Biden calls park ranger: ‘I’m proud of you’

Biden told the ranger he was proud of her in a phone call, his office tweeted out after the call Thursday night. 

“I’m proud of you,” VP called to tell the Park Ranger who was chastised by a GOP Rep today at the WWII Memorial.

— Office of VP Biden (@VP) October 3, 2013

The memorial has become a focal point in the budget debate as the government shutdown nears its fourth day. Both Democrats and Republicans have attempted to align themselves with veterans who entered the memorial earlier this week despite it being blocked off.  

Video surfaced Thursday of Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) confronting a ranger by saying “The Park Service should be ashamed of themselves” for denying people access. 

The ranger said it was a difficult task, but “I’m not ashamed.”

Neugebauer shot back, “you should be.”

After an uproar about veterans being denied entrance to the site, the National Park Service said veterans were granted access Wednesday because it was a First Amendment demonstration. However, the memorial remained closed to the larger public.