Posted on 07/21/2008 6:22:26 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Barack Obama Wisconsin campaign officials today used local veteran Obama backers in seeking to counter an ad by Republican presidential candidate John McCain that accuses the Democrat of shifting his views on the war in Iraq.
At a press event next to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Chief Warrant Officer David Boetcher, a 27-year veteran of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, blasted McCain's voting record on veteran's health care, hospital funding, veteran's education benefits and equipping soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It shows that he's no longer voting for veterans. He's voting for something else," Boetcher said.
Boetcher, a Waunakee resident who serves with the 32 Infantry Brigade, said McCain served his country honorably during the Vietnam war, where he was held captive and subjected to torture during six years of captivity.
But he added, "That was years ago, and since then he seems to have lost track of what that means."
His comments followed criticism of McCain by state Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, a 30-year Wisconsin Air National Guard veteran, who declared, "I believe we need to set the record straight."
Miller said he backs Obama's timetable to draw down troops in Iraq, contrary to McCain's stated intention to beef up security there, so the U.S. can focus on military efforts in Afghanistan, which he said are central to the global war on terror.
A McCain spokesperson didn't immediately return a request for comment.
McCain's ad, which aired Friday, accused Obama of playing politics with the troop surge in Iraq, which the Democratic senator opposed but last week conceded brought down the level of violence.
The ad also blasts Obama for not holding hearings on Afghanistan as chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes "all matters, policies and problems concerning the continent of Europe, including the European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization." NATO forces are fighting in Afghanistan.
The ad came as Obama prepared for a high-profile trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, aimed to bolster his credentials on national security matters.
A review of the ad by the media watchdog group Media Matters noted that while McCain accused his Democratic rival of inaction on the war in Afghanistan, McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has not attended any of the committee's six hearings on Afghanistan over the last two years.
He could do more for Vets, but we all could.
“Wisconsin Vets for Obama”... what... all 3 of them?
This is something on the order of a contradiction-in-terms, an oxymoron, etc.
Liberal Press way of saying, "We contacted the McCain campaign minutes before this story went to print."
In plainer English, "We didn't give the McCain campaign a chance to respond."
Let’s see...the last major foreign policy military decision in America was The Surge. This is something that President Bush decided to do against the wishes of the vast majority of the public, and the entire Democratic Party. Obama said it would cause more violence. Reid said it failed...before it even began. McCain supported increasing troops for some time before the decision was made to do it.
But it is McCain who has lost touch with these issues. It is somewhat difficult for anyone of integrity to draw that conclusion.
I must admit that there are always though who give a bad reputation to their country and to their corps. Just take comfort in knowing that only a small minority of soldiers support the very enemy that this Republic is fighting against.
and that has been going on since the Revolutionary War..
Do Democrats EVER tell the truth???????
05-28-2004
Dateline: GREEN BAY, Wis.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., talks with veterans David Boetcher, right, and Jennifer Geise, left, during a breakfast meeting, Friday, May 28, 2004, at Bay Family Restaurant in Green Bay, Wisc. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Friday vowed to “destroy the terrorists” and repair relations with allies to ensure that an international force in Iraq accelerates the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
During a campaign stop in Wisconsin and an interview with The Associated Press, Kerry was pressed about how quickly Americans would get out of Iraq, a ...
DIW, you cracked me up, this piece reminded me of something I read several years ago;
June 1776, just a month before the Declaration of Independence was ratified...on whether America should break its bonds with Great Britain, the vote came down: 30 for independence, 35 against and 65 abstentions.
A fifth of those living in America wanted to remain British subjects, or at least wait and see which side won.
The point is, we don’t remember those that opposed the revolution, because they have all been forgotten.
And these guys are no different.
sat = say
Sad.
Leftists have no original ideas.
By all means, let's set the record straight.
Boetcher is a ‘rat who supported Doyle’s re-election campaign.
His use of his military title/affiliation in a political endorsement is probably a violation of the Hatch Act.
PR Coordinator: the message of the week, what we are saying, and all media contact guidance. David Boetcher.
http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t49150.html
Common Ground Common Sense,
Say isn't that Kerry's old site?????
Yep, shure is....
DO DEMOCRATS EVER TELL THE TRUTH?????
Great catch linking him to the Kerry campaign.
Any “vet” who supports barack mcgovern is a fool.
“An American voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.”
Delicious! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.