Veterans group is backing Wellstone

Pioneer Press ^ | 10/07/02 | BILL SALISBURY

[gore_sux]

Conferring a blessing that may offset charges that he is soft on national defense, the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ national political action committee on Monday endorsed U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone for re-election. This is the first time the VFW, the nation’s second-largest veterans’ organization, has endorsed the Minnesota Democrat, who is seeking a third term.

“The key issues that we look at are national security and veterans benefits,” Mike Kodluboy, chairman of the Minnesota VFW PAC, said during a presentation ceremony at VFW Post 295 in South St. Paul. “Paul Wellstone earned our veterans’ support based upon his tireless efforts and strong record for providing and delivering for veterans. He has a strong record of supporting our legislation.”

Wellstone said this is “perhaps the biggest endorsement” he has received during his 12-year Senate career. “I could not be prouder,” he said.

VFW support could blunt criticism of Wellstone’s announcement last week that he will vote against a resolution giving President Bush authority to take unilateral military action against Iraq.

His Republican challenger, Norm Coleman, renewed that criticism Monday, telling reporters that although Wellstone “has done good social work for veterans,” his refusal to support the president on Iraq “highlights his long record of being wrong on national defense.” He noted that Wellstone has often been one of a handful of senators to vote against major defense appropriations bills.

The senator said that though he voted against what he considered wasteful defense spending, “I give no ground on supporting our men and women in the armed forces.”

[webber]

I just visited their website and used the email address given there and my email was returned, so they deliberately put a false email address on their own website or they have just changed it recently, probably due to the millions of emails they are receiving from war veterans, and members.

[Northeast]

My email:

Gentlemen,

I was a bit taken aback this evening when I read a news report that the VFW is backing Sen. Paul Wellstone.

In my community work here in Massachusetts, I have always found the VFW members to be proud Patriots. Holding thier heads high for what they have done for our nation. It seems to go against the grain that the VFW would endorse a political candidate like Wellstone. He has a strong record of voting against legislation that favors our Military.

Further, I was ashamed of this quote from Mike Kodluboy, chairman of the Minnesota VFW PAC: “Paul Wellstone earned our veterans’ support based upon his tireless efforts and strong record for providing and delivering for veterans. He has a strong record of supporting our legislation.”

The VFW is a proud organization. I still have four Uncles living that have fought from Iwo Jima to Korea. You do good work, in some cases.

If the new mission of the VFW is to be political and chase money over principle however, then you have become just another in the long line of special interest groups that I will ignore.

God bless the Veterans past and future that remember what they were fighting for.

XXXXXXX<-- Real name in email
Fitchburg MA.

No bounce back from the email address yet (went to the site and pulled it from there)

Regards

[webber]

I just found an email address to send it to. Address it to:

Director, Communications and Public Affairs

E-mail address: JNewberry@vfw.org This is not an active link so you will have to CCP it to your email.

[Northeast]

Ok. Email to VFW just bounced back as well. They are either flodded, have used the firewall to block keywords (Wellstone?) or shut down the server based on the message return.

--- The message cannot be delivered to the following address. --- vfw@vfwdc.org Remote host not found.

Reporting-MTA: Norton AntiVirus Gateway;Norton_AntiVirus_Gateways@vfwdc.org

Final-Recipient: rfc822;vfw@vfwdc.org

Action: failed
Status: 5.1.1<br Diagnostic-Code: X-Notes; Cannot route mail to user (vfw@vfwdc.org).

[webber]

I sent my email to the email address below, and it did NOT return to me undelivered.

Director, Communications and Public Affairs:

E-mail address: JNewberry@vfw.org

[Two-Bits]

Thanks for the revised email address. We resubmitted our email again and hopefully, the following will not come back.

My husband and I are bewildered of your recent endorsement of Senator Paul Wellstone. Senator Wellstone has been proven to be against the Military, the same Military which all of you bravely served.
We now have a threat to our very existance called Iraq. Is it the position of the VFW that we should treat our brave men and women serving in the military now, the same as the Viet Nam Vets were treated? This is the same group that spit on and call our brave Viet Nam Vets, "baby Killers". You are aligning with this group that is now known as the Democrat Party. My father served in World War II, my bother served two tours in Viet Nam and our son is currently serving in the Navy. It is time again for all of you to put your Country first before your own self-interest. My husband and I are Grandparents and we want a future for our Grandchildren, something the Democrats can not offer. Please reconsider. If not, we will not give aid nor money to any VFW organization or function again.

[HitmanLV]

Yea, just the old entitlements crew at work really. Terrified of losing a penny out of their social security check.

This is one reason I break from many conservatives and actually have contempt for some of our idiotic seniors. "The Greatest Generation, indeed!!!"

[Slainte]

The world turned upside down. Find anyone, ANYONE at the VFW who will listen and get this outrageous endorsement yanked.

Here are the contact addresses listed on the VFW's site- http://www.vfw.org/contactus/index.htm

National Headquarters
406 West 34th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
(816) 756-3390
FAX (816) 968-1149
info@vfw.org

Washington D.C. Office
VFW Memorial Building
200 Maryland Avenue N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 543-2239
FAX (202 ) 543-6719
npomeroy@vfwdc.org

Membership
VFW Membership
406 West 34th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 756-3390, ext. 106
rowoldt@vfw.org

Life Membership: crider@vfw.org

VFW e-mail Addresses
General information: 816-756-3390

Assistant Adjutant General, Administration wiesing@vfw.org

Assistant Adjutant General, Development inquiry@vfw.org

Assistant Adjutant General, Programs mavassholz@vfw.org

Assistant Adjutant General/Executive Director, Washington Office npomeroy@vfwdc.org

Assistant Quartermaster General info@vfw.org

Director, Action Corps npomeroy@vfwdc.org

Director, Buddy Poppy kissell@vfw.org

Director, Citizenship Education (US flag information) and Community Services nclifton@vfw.org

Director, Communications and Public Affairs JNewberry@vfw.org
media queries only

Director, Employment Service aeiland@vfwdc.org

Director, General Services dswindler@vfw.org

Director, Membership Services kissell@vfw.org

Director, Membership/Eligibility Questions rowoldt@vfw.org or miller@vfw.org

Director, Military Assistance bhaney@vfw.org

Director, National Legislative Service egrant@vfwdc.org

Director, National Security and Foreign Affairs bharder@vfwdc.org

Director, Public Affairs Washington D.C. bsmith@vfwdc.org

Director, Veterans Service vfw@vfwdc.org

Director, Youth Development, Scholarship and Recognition (VOD, Youth Essay) harmer@vfw.org


Services:
Convention and Meeting information dputthoff@vfw.org

Foundation foundation@vfw.org

General questions or comments (816-756-3390) info@vfw.org

Development Department inquiry@vfw.org

Media Queries JNewberry@vfw.org

Operation Uplink uplink@vfw.org or dickerson@vfw.org

Service Officer vfw@vfwdc.org

VFW Credit Union vfwcu@vfw.org

VFW Ladies Auxiliary (816-561-8655) info@ladiesauxvfw.com

VFW Magazine patbrown@vfw.org (reunion information) or kolb@vfw.org

Web information or comments webadmin@vfw.org

[cartoonistx]

Is the VFW just bellying up to the trough like everybody else now?

Yes! The VFW has become as government-dependent as every other racial, ethnic, feminist, conservation, old age, and charitable group in America. Politics be damned....just keep the money coming!

[packrat35]

That is a most convincing and informative letter. Very well stated!

[OfByForThePeople]

This is crazy! Tell me I'm dreaming.

[gore_sux]

Thanks for posting updated contact info. My e-mail didn't get bounced back to me so I hope it made it thru.

[cibco]

My email this morning.

I was APPALLED last night when I heard of the endorsement of Wellstone by the VFW on the news!

I am a life member of Post 1642 in Waseca, MN.

Senator Wellstone is an Officer in the Democratic Socialists of America(www.dsa.org). DSA has 58 memebrs in Congress and their party platform reads like something out of The Communist Manifesto.

The VFW endorsement of this person is a slap in the face to veterans everywhere. Is the VFW putting benefits above patriotism?

The least you could do is withdraw the endorsement and endorse no one. For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be associated with the VFW. Please brring back some honor...

With Regards,

[Valin]

for what it's worth my e-mail
One word SHAME! This vet wonders if you polled the rank and file? I do wonder what they think about this.
Enjoy your 30 pieces of silver.

[Valin]

Ping

[tickles]

So if their email isn't available why not send your letters to the Star-trib? pioneer press and post one the web sites of the tv channels? hehe. probably get alot more attention if even a few of them make print.

[willgetsome]

E-mail sent. I hope they get flooded!

[webber]

Are you trying to imply that I agree with Sinister Wellstone? Why don't you try sobering up and re-read what I wrote. I blasted the VFW for their endorsement of this traitor-wellstone. In fact, your entire posting is incoherent.

Bklfsdf.sdfa dlk ckldads;k dsfas; dkcdu lpel emvd poe,.c./dldclsdld!!

So there!!

[Valin]

Late night bump