The VFW Ignores Its Members to Suck Up to Anti-Military Washington Incumbents

Big Government ^ | October 10, 2010 | Kurt Schlichter

[Zakeet]

You might think that a prominent veterans organization like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) would actually reserve its political endorsements for, you know, veterans, or at least those politicians that actually demonstrate some level of respect for the military. But you would be wrong. And the problem is not just the VFW; rather, the VFW’s current lobbyist-driven fiasco simply serves to illustrate how out-of-touch the Washington in-crowd is with the feelings of us benighted souls dwelling outside the beltway.

In the Florida 22nd Congressional District race, incumbent Democrat Ron Klien is running against Republican challenger Allen West. Actually, he’s properly addressed as Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Allen West, a decorated combat veteran who commanded a battalion in Iraq until he was forced to retire after making a 9mm suggestion to a captured terrorist that it would be a very, very smart move to give up some information about future attacks against LTC West’s men. Now, that’s not to say Congressman Klien does not have a distinguished military record of his own – to be fair, apparently he saw most of Saving Private Ryan on AMC once, though he found it pretty scary.

After due consideration- which apparently means the VFW’s lobbyists told it to do so – the VFW endorsed Klein.

Okay, sometimes an organization makes a mistake. I mean, it’s not like the VFW decided to endorse, say, a liberal Democratic senator who tried to humiliate an Army general testifying by demanding that he call her “Senator” instead of the perfectly appropriate “ma’am,” or who allowed her fundraisers to be hosted by the likes of Hanoi Jane. That would be, well, crazy.

Oh, wait. The VFW is endorsing leftist Senator Barbara Boxer. Yeah, the same Barbara Boxer who voted to undercut us troops as we sat out in the desert waiting for Operation Desert Storm to start. Yeah, the same Barbara Boxer who undercut the troops by voting to cut and run in Iraq. Yeah, that Barbara Boxer – the one who will be running around using the VFW’s shameful endorsement as a shield against the truth of her track record of contempt for our military.

[Zakeet]

What in hell is wrong with those a$$h*les leading the VFW ... and the NRA? Who do they represent? Whose side are they really on?

Incidentally, there are many more disturbing facts in the Original Article.

[DLfromthedesert]

Thank you for letting me know what to tell them next time they ask for donations.

[nhwingut]

The VFW and NRA really did some damage to their organizations this election season.

I mean I understand the need to act bipartisan and support some blue dog types, but the VFW is supporting far left anti war loons like my congresswoman Carol Che Porter who made her name as a Code Pinko agitator.

[Ceebass]

VFW = Veterans For Welfare

I woould never join a veterans org that invited draft dodger klinton to address their convention

[xzins]

What’s wrong?

The same that’s wrong with every organization: liberals actively pursue top posts in these outfits so they can use them for political purposes.

Conservatives are too busy going to work making a living.

[Sioux-san]

If my Dad were alive, he’d be stroking out over all that is going on now. He has been dead for 8 years, a Veteran of WW2 in the Pacific Theater (Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan right after the A-bombs were dropped). He would often say in his latter years, “I fought in the Big One for all this to happen 50 years later???!!!” This was during Clinton’s time. If he were to ask that question now, I wouldn’t have an answer.

All I can say about the lack of a VFW endorsement of Col. West is “Shame on you - you bunch of Lefties from New York!”

[loveliberty2]

Hannity, or Beck, or someone with a conservative audience needs to hammer the VFW it it has, in fact, endorsed Klein over a real American Patriot and hero like Allen West.

Publicize this action nationally. What has happened to the VFW?

[oh8eleven]

I woould never join a veterans org
My dad was a WWII vet and I never understood why he never joined the VFW or Legion.
I'm a 'Nam vet and back in the early 70s I inquired about membership (while in the VFW bar) and was indirectly told that I had to have fought in a real war to be a member.
It was instantly clear to me why my dad never joined.

[mazda77]

My letter to the Florida commander;

Mr. Nicholson, ‘statecmdr@flvfw.org‘

With all due respect, sir. What are we to make of this report?

http://biggovernment.com/kschlichter/2010/10/10/the-vfw-ignores-its-members-to-suck-up-to-anti-military-washington-incumbents/

Snip - In the Florida 22nd Congressional District race, incumbent Democrat Ron Klien is running against Republican challenger Allen West. Actually, he’s properly addressed as Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Allen West, a decorated combat veteran who commanded a battalion in Iraq until he was forced to retire after making a 9mm suggestion to a captured terrorist that it would be a very, very smart move to give up some information about future attacks against LTC West’s men.

Checking his on-line Bio, Klein never served much less knows the sting of battle.

My father served in occupation in Germany, two tours in Korea (Purple Heart) before the end of hostilities and a tour of VietNam which included the Tet Offensive. I served my overseas duty in Teheran 1972-1974 so I don’t qualify as a VFW candidate but I used to revere the organization but that is now gone. As it stands right now, I don’t fault you but something is afoul inside the tomato on 14th street or whatever the address is for the DC office. I could not get through their website because it is now down.

[Bratch]

Who do they represent? Whose side are they really on?

The side giving the largest kickbacks.

[WLR]

Thank you Chaplain for explaining it all in a nutshell..

Your right..

W

[DLfromthedesert]

My father passed in January 2003; he, too, fought in the Pacific Theater, in Guam.

He was a Roosevelt Democrat, and was very disappointed in Clinton.

[Bruce Kurtz]

The Oct VFW magazine has the list on page 10-11. They updated the list which can be found at www.vfwpac.org. My state (NY) was updated to include Chuck Shumer. 18 out of 20 endorsements are dems (90%) WTFO?

[americanmother]

My deceased husband,a WWII combate Inf.,korean and Viet Nam wars..........A wonderful husband and father...
Army retiree wanted no part of the VFW. His opinion was all they did was to drink and tell war stories. Sorry I am sure I will get some of you angry at me ,,,,but just quoting him.

[MrEdd]

He was right.
The posts I have looked at do nothing else.

[kcvl]

For a congressman routinely ridiculed as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lapdog, getting the support of the VFW PAC and the NRA is surprising. While Perriello has voted with Pelosi 90.4 percent of the time.

[kcvl]

National VFW Contact Information

Contact the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US (VFW)

National Headquarters
406 West 34th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
(816) 756-3390
FAX (816) 968-1149
info@vfw.org

Washington D.C. Office
VFW Memorial Building
200 Maryland Avenue N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 543-2239
FAX (202) 543-6719
cwells@vfw.org

Membership/Life Membership
VFW Membership
406 West 34th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 756-3390, ext. 106
jrowoldt@vfw.org

[LostInBayport]

If my Dad were alive, he’d be stroking out over all that is going on now. He has been dead for 8 years, a Veteran of WW2 in the Pacific Theater (Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan right after the A-bombs were dropped). He would often say in his latter years, “I fought in the Big One for all this to happen 50 years later???!!!” This was during Clinton’s time.

I recently had a conversation with my mother about my grandfather, and what he'd think of America 2010. He used to vote democrat, but the Clinton era was changing that for him (he died in 1998 and was a WWII Purple Heart vet who was in the very thick of it in Europe). I am sure he'd be cheering on the tea party.

I sent the VFW a contribution just weeks ago. I am so f'n mad after reading this article.

[loveliberty2]

Please post any response you get. It is beyond rational belief that a veterans organization of any kind would not select Allen West over Klein.

Not only is West the best candidate for the Congress, but he is eminently more qualified to lead the nation than the current occupant of the White House.

[mazda77]

I will do that.