As a combat veteran of two tours in Vietnam with twenty-two years of service as a Republican member of the U.S. House and Senate, I endorse President Barack Obama for a second term as our Commander-in-Chief. Candidates publicly praise our service members, veterans and their families, but President Obama supports them in word and deed, anywhere and every time.
As a Vietnam vet, one of the reasons I support President Obama is because he has consistently shown he understands that our commitment to our servicemen and women may begin when they put on their uniform, but that it must never end.
This decision is not easy for any lifelong Republican. In 2008 I voted for Barack Obama, the first time I ever voted for a Democrat, because the Republican Party was drifting toward a dangerous path that put extreme party ideology above national interest. Mitt Romney heads a party remaining on that dangerous path, proving the emptiness of their praise as they abandon our service members, veterans and military families along the way.
What really set me off was Romney's reference to 47% of Americans to be written off -- including any veteran collecting disability like myself, as a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) veteran.
Behind closed doors with his donors, Romney made clear he'd write off half of America -- including service members and veterans -- because, as he said "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility for their lives." But there's no greater personal responsibility than to wear your country's uniform and defend the rights we all enjoy as Americans. We don't sow division between "us" versus "them." The Commander-in-Chief sets the bar for all to follow and fight for the entire country. Mitt Romney fails that test. As a veteran I feel written off.
Just as revealing is what Romney actually says publicly. As a former Foreign Service Officer, I find it offensive that Romney, Congressman Paul Ryan and their Republican Party are politicizing the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other brave Americans who lost their lives in Libya. Being Commander-in-Chief requires a resolve and steadiness that's immune to politics and fear mongering. Mitt Romney fails that test.
And along with high-profile Republican surrogates, Romney and Ryan are pandering to election-year politics rather than focusing on pending cuts to military spending. Strategy should drive our military priorities, not party purity.
We are a nation at war -- the longest war in our nation's history -- and we must remember the sacrifice that so many have given for the protection of our country and our values. That's why it's so surprising that Republican nominee Mitt Romney has given five speeches on foreign policy -- and will be giving another one today -- and has yet to outline any plan to end the war in Afghanistan or bring our troops home. That's unacceptable for anyone running to be Commander-in-Chief.
President Obama ended one war, is ending another and meeting our national security needs with support of our military leaders. He's laid out a clear plan that would reduce the deficit and prevent the mandatory military spending cuts that no one wants. But today's Republican Party, including Ryan who voted for the deal that would trigger the cuts, is willing to bring our country's defenses to the fiscal cliff -- just so a multimillionaire doesn't have to pay a single extra penny in taxes. And the real lack of leadership? Failing to own up to your role in racking up a record debt from two unpaid wars and two massive unpaid for tax cuts. Mitt Romney leads the party that fails this leadership test.
And as former member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the then Commerce Committee, I came to know the federal budget in detail. I'm disappointed that just as our troops are returning home after a decade of war, Romney and Ryan might gut by up to 20 percent investments in the Department of Veterans Affairs -- and even suggest privatizing the veterans' health care. Again, they would short change our national security and the education, health care and employment benefits our veterans have earned and deserve just to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans.
Let's be clear, Romney and Ryan would be disastrous for America's service members, veterans and military families. Public praise rings hollow when you fail to mention an ongoing war in accepting your party's nomination to be president, or veterans in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a so-called jobs plan or in a budget that should be a blue print of our nation's values.
Meanwhile President Obama recognizes our sacred trust with those who serve starts when they take their oath and never ends. He's enacted tax credits to spur businesses to hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors. He implemented and improved the post-9/11 GI Bill, the largest investment in veterans education since the original GI Bill over sixty years ago. He's proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that would put returning service members to work as police officers, firefighters and first responders. As part of his achievable plan to keep moving our country forward, the President would use half the savings from ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to help pay down our debt and invest in nation building here at home, putting Americans back to work -- including our veterans -- fixing our roadways and runways, bridges and schools.
And something that hits close to home, President Obama also secured the largest increase in VA investments in decades so our veterans get the care and benefits they earned, like treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury. As someone with service-related PTSD, I meet with younger veterans weekly to help them through the treatment and transition to a productive civilian life. It makes a difference for them knowing their President has their back.
That's the difference in this election. In word and deed anywhere and every time, President Obama never forgets that standing by those who serve is the heart, soul and core value of this country. As a life-long Republican, I stand by him as he stands by all of us, putting national allegiance ahead of party affiliation. I endorse President Obama for reelection in 2012.
David Coates: Memo to the Presidential Candidates: Cut the Warfare State, Not the Welfare State
Malou Innocent and Doug Bandow: Romney vs. Reagan
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Oh wait, he's not black? Well, that'll make some conservative heads explode.
The Winston-Salem Journal, has endorsed its first Democrat for president since 1964
I also served two tours of duty there, I was wounded twice.
I also am a disabled vet, and I use the VA hospital in Dallas, Tx. every month, I have been well taken care of there for over 10 years, long before Obama was put into office.
Our cola allowance this year is less than 2 %, Gas alone is up over 75%
You stated that you voted for Obama,in 2008 and their was a Viet Nam war hero on the ticket. WHY?
It sounds to me like you are a Democrat at heart and you claim to be a Republican, something smells with your story.
I don't trust any one that lies about who they are !
Also, if YOUR man is Obama, tell me why he is cutting the money for our military.
An what about his screw up this past month.
If you believe everything he says then I have some water front property that I would like to sell you in AZ.
Darrell, it is obvious that you buy the FOX talking points and that you don't really know what in the hell you are talking about!!!
While you are at it, do a little research on the bombings of our embassies and consulates in the Mideast when Reagan, "the God of Republicans" was President...wonder outlud why he had our Marines, unarmed, on the tarmac of the airport in Beirut when the Islamists jihadists murdered over 250 of them. what did Reagan do? He withdrew in less that 6 months with no effective retaliation...Why don't you do a little real research regarding what happened and why it happened on 9/11/2001. I'll bet that if you are as sharp as you think you are, you'll have more than just a few doubts about that Republican crap you been gulping down like it was Blue Bell chocolate ice cream after you have completed some very simple research..using, of all things, Google!
It's down over 25% from summer of 2008.
You support a candidate for President who protested the Vietnam war... in FAVOR of it. But was too big a coward to go serve himself. So tell me again how that Vietnam thing worked out for you?
Not because I wish you to grandstand against Romney as a Republican, Not because I know anyone in the military or begin to understand what it might be like to be in such danger and uncertainty as military personnel and their families endure.
My reason is that I have a son who suffered with PTSD for years after a dog attack that was horrific when he was 7 years old. I watched helplessly as he went through the physical pain and the emotional pain that lasted for years. You see, I have seen the effects of PTSD in a child and I cannot IMAGINE what one goes through after enduring the sadness and harsh reality that is war, I cannot imagine what soldiers go through after seeing the horror that they see. I cannot imagine, but I can sympathize because I have seen first hand how it damages you. I am in no way comparing my son to the brave men and women that make the ultimate sacrifice for their countries, but I have an understanding that most don't about a condition that most don't acknowledge.
I hope Obama is re-elected, because those who make the ultimate sacrifice shouldn't have to then sacrifice their dignity when they come home. They deserve the help they need and the government who sent them there should provide it.
Notice how it is always the same party that accuses the government of interfering with religion but hypocritically they want to force their religious views on everyone by using the government.
They are so insecure that they need to continually and falsely claim they are the party of religious family values while always throwing the lords name out there in vain.
What WWJD example are these Republican Taliban Tea Party “Christian impersonators” following?
It sickens me the way our vets are dismissed by the GOP -- by Bush, by the Tea Party Congress. Joe Walsh trivializes Tammi Duckworth's military service (it only took Walsh ten years to pay the child support he owed; Tammi lost both legs); the Tea Party gunning down Obama's job bill for vets and voting to cut their pay. Not that they have any intention of sending their kids to the wars they want to start. That's for the 47%.
There is no demand that a country can make on its citizens crueler than that of sending them to war. Michele Obama works with military families, Obama has done everything he can for the members of our military. The GOP waves the flag with one hand, then tries to take the little we give these vets away with the other. Their idea of military spending is for fat deals with fat cats, but nothing for the folks that have put their lives, their health, and sometimes their sanity on the line.
under this gentleman's post I feel it needs to be said because it's NOT said enough, so I say unto you,
to ALL POLITICAL PARTIES,
to ALL RACES,
to ALL LANGUAGES,
to ALL GENDERS,
to ALL AND NO RELIGIONS,
to ALL RANKS,
to ALL THE YEARS OF DEDICATED DEVOTION TO OUR FELLOW MAN,
I say, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. Bless you ALL.
I truly hope the blinders have been taken away from those who allegiance to this republican party had them at times confronting other veterans and Americans with damaging vitriol and condemnation of unpatriotic symbolism due to being in the 'wrong party'. During the Bush Years, my family was called the worst things imaginable simply because we didn't agree with the President's policies. And a lot of it came from people who never served, but felt righteous in defending their stance. As a Black American Male, it was double hurtful, due to this country's past treatment of African Americans who, in spite of that treatment, served OUR country with pride and dignity. I've seen over the years how republicans would take positions to make it seem that only THEY were patriotic Americans, and no one else. Either agree WITH THEM, or you were seen as the ENEMY. Remember Sarah Palin's remarks? Republicans have, IMO, never truly supportive of the service men and women, only in the M.I.C. that Pres. Eisenhower warned us about; THAT'S what they REALLY support. And the fact that this party had actually planned to defeat this President, no matter what the cost to this nation, was nothing less than TREASON, IMO. I just hope that now the American people can this party for what it really is, and do something about it.
-- and I'm saying this is a liberal Democrat -- the Republican party wasn't always like this -- Eisenhower would now never be regarded -- not for a moment -- as 'worthy' of any of their platforms. I'm not one of those who would cheer the Republican's demise, because the best government is one in which all sides are heard. But Eisenhower as well as Truman repaired the infrastructure of this country (roads, schools, etc.) because they regarded it as their duty. I hope the Republicans regain something of their old views. We need good conservatives as much as we need good liberals.