Wedding Crashers' Fake Purple Hearts Inspire Bill

Sure, donning a yarmulke to lure some Jdate-subscribing gals at a wedding seems humorous, but to many veterans and conservatives, claiming a Purple Heart to earn bridemaid attention is downright offensive. The Wedding Crashers’ website offers a fake Purple Heart you can print out (cause we’re sure tons of single women take thin paper hearts seriously), which "guarantees you attention, admiration and plenty of free booze" and many are protesting the suggestion. Inspired by Owen and Vince’s controversial antics, an FBI agent stated he challenges the actors and producer to visit a military hospital and "talk to some of these people who don't have legs anymore and see how funny they think that movie is."

Taking it even further, the “Stolen Valor Act” bill was introduced in Congress on Friday by Rep. John Salazar, which would extend misdemeanor charges to the other medals and make it illegal to falsely claim military honors. "With the recent release of the popular movie 'Wedding Crashers,' Hollywood has stumbled upon the serious problem of phony medal recipients," Salazar's office said in a news release. "Salazar's legislation would place criminal penalties on those who claim to have risked their lives for our country, restoring honor to those who have truly earned it." Funny, didn’t the Republican National Convention have fun with military arts n crafts last year, when delegates wore fake purple hearts over band-aids to protest Kerry’s service record? Seems like it was “funny” back then, but when the Butterscotch Stallion and Co. employ such tactics to pathetically hit on women, it’s simply “disgraceful.”

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By Rina in Arts and Events on July 25, 2005 1:44 PM

Comments [rss]

hijiki

port authority bus terminal. go south.

bob denver

Whenever I read about proposed legislation I wring my hands about how it will effect my favorite fictional characters then hurl invective. Where do I catch the bus for the snake handlers convention.

Rose

Hey, Richard Gere in the military (An Officer And A Gentlemen)! I think not! Pull all those movies with actors in any military uniform - think On The Town! Give me a break.

Conspir8or

New Yorkers "rarely interact with military people"? That is an asinine statement. Thousands of sailors and Marines flock into the city each Fleet Week. There is an historic recruitment station in the middle of Times Square. National Guardsmen appear at major transit hubs during heightened security alerts. And countless residents of both Manhattan AND the outer boroughs have seen relatives take up military careers. Pull your fucking head out of your ass, "Bob Denver."

dhex

"dhex- I don't think it's one of those stupid symbolic issues like flag burning or renaming freedom fries and I don't think it's really anything new yorkers think about because we rarely interact with military people."

speak for yourself. my family is full of veterans. it's still completely retarded.

hijiki

we don't need more legislation for stupid shit, bob. lying on a job application is already illegal and that is not what this law is for.

Joslyn

"Inspired by Luke and Vince’s controversial antics"

You mean Owen.

bob denver

dhex- I don't think it's one of those stupid symbolic issues like flag burning or renaming freedom fries and I don't think it's really anything new yorkers think about because we rarely interact with military people. In red states there's this strange phenomena of guys with fake medals on their resumes trying to get promotions and jobs. They are sort of like red state Jayson Blairs. I don't think the legislation really effects you or me and certainly wouldn't effect the butterscotch stallion. I think the movie references are just making it seem more controversial than it really is. I assume Kerry & McCain will both vote yea.

dhex

"I'm baffled why anyone would have a problem with legislation for penalties to people falsely claiming to have purple hearts."

because it's completely fucking retarded.

sp

what a waste of time. there are more important issues to deal with.

Becks

If these people are worried about people wearing medals they didn't earn, they should look in their own backyards first. I was at the new Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA a couple of weeks ago and they were selling real, used military medals. Not sure what legitimate use someone would have with them, but I could have walked out of there with a REAL purple heart, medal for serving in Gulf War I, and a slew of others. No joke.

bob denver

I'm baffled why anyone would have a problem with legislation for penalties to people falsely claiming to have purple hearts. I met one of those imposter guys. Turned out he had been a file clerk. Just because the articles are dressed up as some sort of attack on a movie doesn't mean there's no merit to the legislation.

hijiki

doesn't michael jackson wear genuine military medals? or is that different from actually claiming to have earned them?

a patriotic american

republicans are disgusting hypocrites. anybody who votes for them is a freedom hating al qaeda lover.

timThompson

I always figured the possibility of getting your ass kicked when some Army guy discovers you're a phony was discouragement enough.

Tim N.

I wonder if McCain is regretting his involvement with the RNC yet.

rina

I myself was wondering how McCain must feel now. He had just a small cameo, but so many politicans gave him a hard time.

Tim N.

I think what we need is a national sense of humor bill.

And thanks for pointing out the RNC connection, Rina. I think potlicians are the last people who should be criticizing Purple Heart records. Where was the Honorable Rep. Salazar when the GOP was questioning John Kerry's REAL PH's (all THREE of them).

Kevin Walsh

I wonder if McCain is regretting his involvement with Wedding Crashers yet.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Gringcorp

Salazar is a Democrat, the Kerry-bashers were Republicans. Salazar is playing smart, although rather crass, politics.

Lola

I didn't.

JP

There are plenty of other 'offensive' issues in Wedding Crashers if one actually took it seriously - like sexual assault and shooting people - and oh, wait, watercraft safety! I don't think they were wearing life preservers on the sailboat. We need a national water safety bill, right away!