Flashback: Stark Berated 'Dissenting' Veteran on Answering Machine

In May of 2004, Congressman Pete Stark left a demeaning voice message to Staff Sgt. Dowd, a member of the California Army National Guard, life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion. Dowd faxed a complaint to Stark condemning a recent vote he made on prisoner abuse. Stark denounced him as a ‘goddamn hero’ and questioned if he truly wrote the letter.