Survivor from first Fort Hood tragedy denied 10 min. with Obama; fundraiser was more important

April 13, 2014 by Michael Dorstewitz 15 Comments

Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford
Photo: www.derwesten.de

When President Obama visited Fort Hood on Wednesday to pay his respects to the victims of the most recent shooting, a survivor of the 2009 rampage requested 10 minutes of his time. His request was denied.
Retired Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford has been an articulate voice for the victims of the 2009 shooting frenzy that killed 13 and injured 32 others.
Lunsford, who was shot seven times during the incident, wrote Denis McDonough, Obama’s chief of staff, saying,
according to ABC News:

As you may know, the President and high-ranking members of the military promised me, my family and the other Fort Hood terror attack survivors that the federal government would ‘make them whole.’ After more than four and one-half years, however, the government has yet to make good on this promise. We believe that if the President could hear, first-hand, our plight and our mistreatment at the hands of his bureaucracy, that he would take the steps needed to set things right. Therefore, we ask for ten minutes of his time.

The government has classified the 2009 shooting as workplace violence, despite compelling evidence it was a terror attack.
According to ABC News, the White House responded to Lunsford’s request by saying:

After receiving your letter yesterday, and consulting with the White House Counsel’s office, we forwarded your letter to the Departments of Justice and Defense, who are leading the government’s efforts to ensure the victims of the 2009 shooting receive the justice and benefits they deserve. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet your specific request for a meeting with the President yesterday.

Two hours after Wednesday’s memorial at Fort Hood, the president joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a Democratic fundraiser in Houston.
Watch the “Nightline Investigates” report from ABC News, then check out, “Marathon bombing survivor leaves NBC set in tears; calls Meet the Press ‘cowardice, dishonorable’.”