Posted on 08/27/2004 11:38:53 PM PDT by ambrose
Legion vets say they're tired of Vietnam controversy
By MATT GOURAS, Associated Press
August 28, 2004
NASHVILLE - When President Bush and John Kerry take turns addressing the American Legion's national convention here next week, don't expect the veterans to take much interest in what each did during the Vietnam War.
"I don't think they should be bringing it up in the first place" said Legion member Herb Williams from upstate New York. "It's a bunch of baloney."
The Legionnaires are placing more focus than usual on the upcoming election during this convention, Legion Commander John Brieden said. In turn, they want the campaigns to focus on veteran benefits, not a tit-for-tat ad war over who did what during the Vietnam War.
"The record shows what each did, Kerry was in Vietnam and President Bush was in the National Guard. Let's just leave it at that and move on," said Brieden, who was in the Army during the Vietnam War. "I don't think it's important at all. It's taking attention away from the issues that matter."
Ads by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth questioning Kerry's service in Vietnam have drawn intense coverage this month. Earlier, there were questions about Bush's whereabouts during his National Guard service.
But Legion members, who number 3 million and comprise the nation's largest veteran group, say they're sick of the whole debate.
"It should be a nonissue," said Mike Seidel of Florida, who hasn't decided which candidate to support. "Let's look at the track record of what they're doing as public servants."
The Legion, which is having preliminary convention events this week, opened a large booth providing information on each candidate's stance on veteran issues.
"This will help people cast an informed vote based on the facts," Brieden said.
An unscientific Internet survey at the booth is asking Legionnaires who have read interviews with the candidates how they'll vote. Through Friday afternoon, the numbers showed Bush favored by 73.1 percent and Kerry by 26.9 percent.
As a nonpartisan group, the Legion doesn't back a particular candidate but is working harder than usual to get more political information into members' hands, Brieden said.
"We're taking it a little further this time, because this time we are one of the issues," he said.
The average age of Legion members is 58. Vietnam veterans, more inclined in recent years to join, recently surpassed World War II veterans as the group's biggest bloc.
Brieden said many veterans are undecided and could influence the election.
He bristles at criticism Kerry is taking for speaking to the Legion during the Republican National Convention, breaking a candidate tradition of avoiding the limelight during the opponent's convention.
"We have major party candidates at our convention - that is traditional," Brieden said. "Our date was set six years ago, so if there is a conflict with another event it is someone else's fault."
The Legion says its core political issues include better pay for disabled veterans, health care for veterans and a constitutional amendment protecting the flag from desecration.
Legionnaire Frankie Smith of Alabama said he thinks more veterans will vote in this election than in years past because of the way they've been treated by under-funded Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.
John Kerry: You know.. When I was in Vietnam...
George Bush: I thank and honor each and every one of you for your service.
Which do you want for your President? ;-)
Bush has increased funding for Vets almost 50% in 3 years. He won't get much more then this no matter who's President.
The VA has open up more healthcare to more vets but they also have some copays now for the 10%-30% disabled vets and they don't like it and want everything free.
I say this as a life member of the AL and 100% covered Veteran so I see and hear it firsthand.
Translation: We want to end the Vietnam controversy because it's hurting Kerry, so we talked to vets until we found a few who said they were tired of it.
Might perhaps the Old Media reporter be selectively quoting one or two of the 3 million Legion members so as to advance his view and his candidate?
Geez but they think we are dumb.
I wonder how many Viet Vets will turn their back on Kerry like some did last week.
This is bull. I was at my Legion Hall (Tombstone, Arizona)this evening, and the SBVets were a major topic of conversation. Many have sent in contributions to the SBVets to continue their fight.
What IS important is that Kerry betrayed his country and his fellow soldiers AFTER he came home from his LONG 4 month tour of Nam. That matters the most.
Matt Gouras of AP is a major Kerry buttlicker.
Hey, OK! Let's talk about Kerry's uber-Liberal voting record in the Senate (when he bothered to show up at all).
I'm sure there are a few REMFs in every post who feel this way. These are they same guys who would rifle through your rucksack while you were "weapons & ammo only".
Look at their unscientific poll...
THAT explains the two or three dissenters FEATURED in this sorry article.
Heck, I'm getting tired of this story too...Swifties should take next week off... I wanna see Kerry pummeled over his leftist voting record next week.
That'll happen.
I think Bob Dornan fired the opening salvo tonight on Hannity and Lib.
Kerry campaign is probably gonna bus in pro-kerry members so it looks good.
Agree. IMO It been beat to death, and has become the brunt of talk show jokes, while most others just roll their eyes. Enough of this bull sh*t. Get to the damn issues.
What you won’t hear from Max Cleland
-Kerry/Edwards’ campaign surrogate spews rhetoric-
Eustis – State Representative Carey Baker (R-Eustis) released the
following statement today regarding Kerry-Edwards surrogate Max
Cleland's speech Friday to Lake County Democrats:
"When Max Cleland speaks to Lake County Democrats this evening, we can
assume that the audience will get plenty of rhetoric and no answers.
You won't hear him talk about John Kerry's record in the U.S. Senate.
You won't hear him talk about Kerry's record of voting to cut defense
and intelligence funding. You won't hear him talk about Kerry's 350
votes for higher taxes. And you won't hear him talk about the
Kerry-Edwards lack of attendance at their Intelligence Committee
hearings.
"What you will hear are more negative attacks on the President.
Floridians aren't interested in rhetoric from the Kerry-Edwards attack
dogs. We are ready to set the record straight."
THE FACTS ON VETERANS
President Bush's Record:
Annenberg Public Policy Center: Kerry's Claims About Veterans Health
Cuts Are Not True. The University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center
stated in a FactCheck, "[F]unding for veterans is going up twice as fast
under Bush as it did under Clinton. And the number of veterans getting
health benefits is going up 25% under Bush's budgets. That's hardly a
cut. FactCheck.org twice contacted the Kerry campaign asking how he
justified his claim that the VA budget is being cut, but we've received
no response." (FactCheck.org Website,
www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docid=144
http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docid=144 , Accessed 2/18/04)
Increased VA Funding. The President's FY 2005 budget proposes to
increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs to $68 billion
from the 2001 level of $48 billion. The President's budget requests
$29.5 billion for VA's medical care for next year, more that 40 percent
above the 2001 level. The past four straight VA budget increases have
provided more than a 40 percent increase in VA health care alone since
2001-- enabling a million more patients to receive treatment.
Increased Health Care Service to Veterans. In the past four years,
President Bush's budgets have allowed the VA to enroll 2.5 million more
veterans for health care services, increase outpatient visits from 44
million to 54 million, increase the number of prescriptions filled from
86 million to 108 million and open 194 new community-based clinics
available for veterans. The number of veterans registered for health
benefits increased 18 percent under President Bush and will increase by
almost 26 percent by October 2004. ("Funding For Veterans Up 27%, But
Democrats Call It A Cut," FactCheck.org Website, www.factcheck.org,
Accessed 2/18/04)
Concurrent Receipt Of Benefits. President Bush has twice signed
legislation effectively providing "concurrent receipt" of both military
retired pay and VA disability compensation for combat-injured and
highly-disabled veterans, reversing a century old law preventing
concurrent receipt.
Cutting The Disability Claims Backlog. President Bush promised to reduce
the disability claims backlog, and at his request, Congress has provided
VA with the resources it needs to reduce claims. Claims backlogs have
dropped from a high of 432,000 and are approaching the goal of 250,000
while the volume of claims decisions per month has increased from 40,000
to 68,000. The average length of time to process a veteran's
compensation claim has dropped from approximately 230 days to 160 days
and the VA expects to meet its goal of 100 days this year.
Help For Homeless Veterans. As a result of the President's 2003 budget,
community grants were expanded to all 50 States and Washington, D.C. for
the first time in history, ensuring that homeless veterans have access
to housing, health care and shelter.
Additional Prescription Drug Coverage. Last year, President Bush took
the unprecedented step of allowing veterans waiting for a medical
appointment who already have a prescription from their private
physician, to have those prescriptions filled by the VA. This is saving
veterans hundreds of dollars in drug costs.
VA Expansion. The President is seeking to improve outpatient veteran's
health care services through the CARES improvements, which will result
in the construction of two new medical centers in Orlando, Florida and
Las Vegas, Nevada; over 100 major construction projects to revitalize
and modernize VA medical centers in 37 states; creation of 156 new
community-based outpatient clinics; potential creation of four new - and
expansion of five existing - spinal cord injury centers; and opening up
two new blind rehabilitation centers.
John Kerry's Record:
Kerry Voted Against Last Year's Supplemental Defense Funding, Which
Included Extra $1.3 Billion For Veteran Health Care. Kerry voted against
the fiscal 2004 supplemental package of $86.5 billion for operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate version included an additional $1.3
billion for veterans' medical care.
Kerry Skipped Vote That Funded VA With $28.6 Billion For Fiscal 2004,
Including $1 Billion To Expedite Processing Of VA Benefits Claims. Kerry
skipped the vote on Fiscal 2004 Omnibus Appropriations, which included
$28.6 billion for the VA. The amount was an increase of $2.9 billion
over the previous year, and included $1 billion to "expedite claims
processing at the Veterans Benefits Administration." (U.S. House
Committee On Appropriations, "House Passes FY04 Consolidated
Appropriations,"Press Release,
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=342,
12/8/03)
Kerry Voted Against McCain Amendment To Require Equal Access To Health
Care For All Veterans. Kerry was one of only 18 Senators to vote against
the measure. (H.R. 3666, CQ Vote #268: Adopted 79-18: R 50-0; D 29-18,
9/4/96, Kerry Voted Nay)
Kerry Voted Against Last Year's Supplemental Defense Funding, Which
Included $1.3 Billion For Veteran Health Care. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400:
Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)
In 2001, Kerry Voted Against Amendment That Would Have Increased Funding
For Veterans' Medical Care By $650 Million. (H.R. 2620, CQ Vote #263:
Motion Rejected 25-75: R 8-41; D 16-34; I 1-0, 8/1/01, Kerry Voted Nay)
In 1999, Kerry Voted To Kill Amendment That Would Have Reallocated $210
Million For Veterans' Medical Benefits And $10 Million For Construction
Of Veterans' Extended Care Facilities. (H.R. 2684, CQ Vote #286: Motion
Agreed To 61-38: R 16-37; D 45-0; I 0-1, 9/22/99, Kerry Voted Yea)
Kerry Skipped Vote That Funded VA With $28.6 Billion For Fiscal 2004.
(H.R. 2673, CQ Vote #3: Adopted 65-28: R 44-4; D 21-23; I 0-1, 1/22/04,
Kerry Did Not Vote; U.S. House Committee On Appropriations, "House
Passes FY04 Consolidated Appropriations," Press Release,
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=342 ,
12/8/03)
Kerry Missed Two Votes In 2003 That Extended Military Health Coverage To
National Guard, Reservists And Their Families If Called To Active Duty.
(H.R.1588, CQ Vote #447: Adopted 95-3: R 51-0; D 44-2; I 0-1, 11/12/03,
Kerry Did Not Vote; S.1050, CQ Vote #185: Adopted 85-10: R 39-10; D
45-0; I 1-0, 5/20/03, Kerry Did Not Vote)
THE ISSUE IS John Kerry's lying and treason. That's a very big issue.
The second big issue is will John Kerry defend this country's and freedom's interests or turn over control to the UN and France? That's a big issue.
The third big issue is the deliberate lies and ommissions of the treasonous vast leftwing conspiratorial MSM in this country and the rest of the world. Those are big issues for me. Thank you.
Well, there has been saturation coverage, but I think perhaps the media might ease up on the "decorated war hero" crapola whenever they discuss Kerry...
Next week we've gotta talk about 1)agenda for next 4 years, 2) Kerry's 20 year senate record...
Swifties can still have their say later about Kerry's treasonous after war activities... but I think most minds are made up on te medal issue..
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