Lauren Boebert’s Democratic rival accuses her of disrespecting veterans and ‘melting down’ on debate stage

Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert has been accused of disrespecting veterans and “melting down” during a heated debate with her Democratic rival.

The Colorado lawmaker went head to head with Democratic challenger Trisha Calvarese on the debate stage at Ravenna Golf Club in Littleton, Colorado, on Tuesday with the pair clashing over the economy, social security, and veterans.

The rivals sparred for almost an hour with the most intense moment coming when Calvarese confronted Boebert for voting against the PACT Act – a bill to support US veterans who were sick and dying from toxic exposure to burn pits.

“I think if you’re going to be ‘America First,’ you can’t put the veterans last,” Calvarese said.

“You voted against care for veterans exposed to cancer-causing toxins and burn pits during war,” she said. “We definitely have different priorities because I believe we should take care of our veterans, always.”

While the room broke out in a round of applause, Boebert sniped at her opponent: “Are you done?”

She then launched into a defense of her voting record, hitting back that she wouldn’t vote “for something that we only had 24 hours to read that’s over 2,000 pages long”.

“I have stood for our veterans ever since before I was elected, and I will continue to do so,” she said.

“I have six amendments that have brought funding to our veterans. I have worked to advocate for more choice within the VA so our veterans can go to any doctor that they choose, any health facility that they choose, and get the care that they so desperately need.”

Boebert came under fire back in 2022 when she heckled President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address just as he was speaking about veterans sick and dying from the effects of