Media Blacks Out Veterans of Foreign Wars Call to Boycott Mexico

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You might think that a call by a major national veterans organization with 2 million members to boycott an entire country over the treatment of an imprisoned Marine would at least earn 2 inches of space in a few papers.

But the only outlets covering the statement by the Veterans of Foreign Wars are conservative media.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is calling for a nationwide boycott of Mexican products and travel until Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is released from a Mexican jail.

“This combat Marine has been languishing away since he was arrested March 31 for allegedly crossing the border accidentally with three personal firearms that were legally registered in the States but not in Mexico,” said VFW National Commander William A. Thien. “It was a mistake, but so is the Mexican government’s reluctance to release him unharmed back to the U.S.”

As America’s oldest and largest major combat veterans’ organization, the VFW wants to apply economic pressure to the Mexican government because Tahmooressi’s arrest and captivity is mirroring that of former Marine Jon Hammer, who was arrested for carrying an antique shotgun across the border in August 2012, despite having proper American paperwork. He wasn’t released until four months later.

Thien said the VFW tried the politically polite route by twice asking President Obama to contact Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, but a phone call specifically about the Marine sergeant never took place. Now that Tahmooressi is approaching his third full month in jail, the VFW national commander said it’s time to take the gloves off.

“This is about politics, and if my government won’t do anything, then I guess we need to let the power of the purse take over. No products, no travel, a total boycott … then maybe a dialogue will start.”

Currently the only non-conservative media outlets carrying the story are a local affiliate and Military.com.

Even those who disagree with the VFW and a boycott can’t deny that this is a significant story and yet the media is deliberately blacking out because smearing vets is uncomfortable but running the story would put pressure on Obama to do something.

And the media clearly has no problem with what was done to Tahmooressi. They are gun control fanatics after all.

The media is happy to cover stories involving the VFW that are unfavorable to Republicans. Like this story in the Washington Post, “VFW attacks the three Republicans who voted against Senate VA bill”.

If the VFW criticizes Republicans, the Washington Post will cover it. If the VFW criticizes Obama or Mexico, it won’t.

It’s that simple and it’s how the VA scandal festered for so long. The media blacks out stories that are unfavorable to its ideological allies until a critical mass is reached and the story breaks through.

The problem is that we don’t have an independent media. We have a liberal media and a conservative media. And the liberal media has corporate dominance and infrastructure on its side. And so stories like these remain buried.

  • Ian Hayden Parker

    No one is denying that he was in Mexico with firearms and that is what he is being charged with, mistake or not, a law was broken. When you are in the borders of a foreign country you are held to that countries legal system, not the laws of your homeland. Imagine if every person caught at the border smuggling drugs just said “Oh I didn’t see the Welcome to the USA sign, I’m lost, so you must set me free”, that’s not the way the US Justice System works and we shouldn’t expect other countries to provide us special consideration because we are “American” or retired armed forces, and therefore above the law. It’s not how the real world works and if you don’t want to live in the real world you should take note where America’s Utopia Borders are drawn.

    • Habbgun

      Hmmmm….so a border so porous that illegals come by the thousands is fine but a mistake by a Marine isn’t. Are you toasting the VA for killing vets?

    • DogmaelJones1

      This is the most disgusting, pragmatic argument I’ve read. It’s worse than the media blackout Daniel discusses here. Don’t you realize that America is “exceptional,” and it’s that “exceptionalism” that Obama and the mainstream media wish to erase? It isn’t as though Mexico was a country we should respect. It isn’t Britain or even France. It’s country that’s always hated the U.S. because Mexico is a third-rate country that boasts a third-rate culture. Britain and France used to be “exceptional” before they began submitting to Islam and statism. It’s Mexico that’s sent its bandits to raid across the border — not the U.S. that’s raided Mexico — and is now sending thousands of its pitiful souls north to “reconquer” the Southwest (and the rest of the country). You ought to be ashamed of yourself for saying that the deliberate abuse of Americans in Mexico is just “how the real world works.” Also, remember that Mexico was prepared to declare war against the U.S. twice: during WWi and WW2. Why should we respect it or any of its laws?

      • Philip

        Mexico was never prepared to declare war to the U.S. During WW1, Mexico suffered a Coup d’état and a civil war broke up. Compared to the legitimate government, the new dictatorship wasn’t friendly to the U.S. and received help from Germany. In an incident 4 U.S. marines were jailed for crossing the border but were quickly released. But the US used that incident to invade Mexico.
        During WW2, Mexico had a pro-US government. Mexico stopped supplying oil to the axis powers and was later attacked by Germany, Mexico in response declared war on the axis powers and sent Mexicans to train in Texas and also sent Mexicans to work for very low wage to cultivate food that was later sent to the U.S. troops. And yes Mexico can clearly justified it’s actions. Also don’t forget all the abuses that Americans commit against Mexicans. You are just a bigoted person and can’t accept “how the real world works.” This is not the same world as the one you grew up this is a world and a New World Order exist something that a bigoted person may not comprehend. WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER.

      • Bob Diehl

        Right on! It’s these Liberal jerks that are allowing o bama to ruin America,

    • Daniel Greenfield

      We shouldn’t expect other countries to provide special consideration… we should expect special consideration from our government to aid Americans, particularly a US Marine.

      • Usedtobe Fishfry

        There are hundreds of Americans in jail in Mexico. Most of them are there because they broke Mexican law. Some of them are just unlucky. Same as in the US jails. Should the US demand the release of all American prisoners who broke laws in foreign countries?

        • Chuck

          What is your Question? Please, try to reply rationally.

      • Chuck

        see above!

    • JackSpratt

      Pretty dimwitted Post. I only wish the U.S. would enforce its border laws instead of treating mexican illegals like royalty. I we were dropping the illegals in the Rio Grande as they tried to cross, then maybe Mexico might have a weak reason to treat a U.S. citizen harshly.

    • Chuck

      Rationalizations! The number of Mexican officials, police and average citizens who have been returned to Mexico WITHOUT any application of the immigration laws of the U.S. is staggering! For Mexico to want to show its cajones by arresting one AMERICAN MARINE is so childish and petty that if it were not for Sgt Tam. having to bear the brunt of their infantile behavior it would be laughable. From this point on, I will not purchase anything that is either of or made in Mexico and I certainly will boycott Mexico and I call upon any U.S. military personnel to do so as well!
      Retired USN CPO.

  • maddaddyssa

    I’ve been boycotting Mexico ever since they voted for that UN resolution equating Zionism with racism back in 1974, let alone this incident with Sgt. Tahmooresi.

  • Usedtobe Fishfry

    “… an imprisoned Marine …” Well there’s your problem right there. Tahmooressi is an ex-Marine, legally a civilian at the time of his arrest. His story that he “accidentally” drove into Mexico is contradicted by the evidence. His guns were not legal, since he was carrying them loaded in the front seat in California, which has strong laws against that. The VFW unfortunately decided to buy into FOX News’s lies about this case instead of trying to support Sgt. Tahmooressi with the truth. Everyone actually familiar with the facts of this case as opposed to the FOX News version knows that the only thing to do right now is allow the legal process to play out. Even his attorney has called on Americans to dial back the talk of boycotts and invasions. That’s why nobody’s reporting this story. They’re actually trying to help Sgt. Tahmooressi by not further inflaming the situation.

  • Ladylogic777

    Ian Hansen Parker you obviously don’t know the facts of the story. He tried to turn around at the border where the U-turn sign is but the border agent waved him through the gate. Again he tried to turn around and to explain that he did not want to enter and at first they were going to allow him to leave. Get your facts straight. We have 52000 illegals who have entered this country in the past few months. We don’t handcuff them beat them and starve them. Many are gang Myers and hardened drug dealers and otherwise criminals. And he is active duty…not retired. He’s been called to report for duty. I guess if Mexico wanted Obama to release a half dozen terrorists we might get our young Marine back. I’m guessing you have never served in the military.

  • lewis b puller

    ITS NOT ENOUGH TO BOYCOTT MEXICAN PRODUCTS ONLY. WE SHOULD EXPAND THE BOYCOTT TO INCLUDE ALL NEW CARS. THE CAR MAKERS ARE ENJOYING HUGE PROFITS FROM THEIR MEXICAN FACTORYS.