Giving the Finger to Federal Employees

This has been a bad year for Federal civilian employees. We’ve been blamed for the budget deficits and have become the punching bag for teabaggers near and far. Supposedly we’re the cause of everything that is wrong in Washington.

So who would have thought that a bill to honor civilian employees who die in the line of duty would cause such an uproar with the right wing?

A seemingly innocuous piece of bipartisan legislation that would provide an inexpensive flag-draped patriotic gesture is drawing right-wing opposition because the honor would go to federal civilian employees.

The legislation would authorize the presentation of American flags at the funerals of federal workers killed in the line of duty, much like is done for members of the military. It was expected to pass easily when it was scheduled for a vote in the House last week.

“Every year federal civilian employees are killed at home and abroad doing their duty for our nation,” said Rep. Richard L. Hanna (R-N.Y.), a sponsor of the bill. “The American flag embodies the values of our nation that these individuals worked to uphold. This legislation would provide a modest, but significant, benefit in honor of these dedicated individuals who sacrificed on our behalf.”

It appeared that this bill would pass without any major opposition. But it ran into trouble when the American Legion denounced the bill. And it didn’t help that Erik Erickson from Redstate wrote an article calling it “The Flags for Bureaucrats Act.”

The Legion opposed the bill for several reasons, one of which is misleading.

“Civil service workers do not sign a pledge to defend America with their lives,” said Fang Wong, the Legion’s national commander, in a news release.

The truth is that the oath civilians and members of the military swear says they will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Yeah, that’s right. Federal civilian employees and members of the military basically swear the same oath (the military adds in lines about obeying the orders of officers and the President).

Wong I guess forgot about the 168 victims of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City in 1996. I guess he doesn’t care about the civilians who work in war zones next to military members (see Iraq). When I was on active duty, I worked next to civilian employees on a daily basis. My secretary was a civilian.

I’m a member of the American Legion. Sadly, they are as wrong on this issue as they are on DADT.