Call me cynical, but it’s not by happenstance that politicians express their support for military veterans on Veterans Day, or any other day for that matter. Too many disingenuous elected officials use the military for cover because it’s politically convenient to do so.

Mayor Parker invoked concerns “about the epidemic of suicides” and “rising homelessness among veterans” in this Houston Comical…err, Chronicle piece titled “Veterans Gain Advantage When Seeking City Work” describing the Mayor’s recent Executive Order on providing eligible veterans with a preference in initial hiring when applying for work with the City of Houston.

Here’s the actual Executive Order from the City of Houston Executive Orders website .

I nearly spit up my coffee when I read Section 5 on the Scope of the Order:

5.1 This Executive Order applies to all City Positions and departments except with respect to the hiring of person for positions subject to Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code or collective bargaining and meet and confer agreements.(emphasis mine)

…and Section 7 on the Procedure.

7.1.1 …and the City’s policy of promoting diversity in its workforce continues to be observed.

Mayor Parker just can’t have diversity in thought in its workforce by mingling THESE Conservative leaning, Republican voting veterans with Democratic leaning, HOPE Local 123 union members whose PAC helped elect Wanda Adams, Jolanda Jones, Ed Gonzales, Sue Lovell, Melissa Noreaga and of course the Mayor herself now, can she?

Especially, when the Hope Local 123 current contract expires June 30, 2011, right?

Shameful.