I was raised a catholic and Democrat, and as you know, most folks get their religion and politics from their parents. I bought all the lines about Democrats being for the little guy and the Republicans were for the BIG guys only.
Bill Clinton changed all that for me. He was a certified draft dodger and I was full of disdain for him, as I do for all draft dodgers. His candidacy came right after I was ending my military career. I realized that I had the responsibilty to be concerned about politics as a citizen.
I read and researched many things regarding politics and military things. It was a bit confusing for me. I recalled John Glenn, a Marine pilot and astronaut hero whom I held in high regard and he was a Democrat. But what I came to see was the pure partisanship of the Democratic party. I also saw how the Democratic party had significantly moved from working class party to a socialist party. I recalled how when I was active duty, we got very limited funding under the dems, and how Reagan took good care of us, funding wise.
Your friend would do good to research how the GOP is the party is behind the concept of individual freedom, and the dems are all about group identity. They use the group think to promote themselves, NOT the people.
Thank your friend for his service to our country abd encourage him to research Kerry and how he used the Vietnam for his own personal political gain, and sold out his fellow veterans.
Thanks very much Chieftain for taking the time to share your experience with me, and of course for how you spent those 22 years.
Clinton's administration turned me from a conservative who was skeptical about the Democrats, but willing to consider that the odd one in a local election might merit my support, to one who believes that the Democrats are manipulative and dishonest from top to bottom. I was, and am still, stunned at the solidarity they displayed in standing behind Clinton's obvious lies and then behind Gore when he went so far as to have active duty military votes challenged and discarded in Florida.
My veteran friend had told me during that election that he wanted "something done for the military", then during the recount he told me "I just want all the votes to be counted." I e-mailed him a news account of the Democrat challenges to military votes and asked if that was what he had in mind for the military. He never responded to that note.
Your point about John Glenn is a good one. Certainly an admirable, heroic, man, who has served the country with the best of them. Yet even he maintained a partisan Democrat position during Senate hearings on impeachment (if I recall correctly). I think Max Cleland is probably a decent man also, and I respect his service and his injuries even if they did not come in combat. They came while on active duty in a combat zone, and that's close enough for me. Yet now he uses them for purely partisan purposes.
I've never endured anything like Cleland endures, nor have I the courage of Glenn. But if I had the experiences each has I just don't think I'd associate myself with a party that systematically lies about everything. Maybe I shouldn't say this since they protected me, but it seems to me that their association with the Democrat party cheapens their service and sacrifices. That service and those sacrifices are the best and most moving things about America. They define America. And they just should not be cheapened.
I feel bad about saying that, since Cleland and Glenn have done and given so much, while I've done and given nothing. But it's the only honest conclusion I can reach. I just don't understand it and I'm saddened by it. How can heroes do what they've done and what they are doing?