Former Marine Robert Gilman is back on U.S. soil today because politicians on both sides of the aisle worked together. Hell has frozen over, and somewhere, Tip O’Neill is smiling down.
President Donald Trump and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey joined forces to bring the Lowell and Dracut native home. Gilman’s recovery isn’t guaranteed, and his case remains an injustice in so many ways, but he needed to leave Russia, and that’s a fact the president and senator focused on.
This bipartisan hard work is exactly what taxpayers demand. And this is exactly what is missing today — especially in Massachusetts.
The polarization of our politics isn’t serving anyone. A trip to the grocery store, gassing up your car, paying the rent or mortgage, isn’t being made any easier by in-fighting in Washington.
Markey is facing blistering attacks from an opponent, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who rips into Trump at every turn. Is that what’s working? Maybe it is for many, but not for the Gilman family.
Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, said it best when she credited both Trump and Markey with her brother’s release, stating “there is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.
“The Russians treated my brother so badly,” Hudson said. “They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine. What did they get out of this? Why did they do this to such a wonderful person?”
Ask Gilman’s parents if they care about scoring points with the base. Ask them about campaign finances and pontificating at hearings. All they wanted was their son on American soil.
The American taxpayer pays an average of $14,009 in federal income taxes annually, according to the Tax Foundation. And that estimate is three years old, and the more you make, the more you pay.
Human rights — American rights — should be bipartisan. That sentiment is clearly alive in D.C.
We’re talking about a Marine whom a reader reminded should never be considered an “ex-Marine,” because that title is earned for life. All the more reason not to leave anyone behind.
The president and senator put politics aside, tempered the backbiting, and suspended the distrust just to get a Marine home. Veterans nationwide are looking to Massachusetts today because both men did what they are paid to do. They were not out to get rich, score points, or win over votes.
This is especially evident when Markey is fighting for his political life. Both politicians are coming under attack because of their age. Both are 80 years old, but you be the judge.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is evil incarnate out to destroy all that is good about democracy. He is a mass murderer refusing to give up on his assault of Ukraine.
Again, a Republican and Democrat working together to take on Putin should not be the fodder for an editorial. It should be the norm, but it is not the case. So we beseech the reps and senators, presidents and political aides to work for the taxpayers who are digging even deeper into their pockets every day.
We applaud President Trump and Sen. Markey. Semper Fidelis!
Comments