Veterans, Texas Rep. Chet Edwards Speak Out In Support Of Obama In Virginia

Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards, who was on Barack Obama's vice presidential shortlist, spoke along with four veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars Tuesday evening at an event at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia.

Edwards, who represents Crawford, Texas, one of that state's most conservative districts, is a long time advocate of improved benefits for veterans, and a recent outspoken opponent of the Bush administration's initial bailout plan. Edwards made it clear that Obama is the clear choice when it comes to challenges facing returning veterans of current and future conflicts in this century.

"It may surprise the American public to know," Edwards said, "that the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) give John McCain a lifetime voting record of 41%. I know that if I had brought home a 41% as a kid, my parents would have given me a strict talking to."

Edwards added that while he respects McCain's service to this country, "respect does not buy better health care."

Edwards has chaired the Veterans Administration appropriations committee for two years and pointed out that in those past two years, with a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, Congress has appropriated more money for the VA than it had in the past twelve years under a Republican-controlled Congress.

He also stressed that Obama's personal record was far better than McCain's.

"When Illinois vets were threatened with having their disabilities payments lowered, Obama stepped in. When the VA stopped payments for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) Obama stepped in. And Obama will make sure that we have a fully funded Veterans Administration program when he is elected."

Edwards added that, given $700 billion government "bailout" of Wall Street, Obama's proposed programs might need tweaking, but the VA would not be one of them. "That is something to which he is fully committed."

Kayla Williams, author of I Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army, spoke frankly and openly about her experience dealing with the VA after her husband Brian McGough's traumatic brain injury. McGough, who was also a speaker at the event, seemed fully recovered, but recounted his nearly two-year odyssey through the system after serving three tours of duty. Both husband and wife were articulate in their support of Barack Obama.

"The Bush administration was not prepared to handle the occupation [of Iraq]" said Williams, "and it was not prepared to handle those with traumatic brain injury." She added that there was a time when she was between job offers and caring for her husband and both of them were on unemployment, and that her GI benefits did not even begin to pay for graduate school. "John McCain never supported the post 9-11 GI Bill. He said it was too generous. That was a real slap in the face."

Her husband, McGough, added that he was in Walter Reed Army Medical Center and getting substandard care when the hospital was asking for more money and McCain voted it down. "It's hard enough to ask for help and McCain's suggestion that the private sector pick up the slack would make it that much harder. The private sector doesn't understand how to treat blast injuries. I know. I asked."

Seth Lovell, who lives in Staunton and with his twin brother served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said that he came to his political consciousness late. But coming home and trying to get his GI benefits for his education woke him up. He went to work for Senator James Webb of Virginia and then quickly became an Obama supporter. He said that fighting in both places let him see where the real war needed to be fought.

A Korean War veteran in the audience pointed out that the GI Bill which sent World War II veterans to college created the middle class in the United States and returned seven fold back to the country. "Those who went to college got better jobs and paid more taxes because of higher salaries due to better jobs," the man said. "It just makes sense to give them the benefits they deserve."

Said Edwards, "We need to keep our promises to those who kept their promises to us. With an all volunteer military, it is important to attract and keep the best and the brightest. Kids watch how we treat our veterans. And we need to keep our promises to them. This is not just about the past. It's about the future."

There are 2,000 volunteer veterans in Virginia trying to get the word out about both Obama's record on and commitment to America's veterans. Each Monday evening they meet in Democratic headquarters statewide to organize calling, canvassing and letter-writing campaigns to get the word out to veterans and citizens alike who might still think that John McCain's record on veterans issues is superior.

Virginia is a key battleground state. And, as Edwards said more than once: "In this election, as Virginia goes, so goes the nation."

Follow Lisa Solod Warren on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisaswarren

Comments

[MoeB]

"We need to keep our promises to those who kept their promises to us".

THAT sums it up in a nutshell. It is completely unacceptable that these people serve their country, and once they are done, we do next to nothing to help them transition back into civilian life. It's disgraceful. If these people are willing to put their life on the line for us, giving them adequate care and benefits when they return (and taking care of the families of fallen soldiers) is the LEAST we can do!

[BrianMcGough]

It was great to be on the ground with Rep. Edwards. Great story. Thanks.

Brian McGough

[XME]

Wierd...that's where I used to live and went to college!

[qxav949]

I am hopeful that efforts of this group of Vets can effectively and convincingly supersede those of the McCain Vet support group. The San Francisco chronicle reports that the latter will engage in an expensive ad campaign in California soon. Their efforts in August fell flat and September, hopefully they'll lose their money in October. It's amazing that a vet would not have supported the new GI bill put forward by another vet. To me, that is an unforgettable and disgraceful offense for our serving men and women. How there are still vets supporting McCain is beyond the comprehension of Mensa.

[Michelle Gross - Huffpost Blogger]

Great article! Thanks for giving a voice to our veterans and for covering this story in a battleground state. Veterans and military families' voices are so important because the public looks to them for guidance in picking a commander in chief.

[lvdragonlady]

But what about the Vietnam vets?
Unlike JM, my ex has had a very very hard time getting the necessary support for his PTDS and other injuries incurred in Vietnam. All the VA ever wanted to do was give him drugs, instead of dealing with his problems.
There are so many homeless vets, America should be ashamed of themselves for not having a support system in place for these veterans.

[skippypicasso]

America brings shame on itself by how it treats all of its veterans, and John McCain brings shame on himself with his lies about caring for veterans.

On another note: I've often wondered whether veterans approve of him bringing up his POW experience all the time. I came of age during the time when soldiers were returning from the Vietnam war, and my parents were in politics in suburban NJ, so I remember seeing and meeting a lot of Vietnam veterans. As awful as it may have been, I just don't recall people bringing up their Vietnam experiences unprovoked.

[Lisa Solod Warren - Huffpost Blogger]

Vietname Vets definitely will be taken care of, as will ALL vets. Edwards was just traveling with current vets to highlight the problem that is happening now. There is full acknowledgment of those vets, too; in fact a Vietnam era vet introduced Edwards but did not speak. By the way, my husband is a Vietnam era vet. Thanks for writing.

[2008FedUP]

Vote Obama/Biden so we can get these homeless vets off the streets.
McCain has sat in DC all of these years and has allowed this to get worse. He claims he loves vets. This is not the kind of love they need.
We can show them we LOVE them by voting for OBAMA/BIDEN 2008.

[Spesabsquemetu]

What an incredible article.

THANK YOU, HUFF POST.