OT<<Prominent Veterans Endorse President Hillary Clinton
-JacksonB(Western WA)
national co-chairs to its Veterans and Military Retirees for Hillary
Committee. Newly endorsing members of the committee include Lt.
General Joseph Ballard, Lt. General Robert Gard, Lt. General Don
Kerrick and Major General Paul Eaton. They join more that 1,200
veterans and military retirees have joined Senator Clinton's national
and state veterans' steering committees. Hillary Clinton made the
announcement at an event honoring veterans in Waterloo, Iowa, where
she was accompanied by Major General
Eaton. The campaign also unveiled a new video featuring a cross-
generation of veterans discussing their support of Hillary Clinton for
President.
"We pause today to honor all of the brave men and women who have
honored us by wearing our nation's uniform," said Clinton in Waterloo.
"Through their service and sacrifice, our veterans defended our
country, our freedom, and our values. We could
never adequately repay the debt that is owed. But what we can do and
must do is ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned
through their service and continue strengthening the country they
fought for and love."
Hillary Clinton built on her long history of fighting for our veterans
and announced new policies to ensure our country fulfills its
obligations to those who have served and sacrificed for the nation.
She announced that, as President, she will enact a GI Bill of
Rights for the 21st century that will offer service members, veterans
and their families with expanded education, housing and
entrepreneurial benefits. In addition, as President, Hillary will
ensure that all of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans in this
country has access to quality, affordable health care and will
establish a pilot program on homelessness prevention for veterans. The
program will provide subsidies, eviction prevention, and one-time
assistance for veterans who fall behind on their rent.
"I'm standing with Hillary Clinton today, because she has stood with
us," said Major General Eaton, who served in the army for 33 years,
most recently serving in Iraq. "No one in this race has the strength
and expertise on military and veterans' issues that
Hillary Clinton possesses."
The campaign also released a new minute video on its Web site of
veterans and family members of veterans who support Clinton. "I served
my country for almost nine years now, and I plan on doing so, you
know, for as long as I can in the future," said Rose Forrest, an Iraq
War veteran. "That being said like any good soldier, you know, I train
for war, but I pray for peace. And I think Hillary Clinton will bring
us peace."
The video can be viewed at: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/video/66.aspx
.
When Hillary Clinton is president, she will end the war in Iraq. Her
three-step plan would bring our troops home, work to bring stability
to the region, and replace military force with a new diplomatic
initiative to engage countries around the world in securing Iraq's
future. Hillary has also been fighting in the Senate to force a course
change.
Clinton has visited our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan three times. In
January 2007, she visited Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, stopping in
Germany to visit with wounded service members at Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center. She also spent time with our
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in early 2005 and over Thanksgiving
weekend in November 2003.
"Our next President will inherit the most difficult and challenging
national security agenda in our nation's history. We need a President
and Commander in Chief who will restore America's greatness, protect
America by combining diplomacy and all
elements of national power, provide strong leadership and make
decisions based on evidence instead of ideology," said Lt. General
Kerrick. "I know Hillary Clinton and her understanding of diplomacy
and force will ensure that our wonderful military remains the best in
the world and when deployed will be assigned winnable missions, will
be adequately resourced, and will be supported with all elements of
our national power."
Clinton has also been an outspoken critic of the current
administration's handling of the conditions at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center. In March, Clinton visited the Center to see the
conditions firsthand. During her visit, she visited wounded soldiers
at the hospital and met with New York service members to hear their
concerns. She then called on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
commission a comprehensive review of the quality of care being
received by wounded veterans, both past and present, at VA facilities
around the country. She also asked for a review of the VA's process of
evaluating wounded veterans for disability benefits.
"I strongly support Senator Clinton because I believe that she is the
right person for the job - at the right time. She understands the
military, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of
policy," said Lt. General Ballard. "I believe that she will bring the
right degree of concern for our all of Service members and their
families. Her determination, fairness and toughness as the next
Commander in Chief will enable her to make the hard but necessary
decisions that will positively impact not only our
military but our national security."
"I'm honored to have the support of these distinguished veterans,"
said Clinton. "With their help, we will finally bring an end to the
war in Iraq, rebuild America's role in the world, and deliver on the
promises made to the men and women who have served our
country."
Clinton has a long history of working on issues important to active
duty and retired military personnel. As First Lady, she helped call
attention to Gulf War Syndrome. As a Member of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, Hillary has championed
legislation to improve the lives of our veterans and their families.
She worked to provide access to TRICARE for National Guard and Reserve
members. She authored the Heroes at Home Act that will begin to help
service members struggling with post traumatic stress disorder and
traumatic brain injury. She worked with others in the Senate to pass
legislation to increase the military survivor benefit from $12,000 to
$100,000. She represents bases such as Fort Drum, home of the 10th
Mountain Division, West Point, Watervliet Arsenal, Fort Hamilton, the
Rome Air Force Research
Laboratory, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and four other Air
National Guard bases.
She is also the only Senator to serve on the Joint Forces Command
Transformation Advisory Group.
New National Co-Chairs are:
General Wesley Clark, Ret.
Four Star General
Supreme Allied Commander, NATO
Lt. General Joseph Ballard, Ret.
Three Star General
Chief of Engineers and Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lt. General Robert Gard, Ret.
Three Star General
President Emeritus of the Monterey Institute for International
Studies.
Lt. General Donald Kerrick, Ret.
Three Star General
Deputy National Security Advisor
Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Lt. General Frederick Vollrath, Ret.
Three Star General
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters Department of the
Army
Major General Roger Blunt, Ret.
Two Star General
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Last Command: 97th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM), Ft. Meade Chairman,
President, & CEO of Blunt Enterprises, LLC
Major General Edward L. Correa Jr., Ret.
Two Star General
Adjutant General of Hawaii
Major General Paul Eaton, Ret.
Two Star General
Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, Commanding General
Rear Admiral Connie Mariano, MD, Ret.
Two Star Rear Admiral
Navy White House Physician for three Presidents
Major General Paul D. Monroe, Jr., Ret.
Two Star General
Adjutant General California National Guard
Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, M.D., Ret.
Two Star Coast Guard Admiral
Past Director of Health and Safety of the Coast Guard
Rear Admiral David Stone, Ret.
One Star Rear Admiral
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation
Security
Administration President & CEO, Alacrity Homeland Group
Brigadier General Michael Dunn, Ret.
One Star General
Clinical leader of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's
Interoperability Project.
Commanded the Walter Reed Health Care System in Washington, DC
Brigadier General Belisario Flores, Ret.
Assistant Adjutant General, Texas Air National Guard
Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote, Ret.
One Star General
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr, Ret.
One Star General
Commanding General, Northern Area Command, California National Guard
Brigadier General Virgil Richard, Ret.
One Star General
Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal
Brigadier General Preston Taylor, Ret.
One Star General
Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training
Brigadier General Dr. Jack Yeager, Ret.
One Star General
Assistant Adjutant General of West Virginia
Honorable Anthony Brown
Veteran, Maryland Lt. Governor
Past member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Served with distinction in Baghdad, Fallujah, Kirkuk and Basra, Iraq.
Honorable Harold Naughton
Massachusetts State House Representative
Veteran, US Army Reserves, JAG, 8 months in Multinational Force Iraq
Honorable Steven Hobbs
Washington State Senator
Veteran, Tours of duty in Iraq and Kosovo with the US Army and Army
National Guard
Mr. Roscoe Brown
Veteran, Tuskegee Airman, WWII
Honorable Louis Caldera
Veteran, Secretary of the Army
President of University of New Mexico
Honorable Edward Chow, Jr.
Veteran, Past Vice President of Vietnam Veterans of America
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Veterans Administration
Honorable Jimmy Dean
Veteran, Past National Commander of the American Legion
Honorable Ron Dellums
Mayor of Oakland, CA
Former Chair of the House Armed Services Committee
Honorable Herschel Gober
Veteran, Acting Secretary & Deputy Secretary, Veterans Affairs
Honorable Steven Honigman
Veteran, Navy Retired, Former Naval General Counsel (Iraq)
Mr. Thomas Keefe
Veteran, President of The Keefe Group
Nationally known Veterans Advocate
Honorable Robert Jones
Veteran, Deputy Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs
Mr. Maceo May
Board member, Swords to Ploughshares *For identification purposes only
Honorable Robert Perreault
Director, Medical Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs
Joseph "Jake" Simmons IV
Veteran, Commander, White House Communications Agency
Honorable Todd Weiler
Veteran, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower
and Reserve
Affairs
They Join Current National Co-Chairs:
U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye
Veteran, World War II Combat Veteran, Recipient: Medal of Honor
U.S. Congressman Charlie Rangel
Veteran, US Army, 1948-52
U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak
Veteran, Retired US Navy Admiral
Commanded Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, Afghanistan
U.S. Congressman Ed Towns
Veteran, US Army, 1956-58
U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano
Veteran, US Army, 1964-66
U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey
Veteran, US Navy 1956-59
Honorable Togo West
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of the Army
North Carolina Native
Lt. General Claudia Kennedy, Ret.
Three Star General
First Woman in the U.S. Army to Hold a Three Star Rank
Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence
General George Buskirk, Ret.
Adjutant General, Indiana Army and Air National Guard
Honorable Eleanor Glynn Kjellman
New Hampshire State House Representative
Veteran, US Air Force Officer
Son served in Iraq
Mr. Joe Wynn
Veteran, US Air Force, Viet Nam
Leader of the National Association of Black Veterans
President, Vets Group
Mr. Bill White
President, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
Nationally Known Veterans Advocate
Lone Haranguer
> The Clinton campaign recently announced the addition of 35 new
workers.
Meanwhile, Iraqi veterans condemn Hillary for playing with their lives
in order to gain office.
LZ
-JacksonB(Western WA)
<HIS USUAL PATHETIC RESPONSE DRIVEL SNIPPED>
Lone Haranguer
The skunk has been given a home for life in LZ's barn.
LZ