Blue Spot

One issue where McCain, Obama agree We see it so often on the nightly television news that it no longer seems like news. John McCain and Barack Obama, attacking each other on just about every issue, domestic and global.

But there is one issue that is rarely mentioned, perhaps because McCain and Obama seem to see it just about eye-to-eye. It is the unconscionable failure of our government to honor its commitments to our military veterans.

So, let's focus on how McCain and Obama propose to help our military veterans. And we will end with a campaign challenge: For just one day, let the Republican and Democratic presidential aspirants pause in their bickering, appear together, and show America that its leaders are capable of standing together for a transcendent cause. McCain and Obama have promised separately a number of strikingly similar solutions. Both have called for a sweeping overhaul of the Department of Veterans' Affairs benefits claims program. Both have promised increased personnel to end the unconscionable backlogs. Both vowed to end unfair claim denials.

Labels: Veterans

CNN discusses McCain setting up a Truth Squad and responding to remarks by Wesley Clark and other Obama surrogates.

Labels: General Election 2008, McCain, Obama, Obama supporters, Veterans, Wesley Clark

HillaryClinton.com - Media Release

One of our nation’s top military figures, General Shelton served two terms as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush.

In announcing his endorsement, General Shelton said, "I’ve been with Senator Clinton when she has been with our military men and women. I know from those experiences that she understands the demands and sacrifice of military life. I am confident she will always put the readiness and well being of our troops first. She is ready to be Commander-in-Chief."

General Shelton joins General John Shalikashvili as the second former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to have endorsed Senator Clinton. General Shelton is the fourth flag officer to endorse Senator Clinton this week.

Flag Officers Endorsing Hillary Clinton for President and Commander-in-Chief

General Wesley Clark
General John M. Shalikashvili
General Henry Hugh Shelton
General Johnnie E. Wilson
Admiral William Owens
Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard
Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick
Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath
Vice Admiral Joseph A. Sestak
Major General Roger R. Blunt
Major General George A. Buskirk, Jr.
Major General Edward L. Correa, Jr.
Major General Paul D. Eaton
Major General Paul D. Monroe, Jr.
Major General Antonio M. Taguba
Rear Admiral Connie Mariano
Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman
Rear Admiral David Stone
Brigadier General Michael Dunn
Brigadier General Belisario Flores
Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr
Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
Brigadier General Preston Taylor
Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr.
Brigadier General Jack Yeager

Labels: Election 2008, Hillary, Veterans

Last night, in reference to our nation's homeless veterans, Bill O'Reilly said: “They may be out there, but there’s not many of them out there. Okay? … If you know where there's a veteran sleeping under a bridge, you call me immediately, and we will make sure that man does not do it.”

He raises an important issue. Unfortunately, he got the facts wrong.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, almost 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in America, accounting for about one-third of the adult homeless population.

Sign the open letter to Bill O'Reilly, and urge him to set the record straight.

Labels: Bill O'Reilly, Fox propaganda, Veterans

Injured Iraq vets sue VA over health care delays - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com WASHINGTON - Frustrated by delays in health care, a coalition of injured Iraq war veterans is accusing VA Secretary Jim Nicholson of breaking the law by denying them disability pay and mental health treatment.

The class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, filed Monday in federal court in San Francisco, seeks broad change in the agency as it struggles to meet growing demands from veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Suing on behalf of hundreds of thousands of veterans, it charges that the VA has failed warriors on several fronts — from providing prompt disability benefits, to adding staff to reduce wait times for medical care to boosting services for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Labels: Healthcare, Veterans

Army secretary resigns - Military Affairs - MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey abruptly stepped down Friday as the Bush administration struggled to cope with the fallout from a scandal over substandard conditions for war-wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Harvey’s departure, announced on short notice by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, was the most dramatic move in an escalating removal of officials with responsibilities over one of the military’s highest-profile and busiest medical facilities.

Labels: Veterans

Walter Reed medical chief relieved - Military Affairs - MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - The Army said Thursday that the two-star general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been relieved of command following disclosures about inadequate treatment of wounded soldiers.

Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, who was commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command as well as Walter Reed hospital, was relieved of command by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

Labels: Healthcare, Veterans