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Veterans as Props on NBC’s Commander-in-Chief Forum Veterans as Props on NBC’s Commander-in-Chief Forum
(35 minutes later)
Veterans are familiar with being used as props. Parades, V.I.P. tours and various public functions often require service members to line up, fill seats and keep our mouths shut. Unfortunately, the NBC/MSNBC commander-in-chief forum hosted by Matt Lauer on Wednesday evening felt the same way. It was a well-intended gesture that failed to give veterans their voice as promised.Veterans are familiar with being used as props. Parades, V.I.P. tours and various public functions often require service members to line up, fill seats and keep our mouths shut. Unfortunately, the NBC/MSNBC commander-in-chief forum hosted by Matt Lauer on Wednesday evening felt the same way. It was a well-intended gesture that failed to give veterans their voice as promised.
I attended the forum with about a dozen other veterans who are also students at Columbia University, after securing tickets online from NBC. We boarded the retired aircraft carrier Intrepid expecting to see the presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump field questions directly from veterans representing the diverse backgrounds that the modern military now represents, including birthplace, sexual orientation and political leaning, as well as war and peacetime service experience.I attended the forum with about a dozen other veterans who are also students at Columbia University, after securing tickets online from NBC. We boarded the retired aircraft carrier Intrepid expecting to see the presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump field questions directly from veterans representing the diverse backgrounds that the modern military now represents, including birthplace, sexual orientation and political leaning, as well as war and peacetime service experience.
Instead, we watched as each candidate’s 30-minute appearance was largely taken up by questions and remarks from Mr. Lauer. Only 10 veterans were given the opportunity to ask a question: four for Mrs. Clinton, six for Mr. Trump.Instead, we watched as each candidate’s 30-minute appearance was largely taken up by questions and remarks from Mr. Lauer. Only 10 veterans were given the opportunity to ask a question: four for Mrs. Clinton, six for Mr. Trump.
That wasn’t all that was disappointing. Veterans were corralled by NBC staff members to fill seats and instructed to “observe military decorum.” We were told variously to sit here or walk there to fill background shots. Our bodies contributed more than our voices.That wasn’t all that was disappointing. Veterans were corralled by NBC staff members to fill seats and instructed to “observe military decorum.” We were told variously to sit here or walk there to fill background shots. Our bodies contributed more than our voices.
It was as though we hadn’t already spent years of our lives respectfully listening to our leaders. As though we needed to be reminded why we came Wednesday night.It was as though we hadn’t already spent years of our lives respectfully listening to our leaders. As though we needed to be reminded why we came Wednesday night.
It appeared that roughly twice as many veterans were admitted as could be accommodated in seats. The spillover bodies were pushed upstairs for a flag ceremony. Veterans who were asked by network staffers to carry flags for the singing of the national anthem returned to their seats to find they had been filled.It appeared that roughly twice as many veterans were admitted as could be accommodated in seats. The spillover bodies were pushed upstairs for a flag ceremony. Veterans who were asked by network staffers to carry flags for the singing of the national anthem returned to their seats to find they had been filled.
Veterans without seats were sent to the ship’s interior to watch Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump on television. Many of us are familiar with the media, so we know this routine, and we had been warned by the network that we might be seated “outside the main broadcast area.”Veterans without seats were sent to the ship’s interior to watch Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump on television. Many of us are familiar with the media, so we know this routine, and we had been warned by the network that we might be seated “outside the main broadcast area.”
But the rest of the night disproved the idea that this forum was in service to anyone but NBC and its partnership with the nonprofit group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.But the rest of the night disproved the idea that this forum was in service to anyone but NBC and its partnership with the nonprofit group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
. Of the veterans who had a chance to query the candidates, the questions were important, ranging from plans to fight the Islamic State to sexual assault in the military and treatment of veterans. Of the veterans who had a chance to query the candidates, the questions were important, ranging from plans to fight the Islamic State to sexual assault in the military and treatment of veterans.
Is NBC satisfied with the use of the time it gave us? Mr. Trump was not questioned about his treatment of the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan. Nor was there any mention of the plight of interpreters who worked with and saved lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan. (The Senate failed this summer to act on legislation to secure more visas for interpreters and their families, which is the least we can do to pay the debt of honor and gratitude we owe them.) Also never raised were Mr. Trump’s exemption from military service during the Vietnam War or his comments about Senator John McCain as a P.O.W. or the Purple Heart. An appalling amount of time was spent by Mr. Lauer rehashing Mrs. Clinton’s email scandal.Is NBC satisfied with the use of the time it gave us? Mr. Trump was not questioned about his treatment of the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan. Nor was there any mention of the plight of interpreters who worked with and saved lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan. (The Senate failed this summer to act on legislation to secure more visas for interpreters and their families, which is the least we can do to pay the debt of honor and gratitude we owe them.) Also never raised were Mr. Trump’s exemption from military service during the Vietnam War or his comments about Senator John McCain as a P.O.W. or the Purple Heart. An appalling amount of time was spent by Mr. Lauer rehashing Mrs. Clinton’s email scandal.
The time felt wasted, given the hype over how supposedly special the audience was.The time felt wasted, given the hype over how supposedly special the audience was.
A smarter, more respectful forum would have allowed for more questions from veterans. Gold Star families and disabled veterans would have been given front-row access and the respect they deserve.A smarter, more respectful forum would have allowed for more questions from veterans. Gold Star families and disabled veterans would have been given front-row access and the respect they deserve.
For many veterans who attended, the forum was surely a wonderful gesture in the absence of anything else so veteran-focused during this election. But for others, including me, it felt like a missed opportunity. We swore oaths to offer our bodies and lives in service to our nation. We had hoped on Wednesday to speak from our hearts and minds during this very necessary discussion. But we ended up being little more than background scenery.For many veterans who attended, the forum was surely a wonderful gesture in the absence of anything else so veteran-focused during this election. But for others, including me, it felt like a missed opportunity. We swore oaths to offer our bodies and lives in service to our nation. We had hoped on Wednesday to speak from our hearts and minds during this very necessary discussion. But we ended up being little more than background scenery.