Pres. Candidates on Sept. 11th: “Never Forget” 9/11 Heroes. Pres. Candidates on Sept. 12th: “Who?”
Washington Hypocrisy in Action: Would-Be Presidents Pledge to Remember 9/11 On Anniversary of Attacks, Then Ignore Heroes’ Pleas for Help-
New York, NY – What do Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, and Jim Webb have in common? They are all candidates for President; on the most recent anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, they all said that they’d never forget 9/11; yet all of them are ignoring pleas for help from 9/11 first responders and survivors who are about to lose federal health care for ailments caused by the attacks. A list of quotes on 9/11 from each of these candidates follows below. (Carly Fiorina and Rick Santorum apparently neither publicly remembered the heroes of 9/11 nor pledged to help them.)
In August, Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act sent a brief questionnaire to each of these candidates asking them whether they support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, which would make permanent and fully fund health care and compensation programs for those who are injured and ill as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
None of the above-mentioned candidates bothered to respond. Accordingly, the advocates today sent another round of letters, giving the candidates another chance to declare their support for injured and ill 9/11 first responders. Please click here to see who has and has not declared their support. Here are the letters sent to Bush, Carson, Christie, Cruz, Fiorina, Huckabee, Jindal, Kasich, Paul, Rubio, Santorum, Trump, and Webb.
“We may have to add amnesia to the list of 9/11-related medical conditions. Way too many politicians wrap themselves in the heroism of 9/11 first responders and then ignore those same heroes’ pleas for help. This year, we are determined to call out this hypocrisy. 9/11 health and compensation programs are expiring, Congress must renew them soon, and those who would lead our nation should at least say, one way or another, whether they support helping the heroes who aided our nation following an act of war.
“We thank Hillary Clinton, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, Bernie Sanders, and the other candidates who are supporting the Zadroga reauthorization bill. In particular, we appreciate Governor Pataki’s recent call for the other Republican candidates to support the legislation, and we’re grateful that Senator Graham has joined 56 of his fellow Senators as a co-sponsor. Senator Graham’s support throws a spotlight on the indifference of Senators Rubio, Cruz, and Paul – they’re well aware of the need for this bill and yet they’re refusing to back it. For candidates like Senators Rubio, Cruz, and Paul, we have a simple message: ‘Remember 9/11’ should be more than a bumper sticker. For those who would be Commander-in-Chief, we want to know: will you actually help those who are sick and dying because of 9/11, or are your words of thanks and remembrance just empty talk?” said Richard Alles, Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department and Board Member of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.
2016 Presidential Candidates’ Wall of Remembrance
(But No Actual Help for Sick and Dying 9/11 Heroes)
Jeb Bush: “We should all take time today to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11, their families & the troops who’ve kept us safe. #NeverForget” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/JebBush/status/642314568132349952
Ben Carson: “I really wanted to see [the 9/11 memorial] for myself. And it makes such an impact. It wasn’t just the people who were in the building but the first responders and the bravery exhibited in trying to save their fellow Americans. And that’s one of the things we’re going to have to recognize. We are all Americans…We are united and that’s what gives us our strength.” 8/12/2015 http://radio.foxnews.com/2015/08/12/ben-carson-visiting-the-911-memorial-is-touching-reminds-you-what-we-are-up-against/
Chris Christie: “Senator Paul, the hugs that I remember are the hugs that I gave to the families who lost their people on September 11th. And those had nothing to do with politics, unlike what you’re doing by cutting speeches on the floor of the Senate and putting them on the Internet within a half an hour to raise money for your campaign and while still putting our country at risk.” 8/6/2015 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/6/rand-paul-chris-christie-spar-over-911-national-se/
Ted Cruz: “Today we remember the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack: #NeverForget” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/642324218823094274
Mike Huckabee: “May we #neverforget where we stood, what we felt & why it happened. Today we cherish the heroes, remember victims & pray for their families.” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/642350988444200961
Bobby Jindal: “America is an amazing country. The awful attacks of 9/11 brought us to our knees but we got back up. #NeverForget” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/BobbyJindal/status/642351736414318592
John Kasich: “Today we remember all of those lost & recommit ourselves to freedom & to one another. -John #NeverForget911” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/JohnKasich/status/642327641656291328
Rand Paul: “Today, we say a prayer for those who lost their lives and their family members. You will never be forgotten.” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/642317905057583104
Marco Rubio: “Today my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the terrible attacks 14 years ago. America will not, and must not, ever forget.” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/642329061197545472
Donald Trump: “Let’s all take a moment to remember all of the heroes from a very tragic day that we cannot let happen again!” 9/11/2015 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/642356689254129666
Jim Webb: “We shall never forget…As Air Guard fighters circled above Manhattan, New York Guard members set to work, with generous assistance from neighboring states…” 9/11/2015 https://www.facebook.com/IHeardMyCountryCalling/photos/a.240139606175966.1073741828.232634213593172/394490797407512/?type=3&theater
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Topline Statistics on 9/11 Health Crisis
85 NYPD officers have reportedly passed away from 9/11-related illnesses, more than died on 9/11 itself. Over 110 firefighters have reportedly died of 9/11 illnesses, as well.
4,166 9/11 responders and survivors have been diagnosed with cancers caused by 9/11 – and doctors say this number will grow significantly in years to come.
12,150 Injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors have been deemed eligible for compensation – but their aid would likely be cut in half unless Congress acts.
33,000 Americans are sick or injured because of the attacks – most have more than one injury or illness.
72,000 Americans will lose access to 9/11 medical monitoring or treatment if Congress allows the Zadroga Act to expire.