied in the State and Federal Constitution. What sort of message does this response to a request from a group of VETERANS and CONSTITUENTS send to our young people who are learning about how our form of Representative Government works for them?
Len Crosby
I think this email stream speaks for itself. It sends a clear message to Veterans and those Citizens living in District 3 who are looking to Senator Nonini for representation. As a registered Republican, and a Veteran of two tours in Vietnam, I am offended.
Len Crosby is a Post Falls resident.