To be clear—and beyond a shadow of a doubt—I admire and respect Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg, a wounded Army Ranger, who was featured prominently at the climax of President Obama’s State of the Union. I admire his sacrifice more than I can state in words.

Similarly, I recognize that Remsburg represents thousands of Americans who have made sacrifices—ultimate and otherwise—on behalf of this nation. “By the living God that made you, you’re a better man than I am…” 

However, the president’s decision to use Remsburg as a political prop—a justification, in dress uniform, complete with Ranger tab—for some indefinite, feckless foreign policy, was pathetic. Remsburg deserved every moment of the applause—and an hour more—but the president seemingly accepted it as his own.