Another E-mail Worth Reading -- A Retired Rear Admiral Visits American Legion and VFW Posts, Hears About Reaction to Clinton and Obama

Below is an e-mail that I received on Sunday, May 18, from Rear Admiral David Stone, who has been an active volunteer supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign among veterans groups.

Rear Admiral David Stone (Ret.) graduated from the US Naval Academy and served 32 years in the Navy uniform. His operational commands included Commander Nimitz Battlegroup, Commander NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean, Commander US Middle East Force/CDS-50 and Commander USS John Hancock. Admiral Stone also served as the Assistant Secretary in the Department of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration and was nominated by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate for that position. He is currently President and CEO of the Alacrity Homeland Group. Admiral Stone is a supporter of Senator Clinton for president has been a part of a volunteer group of veterans who have visited with veterans in the various primary states, primarily in American Legion and VFW posts.

My support for Senator Clinton should be well known to readers of my Blog. Obviously one purpose of my posting Admiral Stone's email is to strengthen my argument that she is the stronger candidate against Senator McCain. Veterans are an important voter bloc in this country and Rear Admiral Stone's anecdotal evidence is that many veterans support Senator Clinton and recognize and appreciate her legislative record on their behalf as a member of the Armed Services Committee. Thus, I hope that Super Delegates and other un-pledged delegates will read and consider Admiral Stone's "Report from Veterans" email as an honest report.

However, if Senator Obama becomes the party's nominee, Rear Admiral Stone's email offers insight into the challenges he faces in defeating Senator McCain.

Here is Rear Admiral Stone's email, with only minor editing.

--- Lanny J. Davis

Mr. Davis is a long-time friend and supporter of Senator Clinton's and a fundraiser in her presidential campaign.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Rear Admiral David Stone:

The Democratic Party has its work cut out for it with Vets if Hillary does not get the Democratic nomination .

After visiting American Legion Halls and VFW's across the country, it is very clear that there are two kinds of voters in these establishments. One group is passionate about HRC and the work she has done for Vets and her position against the War and the other group loves McCain and his record of service to country as a POW. From my experience in talking to Vets, Senator Clinton has a slight edge over McCain. (Approx 6 out of 10 support her) in the American Legion Halls and VFW establishments because of her position on ending the war which most Vets agree with her on, as opposed to McCain who is more aligned with the view of a prolonged presence in Iraq. [Emphasis added by L.Davis]

Of note, Senator Obama has zero -- repeat zero -- traction in the VFW and American Legion Halls. Veterans cite his refusal (until recently) to wear the American Flag pin, the photo where he is shown not saluting the Flag with his hand over his heart, . . . his alleged MoveOn.Org relationship and that organization's innuendo (in an ad) of General Petraeus as a traitor, his relationship with Rev. Wright (who once said "God Damn America" in a sermon), Mrs. Obama's comment about only recently being proud to be an American, and Senator Obama's recent comment that some people were "bitter" about their economic situation and thus "cling" to guns and religion as a result....

I could go on, but in summary, it is going to be a very steep climb for Senator Obama with this particular demographic.

For example, I was in an American Legion Hall in Kentucky and the experience provided a classic example of what I am talking about. While speaking to a veteran he told me that Hillary had his vote and he liked where she stood on the key issues. However, he added: "If Hillary doesn't win, don't come back and see me in the fall, because there is no way I will vote for Obama but instead will vote for McCain". The above feedback is reflective of the view of many veterans I have met who seek change from the course that the Bush Administration has us on currently on but are totally against Senator Obama.

This email is not meant as an "anti-Obama" email but is sent merely to give you a "reality pulse point" on what life is really like today on the ground in the VFW and American Legion Halls across many of the states I have visited. [L. Davis emphasis] The really bad news is that this is the actual pulse point "before" the actual campaign against the Republican Party starts and the deluge of negative campaign ads about Obama are launched if he is the Democratic nominee. The climate in these Vet establishments will only worsen and solidify once that campaign commences.

The good news for Obama supporters is that we are a large and diverse country with many different segments of voters of which the Veterans Groups is only one segment.

....I am very proud to be out campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Kentucky. So many people love her and admire what she stands for. They believe she will make a difference in their lives and so do I. As a woman in a Waffle House in Paducah, Kentucky told me this morning" please tell Hillary not to quit fighting - we need her now more than ever!"

Sincerely, Dave

Comments

[hwebb54]

It's not just in VFW halls. It's nationwide. There is a real distrust of Barack Obama. My entire family are Democrats and always have been and not one of them are willing to vote for Barack Obama. Most say they will vote McCain and some say they will just stay home or vote Nader. The media wants to tell you that we will just fall in line after we cool off but i can tell you right now that this will never happen. There is nothing Barack Obama could do from now until November to get our votes. Don't say you weren't warned Obama fans.

[Pema]

why does this man want to support someone who wants to obeliterate millions innocent people in Iran, and doesnt he realize that China has a mutual defense treaty with Iran, therefore assuring mutual destruction.

[Doofus]

I am pretty sure that the denizens of American Legion & VFW halls
are going to be voting for the Repo Man anyway, which is only to be
expected of those who worship tiny replicas of patriotic symbols.

Certainly not all veterans fall into that category. I know I don't.

Nor do I expect to be voting for Yet Another Clinton.

[blaqntelligence]

So a Rear Admiral's email is more credible than America's votes?

Uriah Heep personified: Uriah Heep is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his novel David Copperfield. The character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and general insincerity

But...but....the flag pin......
But...but...Rev. Wright....
But...but...."blue collar", "hard working" (wink, wink) Americans won't vote for him.....
But...but....he didn't put his hand over his heart.....
But....but...but
But....but...
Pathetic.

[hwebb54]

He is telling the truth. My grandfather, who served in the Navy and lost his leg when his gunship was hit, killing two of his best friends in the battle tells me the same thing....and he has never voted Republican in his 84 years. All of his friends, he tells me, feels the same way......Hillary or McCain but no to Obama.

Don't say you weren't warned when John McCain is our President.

[jvarga]

I pretty much hold no one in higher esteem than military veterans. Its something I could never do, and that gives me and even stronger appreciation what they've sacrificed for people like me. Infact, the one charity to which I donate (despite not really having enough money to pay my own bills) is the VFW.

That being said, the comments passed along in the admiral's email really casts those guys in a bad light. Oooh good work buying into the lap pin crap. I wonder how many of those people also think Senator Obama is a stealth Muslim Manchurian candidate? I particularly like the one guy threatening to vote for McCain. Perhaps he misses his time in the service and can't wait to reenlist and go fight in Iran?

Seriously, lets just let the republicans pick both candidates for the presidential election while we're at it.

[bgregs]

I am an Obama supporter. This is why I don't CARE that he wasn't wearing a flag lapel pin, because I understand that patriotism is NOT simply sporting the flag in a way that people don't care about. I don't CARE that he didn't have his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, as this is NOT a required way of doing things. You are, in fact, only supposed to have your hand over your heart during the Anthem if you are wearing a hat.

Furthermore, I look back at the 60s, a time when people were not supportive of the government's policies vis a vis Vietnam, and the fact that so many flags were burned during this time frame. This is a valid form of protest against governmental actions. This is the reason why I won't sing the national anthem. This is the reason that I will not place my hand over my heart during the pledge of allegiance. This is why I will not RECITE the pledge. This is also the reason why I remain sitting. I will continue to remain sitting during both the pledge AND the anthem until such time as either the troops come home, or either one of our FINE Democratic candidates is sworn in as the next President of the United States!!

[hwebb54]

You sound like a "typical Obama supporter"

Pardon the pun

[grendl]

Mr. Davis, you fail to acknowledge your candidate of choice sold her party out when she endorsed Senator John McCain over Barack Obama.

I won't post the You Tube link again, but its there for anyone who cares to listen to her cite his 30 years of experience, over one speech Mr. Obama made in 2002. Loyalty is something soldiers understand.

She sold out the platoon. You know how easy it would be to run her endorsement over and over, as a GOP advocacy ad? It was a path of scorched earth mutually assured destruction she embarked upon that day, or the day she lost in Iowa.

She overreacted, going negative out of panic, kinda like this administration did in charging across the Iraqi desert while the perpetrators sat safely in their Pakistani caves chuckling at our ignorance. She attacked a fellow platoon member, and in doing so let the new recruits see the ugliest side of her nature, the Machiavellian who only cares about winning the White House, not the sleazeball tactics it took to do so.

[Romulus]

I am a Vet. I served in Viet Nam. But you won't find me in a VFW or American Legion Hall to ask me who I prefer, Obama or Clinton. How many Vets like me are out there compared to the number that Admiral Stone met in those halls? How many Vets did Stone not get a chance to sample?

So who do I prefer? No contest. There is NO way I will vote for Clinton. I see her as fundamentaly dishonest. But, unlike the Vets Stone talked with, I will not vote for McCain if Obama is not the democratic nominee. I used to admire McCain but he has turned fundamentally dishonest as well. If it's Clinton vs. McCain, I will cast a write-in ballot.

So how many Vets are out there who feel the same way I do?

[stavros]

Myself and many others.

[bgregs]

As a veteran of the current crisis, I must respectfully disagree with you on one point. A write in vote, much like staying home, represents a half vote for John McBush!

[jmpurser]

So, amoung the hard core right wing spin sponges Obama won't find much acceptance.

But they WILL run out and vote for Hillary, no problem.

Well, that's two good reasons for the Democrats to go with Obama and ditch a DINO like Clinton.

[hwebb54]

LOL you Obamabots are really drinking that kool aid down by the gallon.

[stavros]

The VFW and the American Legion are both hypocrites when it comes to truly supporting the troops.
I joined them both after retiring from the military in 1995. I found both groups to be pro war and even heard some say that we should attack all countries that don't agree with what our chicken in chief says.
To top it off, I had to file a written complaint to both of them before they started lowering their respective flags for our fallen solders in Iraq even though the state of Michigan authorized it. Theirs is a vote that any politician can live without. They are also organizations that I will never support again until their war mongering attitudes change.

[jsarbee2]

Lanny, you know as well as I do the majority of those voters aren't going to vote for the Democratic candidate no matter who it is in the fall. You guys would be doing a lot more for your candidate now if you stopped spinning and just told us the truth. He can't win the racists. He can't win the cranky old xenophobes. She might win a few of them over McCain but she won't take the bulk of them either. To suggest that the VFW would ever, ever endorse Hillary Clinton over John McCain the war hero is patently ludicrous.

There's a thing about losing with grace, maintaining your dignity and thinking about the legacy you'll leave behind. Senator Clinton's surrogates are making it very difficult for her to do any of those things.

[clevelandchick]

Lanny,

For every e-mail you have that is 'worth reading' supporting Hillary and criticizing Obama from a group of Americans, so does her opponent.

It's surprising that the man who is supposedly a rear admiral is shallow enough to believe the Fox News spin about Obama. Don't you realize by now that bashing Obama with these racially undertoned attacks does not win Hillary any more votes than she's already gonna get from the Democratic party? I guess not.

People that are easily duped by Republican/Rovian style talking points tearing down a good Democrat and a good liberal have already sided with Hillary and she's still not winning. Not all white working class people are as uneducated as you think.