Veterans for Obama

We, the undersigned Veterans for Obama and Military Families in Central Minnesota, are concerned for the immediate future of our extraordinary country.

We are concerned about the security interests of this nation.

We are concerned about the low esteem this nation has amongst our allies.

We are concerned about the current use of our military personnel in unnecessary warfare.

We are concerned about the care of our veterans and providing them the medical help they need, both physical and psychological, when they return home. 

We are concerned because we believe that our military has been misused in the war on Al-Quaida and deterred from seeking out Osama Bin Laden.

While we honor the military service of John McCain and his role as a POW in the Vietnam conflict, we do not believe that this gives him entitlement to become the commander-in-chief of this nation's military.  We question McCain's judgment on a number of international issues, both past and present.  At the end of the first presidential debate, we were surprised to hear Senator John McCain describe his relationship with this country's veterans.

John McCain's words were: "I know the veterans.  I know them well, and I know that they know that I take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."

But the facts do not sustain these claims: McCain's actions as a U.S. senator have been to deny funding over the past five years, or not vote at all, on every bill regarding veteran's issue. 

Whereas Senator Obama has promised to fully fund veteran's medical care, Senator McCain has repeatedly voted to cut, eliminate or cut veteran's health care 29 times since 1990.  Additionally, Senator McCain advocates the privatization of the veteran's healthcare services and intends to restrict veteran's healthcare to those with combat injuries only. 

Since coming to the Senate, Obama has led a bi-partisan effort to focus the military and veteran's health care systems on:

1)      suicide prevention for veterans

2)      treatment for brain injured veterans

3)      relieving homelessness among veterans and

4)      accessing mental health care for veterans returning home with PTSD/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Senator Obama consistently supports millions of dollars for troop safety equipment and vehicles, while Senator McCain has opposed additional funding for these items. 

Little known truth: Organizations such as Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America overwhelmingly rate Senator Obama more favorably than they do Senator McCain.

That's because we believe that Senator Obama has the right grasp on international issues that will lead to expeditious use of our military forces worldwide.  We find McCain erratic in his views and out of touch with the current and impending dangers we face in the years ahead. 

Thus we, as do many other veterans and family members nationwide, find Senator Obama the better leader--ideally suited in temperament, grounded in reality, and living in authenticity--to guide us through the difficult times ahead that this great nation will face.