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Posted on 10/10/2002 6:50:40 AM PDT by LBGA
U.S. Sen. Max Cleland won the Silver Star for gallantry in Vietnam but lost the political support Wednesday of one of the nation's most powerful veterans groups.
The 1.8 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars on Wednesday passed over Cleland and endorsed Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss --- who did not serve in the military.
The endorsement highlights a bitter split among the state's veterans over the race.
One side touts Cleland's immense sacrifice in war: he lost three limbs in a grenade explosion, and was decorated for helping wounded comrades during a 1968 rocket attack.
Other veterans point to Chambliss' conservative politics and unwavering support of the military as outweighing Cleland's service. That side won.
Chambliss, who received student deferments in college and was rejected for military service in 1969 because of a bad knee, won the support of the 25,000-member state branch of the VFW earlier this summer. Representatives of the state group, which does not officially endorse candidates, then lobbied the national VFW political action committee to back the congressman from Moultrie over Cleland.
"Chambliss was more supportive of our legislative agenda," said Georgia VFW Commander Richard Branson, a Vietnam veteran from Stockbridge. "Some of the best friends veterans have in Washington have never worn a military uniform."
Cleland's campaign downplayed the endorsement, which came about four weeks before the Nov. 5 election.
"Most veterans support Sen. Cleland and we expect them to express that on election day," said Cleland campaign spokesman Jamal Simmons. He said Cleland does not belong to the VFW, but instead joined the 3-million-member American Legion, which does not endorse candidates.
As the country faces possible war with Iraq, military and homeland security issues have become a key factor in the race. Chambliss and Cleland recently split over a bill to create a Department of Homeland Security. Chambliss backs President Bush over the right to fire federal employees, while Cleland would restrict the president's power over federal employee unions.
Cleland's problems with the VFW go back decades. He led the Veterans Administration under President Carter, and in 1979 incurred the VFW's fury over budget cuts that affected veterans' hospitals. At its annual convention that year, the VFW called on Cleland to become a more aggressive veterans' advocate or resign.
Some veterans say they do not support Cleland this election cycle because he backed former President Bill Clinton, whom they viewed as lukewarm to downright hostile toward the military.
For many, it's a matter of simple politics. Democrats now control the Senate by a single vote and conservative veterans hope to tip the balance in the GOP's favor.
"This is about whether the liberal Democrats or the Republicans will be in control of the Senate," said retired Vice Adm. John Scott Redd of Marietta, who is backing Chambliss as vice chairman of the Veterans for Saxby organization.
But retired Capt. Don Chapman, who flew 199 combat missions in Vietnam, said it "chaps my lips" that veterans are not uniting behind a fellow soldier.
"No one has been a better friend to the military or to veterans than Max," said Chapman, a Newnan resident who described himself as a political independent.
Retired Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, former commander of Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, said he is backing Chambliss because the congressman supported the base.
"Chambliss was there for me," Goddard said. "He called me weekly. Max did not call me one time in 2 1/2 years."
Chapman said Cleland's military experience gives him a unique vantage point when deciding issues of national security in Washington.
"In combat you have to make life or death decisions at a very young age," said Chapman. "If you've been there, you know what you're getting us into when you have to make decisions about war."
But Goddard, who flew 227 combat missions in Vietnam, said choosing a candidate based on his military service is a flawed standard.
Goddard said Chambliss has simply been more supportive of the military than Cleland.
"If we excluded people from office because they did not serve in the military, we'd eliminate a lot of great Americans," he said.
"That's a bogus way to measure whether someone would be an effective leader."
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Cleland's real trouble is that he's fat, dumb, and lazy. He has ridden that wheelchair to appointments, elections, and never, never has he worked hard, thought deeply, or measured up, to even minimal standards.
He does not deserve re-election to the United States Senate, and that would be true even if he weren't paralyzed and terribly handicapped from his military service.
That is true, and I am so glad to see this endorsement based on what Chambliss has done for this group as opposed to Cleland having served in the military.
What a summary!
I still have the reply he sent to me about his vote for acquittal on the impeachment. It came 2 or 3 weeks after I sent my note and was a standard spin piece. Paul Coverdell had responded immediately with a somewhat customized and personal note. What a difference. I miss Paul, but at least Zell is not marching in lock-step with the Dems.
Kind of says it all, doesn't it?
Pings to the GA group.
Sorry for the late response, LBGA...darned W-O-R-K tends to get in the way! :-)
Uh-oh.....hang in there!
o~<);-)
Regards, RobFromGa
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