Posted on 07/28/2003 7:32:04 AM PDT by Brian S
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON - President Bush and his Republican Party are facing a political backlash from an unlikely group - retired veterans.
Normally Republican, many retired veterans are mad that Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress are blocking remedies to two problems with health and pension benefits. They say they feel particularly betrayed by Bush, who appealed to them in his 2000 campaign, and who vowed on the eve of his inauguration that "promises made to our veterans will be promises kept."
"He pats us on the back with his speeches and stabs us in the back with his actions," said Charles A. Carter of Shawnee, Okla., a retired Navy senior chief petty officer. "I will vote non-Republican in a heart beat if it continues as is."
"I feel betrayed," said Raymond C. Oden Jr., a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant now living in Abilene, Texas.
Many veterans say they will not vote for Bush or any Republican in 2004 and are considering voting for a Democrat for the first time. Others say they will sit out the election, angry with Bush and Republicans but unwilling to support Democrats, whom they say are no better at keeping promises to veterans. Some say they will still support Bush and his party despite their ire.
While there are no recent polls to measure veterans' political leanings, any significant erosion of support for Bush and Republicans could hurt in a close election. It could be particularly troublesome in states such as Florida that are politically divided and crowded with military retirees.
Registered Republican James Cook, who retired to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., after 24 years in the Air Force, said he is abandoning a party that he said abandoned him. "Bush is a liar," he said. "The Republicans in Congress, with very few exceptions, are gutless party lapdogs who listen to what puts money in their own pockets or what will get them re-elected."
Veterans have two gripes.
One is a longstanding complaint that some disabled vets, in effect, have to pay their own disability benefits out of their retirement pay through a law they call the Disabled Veterans Tax.
Since 1891, anyone retiring after a full military career has had their retirement pay reduced dollar for dollar for any Veterans Administration checks they get for a permanent service-related disability. However, a veteran who served a two-or-four-year tour does not have a similar reduction in Social Security or private pension.
A majority of members of Congress, from both parties, wants to change the law. A House proposal by Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., has 345 co-sponsors.
But it would cost as much as $5 billion a year to expand payments to 670,000 disabled veterans, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier this month told lawmakers that the president would veto any bill including the change.
The proposal is stuck in committee. A recent effort to bring it to the full House of Representatives failed, in part because only one Republican signed the petition.
"The cost is exorbitant. And we are dealing with a limited budget," said Harald Stavenas, a spokesman for the House Armed Services Committee.
The second complaint is over medical care. After decades of promising free medical care for life to anyone who served for 20 years, the government in the 1990s abandoned the promise in favor of a new system called Tricare. The Tricare system provides medical care, but requires veterans to pay a deductible and does not cover dental, hearing or vision care.
A group of military retirees challenged the government in a class-action lawsuit, won a first round, then were seriously disappointed when Bush allowed the government to appeal. Government won the next legal round.
"I voted for the president because of the promises," said Floyd Sears, a retired Air Force master sergeant in Biloxi, Miss. "But as far as I can tell, he has done nothing. In fact, his actions have been detrimental to the veterans and retired veterans. I'm very disappointed about the broken promise on medical care."
Stavenas said House and Senate negotiators were working this week on proposals to address the veterans' two specific complaints. He added that Congress has increased spending for veterans' benefits, including a 5 percent increase next year for the Veterans Health Administration.
Christine Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said: "The Bush administration and the Republican Congress have taken and will continue to take steps to enhance benefits for our veterans."
Not all military retirees will vote against Republicans, of course. Some, like retired Air Force Lt. Col. Gene DiBartolo of Tampa, will vote for Bush again gladly.
Though he believes his fellow veterans have a just complaint, he said the government simply cannot "do everything."
As for Bush, he said, "he has restored honor and dignity to this nation ...
"It would take a lot more than this issue to dissuade me from my support of this man."
He wasn't bitching and moaning. He came and defended Carenot.
Furthermore I take issue with your suggesting my conscience is not clear, or that I am doing anything 'Clintonian'. Can't people have a discussion here anymore without resorting to jabs and personal insults?
NFP
To: Brian S
Bush seems to enjoy alienating his supporters.
Instead of honoring his promise to Vets, who risked their lives for us, what does ole George do? Throw BILLIONS of dollars to Africa for their aids epidemic. To hell with Americans here who really deserve our respect and proper medical care. Ironically the people in Africa HATE us and don't appreciate the BILLIONS we throw at them for their epidemic. Bush is a disgrace on this issue and some others ... .
Prove it! Back that up or back down.
I voted for Harry Browne.
I had 4 choices.
Bush, Gore, Nader or Browne.
No place for a write in. :(
'Er ya nuts?
So I guess anybody criticising a person who won't even tell who they voted for in President in 2000 for the sake of political debate is a pariah to you.
Sorry, but it the person who won't admit who they voted for President is the one who is the coward, IMHO, and would find mutual succor with the liberal media reporters who wince when the same question is asked of them.
Yes, it is. It is none of your's or anyone else's business and demonstrates your desire to use it against her rather than a true desire to have an honest debate
Like I stated above you are parrotting the liberal media line when they are asked that question of who they vote for.
No, we have loyally come to defend our friend. That is not Dems behavior. Your's on the other hand, requiring everyone to toe the Bush loyalty line, does strike me as Dem behavior
Oh yes it is dem behavior, IMO, most Liberals in the media get indignant when asked who they voted for.
and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier this month told lawmakers that the president would veto any bill including the change.To: Brian S; SLB; Squantos; Militiaman7; leadpenny; BufordP
Rumsfeld is a flunky.
Rumsfeld only does or says things that he has permission to do or say.
President Bush is the one who said he would veto veteran benefits if Congress passed them, just as Bush is the one who said he would sign a bill to extend the "assault weapon" ban.
Most of the vets I have spoken with (and my system seems to be as scientific as this author's) think of 9-11 as a siren call, just like December 7, 1941. There is more to agree with Bush than disagree with him. Furthermore, restructuring of social security and medicare is going to be the focus of Bush 43-II.
Finally an answer.
Ok the political debate goes on now.
You voted for the person, Harry Browne, who on national TV basically said that 9/11 was America's fault and during his campaign in 2000 longed for the days in the early 1900's when an 10 year old could go into any pharmacy and buy a bottle of heroin.
Now wonder you were reluctant to admit who you voted for.
You are so cute when you get all red in the face when you are mad!
Hey, y'all, look how cute little ohio is!
Which promise did you base your vote on that Bush broke ?
Why do y'all just attack people?
I am always nice.
NFP
My conscience is clear, what about yours. I voted for Bush and proud that he is my President, rather than the other realistic contender in 2000, Gore.
Her right to privacy should not be something that opens her up to your unfounded assumptions.
I wish you well.
I wish you well.
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