Comedian Jon Stewart -a vocal advocate for American veterans and 9/11 first responders- excoriated members of Congress this week for their refusal to pass new legislation that would expand healthcare for service members affected by “burn pits” in theaters of war.
The legislation would expand health services and benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic smoke from the U.S. military’s use of burn pits to dispose of waste on bases overseas.
“Ain’t this a b*tch. American heroes who fought in our wars, outside sweating their asses off with oxygen tanks, battling all kinds of ailments, while these motherf***ers sit in the air-conditioning walled-off from any of it. They don’t have to hear it. They don’t have to see it. They don’t have to understand that these are human beings,” began Stewart.
“I’m used to the hypocrisy…I’m used to the lies…I’m used to the cowardice…I’m used to all of it, but I am not used to the cruelty,” explained Stewart.
“You don’t support the troops; you support the war machine. That’s all you care about…They haven’t met a war they won’t sign up for, and they haven’t met a veteran they won’t screw over,” added the former Comedy Central host.
Watch Stewart’s comments above.