Your VFW was encouraged to see that the Democrats focused on our military service members and veterans every day of the convention, culminating with an arena-wide tribute to the troops that included some 20,000 attendees waving signs with the simple message, "Thank You."
In stark contrast to what the VFW witnessed at last week's RNC in Tampa, many of the DNC speakers took the opportunity to thank those who serve, to include the president in his acceptance speech.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry went so far as to criticize Republican candidate Mitt Romney for failing to mention veterans or service members in his acceptance speech, calling the oversight "unacceptable" in a time of war.
The VFW believes that despite certain improvements in recent years, much work remains to ensure our service members can transition successfully into civilian life, and that we can provide the timely care and benefits our veterans have earned.
After attending both the RNC and DNC over the past two weeks, the VFW has reached the following conclusions:
- The DNC succeeded in thanking America's heroes, whereas the RNC missed a major opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with the men and women who protect our nation.
- Both Democrats and Republicans have a lot of work to do to make the case for how they intend to better serve our veterans, service members and their loved ones over the next four years.
Your VFW will continue to push both the Romney and Obama campaigns to outline how they plan to serve our veterans, if elected. Check back for updates as the candidates hit the campaign trail.
(Images: Top: Attendees at the DNC say "Thank You" to our veterans. Bottom: President Obama and his family greet the DNC after accepting the party's nomination. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)
I have mixed feelings about your statement above. I am a former Army wife and have always felt our troops are under-appreciated and are often used as political pawns when they themselves, as a matter of honor, are required to be apolitical. However, in tracking the bills proposed over the last 4 years it is clear that republicans would rather throw veterans and the troops quietly under the bus while making a big, breathy show of using the military for their own political gain (i.e. using an military vessel as a "stage" for Mitt Romney, draft dodger-in-chief, to announce his candidacy). What I am referring to are the 8 bills filibustered or otherwise blocked by republicans in Congress. Bills that were largely submitted by democrats or the President himself and were directly related to helping our troops with employment, education, and medical services. So your conclusion that both parties aren't doing enough doesn't do enough to recognize that one party has tried, and the other party stabbed you in the back instead of supporting you when it had the chance. Sincerely and with most respect, Robyn Neaville
ReplyDeleteI am really pizzed at the above comments by the so called leaders or who ever wrote this bias BS. I am a life time member of the VFW and if you stick up for this sorry marxist in the White House your very mistaken. I spent two tours in Vietnam fighting communism little did I know that forty some years later I would be fighting communism in my own country. You better wake up to all the BS the Democrats and Obama feed you as they will stab you in the back in a minute. Any administration that approves homosexuals in the military needs to be fired along with any officers of the VFW that support these hypocrites. You are no better than the afgan soldiers that are killing our troops !!!! And Robyn I can see why your a friggin EX-WIFE I would have thrown you butt out a long time ago OBAMA ZOMBIE !!!!! As far as John Kerry is concern he is a traitor to the military but I know the libs just love people who hate the military !!!! By the way how many years did Obama serve in the military,oops must have been in some communist military.
ReplyDeleteMacvTm18 you sad pathetic and obviously impotent little man. In all my years you are the first vet I have come across that did not impress me. Put your shiny white little pointed hat on and go stand over there in the corner. Takes a damn tiny man to lash out at a women without provocation. While you are at it tell us how holy and patriotic your little friend Mitt the draft dodger is. You want hypocrites look at the fecking House that shot down eight vet benefit bills to hold a country hostage so you and your ilk can badger and bully a man for the color of his skin. McCarthy would be so proud of you.
ReplyDeleteMacvTm18, I made constructive, truthful comments that are verifiable as fact; whereas you have gone a bigoted, dishonest rant and personally attacked me - a woman. You should be so proud. Any man who has so little honor that he would attack a woman, just because he disagrees with her opinion, is simply trying to bully her out of the right to free speech. You are at best a coward and at worst a disgrace to the uniform. President Obama was 10 years old when any draftable wars were fought. However, Romney was busy dodging the draft for the war you claim to have bravely fought in. Then he whines and whines about having to spend that time in Paris. Give me break. There is only one person who is deluded in this conversation and it is you. But like Mark Twain said, "It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled". In short, you are a verifiable idiot because everything you have just said is dishonest, unintelligent, bigoted, misogynistic, and down right rude. Fortunately, many of those, and their families, who have served conduct themselves with greater dignity than you do.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, with your little rant, you have basically indicted yourself as a simple thug who doesnt want to look anything up. You would rather be lazy and have the conspiracy theorists and hate mongers fill you with hate and lies. I pity you.
ReplyDeleteThese are the facts.
ReplyDelete"The House Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), has told a veterans' group it is studying a plan to save $6 billion annually in VA health care costs by cancelling enrollment of any veteran who doesn't have a service-related medical condition and is not poor."
"Committee Republicans, searching for ways to curb federal deficits and rein in galloping VA costs, are targeting 1.3 million veterans who claim priority group 7 or 8 status and have access to VA care."
"President Barack Obama pledged on Tuesday that there won't be any cutting of benefits for America's veterans while he's in the White House."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/11/1118944/-Ryan-Seeking-to-Cut-Already-Underfunded-VA-Budget
MacvTm18, You want to really get pizzed. Some one has pointed out that the military ships and aircraft shown on the screens behind the stage at the dnc convention tribute are russian.
ReplyDelete