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DJ VFW Endorses Illinois GOP Candidate Over Iraq War Veteran
DJ ^ | 11/3/06 | Dow Jones News Svc

Posted on 11/03/2006 1:10:12 PM PST by spacejunkie

DJ VFW Endorses Illinois GOP Candidate Over Iraq War Veteran

11/03/2006 Dow Jones News Services (Copyright © 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

CHICAGO (AP)--The Veterans of Foreign Wars' political action committee Friday endorsed a Republican congressional candidate with no military experience over a Democrat who lost her legs in combat in Iraq.

The endorsement of GOP state Sen. Peter Roskam over Tammy Duckworth angered some Illinois veterans, as well as national figures such as former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a veteran who lost a leg in Vietnam.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," he said. "They have some explaining to do to their members."

Duckworth is a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the Army who lost her legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Flanked by more than 20 veterans at a news conference, Duckworth said she was never contacted by the organization or asked to fill out a questionnaire, as typically happens when organizations are deciding which candidates to endorse.

"I think it's unfortunate they did this," she said.

Duckworth has said that invading Iraq was a mistake, but now that American troops are there, withdrawal should be tied to an aggressive training plan for Iraqi forces.

Roskam has repeatedly said the military needs to "finish well" in Iraq. He caused a stir during a debate when he said the district wasn't a "cut-and-run district" - something Duckworth supporters called inappropriate, given her injuries.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-03-06 1607ET

Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: coultereffect; duckworth; roskam; vfw

1 posted on 11/03/2006 1:10:15 PM PST by spacejunkie
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To: spacejunkie

Perhaps the veterans realized who had the more wise perspective on the war in Iraq.


2 posted on 11/03/2006 1:11:47 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind
John Kerry is a veteran (He served in Vietnam). Should the VFW support him? They should support whoever they feel will best represent the veterans, period. It is after all, about the veterans in the constituency, not the candidate.
3 posted on 11/03/2006 1:17:26 PM PST by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us.")
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To: spacejunkie

Did she think that because of her status that she was "entitled" to their endorsement?


4 posted on 11/03/2006 1:17:30 PM PST by Sister_T (A vote for DemocRATS is a vote for terrorists!)
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To: Sister_T

Kerry assumed it


5 posted on 11/03/2006 1:18:30 PM PST by advertising guy
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To: advertising guy

Why is it offensive for Roskam to say that the district he lives in (Duckworth doesn't even live in the district) is not a cut and run district? How is that offensive?


6 posted on 11/03/2006 1:28:23 PM PST by cdga5for4
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To: cdga5for4

it ain't and i never said so...


7 posted on 11/03/2006 1:33:18 PM PST by advertising guy
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To: spacejunkie
He caused a stir during a debate when he said the district wasn't a "cut-and-run district" - something Duckworth supporters called inappropriate, given her injuries.

Inappropriate? Bullshit!!

  1. Duckworth doesn't even LIVE in the 6th district (stoo-pid IL state law allows it).
  2. Duckworth was hand picked (by Ted Kennedy & Durbin IIRC) to run SOLELY because of her injuries.
  3. Her injuries do not make her off limits for criticism. She's a poster girl for what Ann Coulter said in her book about 'victims'.
  4. She has zero experience in public office / government.
  5. All her stated positions are in lock step with the Cut and Run Dems. She also wants to CUT SS benefits, RAISE TAXES like Charlie Rangel and pass every Gun Control law imaginable (she "hates" guns).
  6. 90% of her campaign money came from out of state. Like from Barbra Streisand.
If she had two legs you'd never have heard of her. She's a political whore who happens to be wounded veteran - period.
8 posted on 11/03/2006 1:36:37 PM PST by Condor51 ("Alot" is NOT a word and doesn't mean "many". It is 'a lot', two separate words.)
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To: Condor51

She's going to win, too, in what is traditionally one of the most conservative districts in the country. Makes me want to puke.


9 posted on 11/03/2006 1:39:43 PM PST by cdga5for4
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To: MPJackal

And General Benedict Arnold was an excellent strategist for the Americans during the Revolutionary War.

He would still be considered a hero ... except for that nasty little affair re: trying to deliver West Point to the Brits.

If the veteran (albeit one who served and lost legs ...) supports a party (Democrat) - that is weak on defense and is nothing more than a criminal syndicate - certainly she lost any credibility and shouldn't be endorsed by Veterans Groups.

Mike
(USNR(ret), 30 yrs service .... I won't vote for criminals - so no votes for Democrats.)


10 posted on 11/03/2006 2:12:30 PM PST by Vineyard
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To: cdga5for4
Why is it offensive for Roskam to say that the district he lives in (Duckworth doesn't even live in the district) is not a cut and run district?
Duckworth's supporters called it offensive because Duckworth has no legs to run with ...
11 posted on 11/03/2006 2:16:14 PM PST by eastsider
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To: Condor51
Just the fact alone that she is allowing herself to be used by the socialist demonrats makes it perfectly clear that she is not the best candidate for the job......................I back the VFW 100 percent on this one..................

AwesomePossum, 1stMAW, Chu Lai and Da Nang, 1970

12 posted on 11/03/2006 3:05:36 PM PST by AwesomePossum
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To: spacejunkie
"They should be ashamed of themselves," he said. "They have some explaining to do to their members."

Uh, no they don't!

Perhaps Ms. Duckworth should look long and hard at just who she has aligned herself with and what they advocate.

The above statement quoted from the article shows more than anything I could say how the Dems latch on to these Veterans and hold them up as above reproach, unable to challenge or question what they stand for.

Had they looked into the November 2006 issue of VFW magazine they would see that all six Veteran candidates currently running for office, 5 Democrats and 1 Republican, are all listed along with their service and what they claim they stand for.

Welcome to politics, Tammy, Thank you for your service, too, but it doesn't automatically qualify you for office.

13 posted on 11/03/2006 10:38:10 PM PST by DakotaRed (Kerry Should Resign!)
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