Many of the speakers worked to highlight the character and success of the man of the hour, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The excitement and anticipation reached a crescendo with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s lead-in remarks that highlighted his family story of hard work and achievement.
Though Romney’s articulate and passionate remarks largely focused on the economy and his vision for solving the problems leading to lingering unemployment, he also spoke on a broad range of other topics, including national defense, pending budget cuts to the Pentagon, and foreign policy.
However, one point that the VFW noticed was lacking in his remarks was much mention of our reliance on the brave men and women who wear the uniform to execute those policy decisions; and the moral obligation our nation has to honor their service and to care for those who have borne the battle.
Looking back on the convention, we cannot recall a single mention of a specific policy relating to veterans. It’s clear that we have a lot of work to do – regardless of who may be elected to the White House – to advance the needs and interests of those who have served our nation. We hope we can count on you to join in this noble and important work.
Your VFW will now head to Charlotte, N.C., for the Democratic National Convention. Check back next week for daily updates, as we seek to hold our leaders accountable for the needs of our nation’s heroes.
(Image: Mitt and Ann Romney, alongside Paul and Janna Ryan, wave to the crowd as the 2012 Republican National Convention draws to a close in Tampa. Photo by Ray Kelley.)
I can say we have lots of work to do no matter the outcome but I am concerned that when Mitt goes to cut funding for the socialsecurity and Medicare to help finance the money for the tax breaks for the few who have enough money to pay he will need to cut other funds and sadly that may include the money for Veterans.
ReplyDeleteI would have to get a text of the whole speech.. but I have to disagree with the observer... I heard him mentioning a strong support of the military, I heard him mention of "taking care" of those who served included in that line was a reference to "The Greatest Generation"..
ReplyDeleteI will admit he did not go into much detail. But if the VFW is going to the DNC Convention to draw a line for "Who to support". Then I must point out that the Present Administration has promised much and delivered little. Especially towards the Military and the Veterans.. in fact I have seen nothing from the White House but promises of cuts and making those who served pay more..
I recently received my noticed in the mail that my TRICARE Prime rate has gone up.. and I read in the news that that is only the start of the President's proposal for military retirees in the future.
Frank Martin
Frank,
DeleteI watched the speech (twice), and though he did not specifically mention the war in Afgahnistan, or the things you mentioned. He did give credit to President Obama for ordering the death of Bin Laden, and to SEAL Team six. In a follow-on paragraph he mentioned monuments to those who gave their lives, fighting to serve America. I assume he meant the military? Here are excerpts from the transcript, and the link to the entire transcript.
1. "Every American was relieved the day President Obama gave the order, and SEAL Team Six took out Osama bin Laden."
2. "Everywhere I go in America, there are monuments that list those who have given their lives for America. There is no mention of their race, their party affiliation, or what they did for a living. They lived and died under a single flag, fighting for a single purpose. They pledged allegiance to the UNITED States of America."
Link to transcript:http://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/160357612/transcript-mitt-romneys-acceptance-speech
Thanks for your service to your country!
Joe Riener, USAF, Retired
Commander, Post 4902
Cottonwood, Idaho