Eleven days left where do you stand Senator McCain? Some veterans would like to know!

News Type: Opinion — Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:48 PM EDT

Over the last 18 months or so we here at American Cold War veterans have had one mission. Find out where candidates stand on S.1097 the Cold War Medal Act. For the most part we have been answered by the candidates though it has been difficult getting a straight answer in some cases.

Just in the last week Barack Obama and Sarah Palin both pledged their support.

Obama's letter to ACWV Illinois resident Frank Almquist Quote"I agree that the Cold War Victory medal would be an appropriate honor. The Cold War was a period that required both skilled diplomacy and military readiness. For veterans such as yourself, who had to be prepared to fight a war that most people agreed would be catastrophic, there certainly should be some recognition of service and willingness to defend and go to battle for the United States."

Sarah Palin was recently on the campaign trail in New Hampshire and she was posed the question do support a medal for Cold War service? She responded "I would support an American Cold War Veterans Medal 100%".

Through the Primaries and now the general election not a single candidate has given a negative response and nearly all have responded in some form or another except one.

We have faxed, written and called Senator McCain on numerous occasions and his silence has been deafening.

With 11 days left until the election 22 million Cold War veterans would like to know where you stand Senator.

Many of us share your values and admire your experience and stance on national defense especially your willingness to win the War on Terror and stop a new Cold War by facing down Russian aggression with strength. Given all of this your reluctance to publicly speak on a bill that would honor veterans of your own era is puzzling.

This maybe your last chance to state your position on S.1097 time is running out. Do not take us for granted. This might not be a deal breaker when we go to the polls but then again for some of us it just might be.

Sean Eagan Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
Web: http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog: Cold War Veterans Blog
Email: Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone: 716 720-4000

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{"commentId":3685658,"authorDomain":"cranegirl"}

cranegirl

Sean Eagan:

There's statistics about Disabled Vets supporting Obama overwhelmingly. Enlisted men & women overseas have donated to Obama over McCain 10:1. McCain opposed the recent GI Bill. McCain's voting record is around 20% on veteran's issues whereas Obama's is above 80%.

Other than his POW service, why do those in the military continue to support McCain?

{"commentId":3685658,"threadId":"398814","contentId":"2036620","authorDomain":"cranegirl"}

1 vote

#1 - Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":3701892,"authorDomain":"mistyshangrila"}

Destiny's Child

I'm amazed that some Vets still support McCain, perhaps simply because he is one. More than one veterans organizaion has found him lacking where Obama was not. He didn't want to up their benefits because he thought soldiers would stop fighting if he did. The earmarks were more important to him than defining torture for our soldiers. He lies to vets about his record in town hall meetings. He's turned his back on families of Vietnam vets who merely wanted him not to give up on their missing relatives and even scolded a MIA/POW's mother until she started to cry in the hearing.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who has risen to political prominence on his image as a Vietnam War hero, has, inexplicably, worked very hard to hide from the public stunning information about American prisoners of war in Vietnam who, unlike himself, did not return home.

Throughout his Senate career, McCain has quietly sponsored and pushed into federal law a set of prohibitions that keep the most revealing information about these men buried as classified documents. Thus the war hero people would logically imagine to be a determined crusader for the interests of POWs and their families became instead the strange champion of hiding the evidence and closing the books.

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#1.1 - Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":3693396,"authorDomain":"morikawarandim"}

follow the money

It is because some people dont have computers,

they have no idea that the "IAVA" or Iraq, Afghanistan, Veterans Association gave McCain a "D" in helping all our veterans, which includes these veterans also. Mr Obama got a "B" grade. So Mr Obama needs to get the word out, by having this sent on regular television sets around the country, where most people have tv Sets. If you dont have a computer, you can doubt me all you want, but if you have a computer, you can do a little research, and see that I am telling you the truth. Veteran organizations also need to get out the word, about mccain's voting records on their health issues, and helping ALL VETERANS. and by the way, regarding Iraq and mccain? check out this website on mccain's history on helping our veterans:

"zfacts.com" on controversial issues, and click on "Iraq war"... thats an interesting cite also, regarding mccain's issues an Iraq. (wrong all along...)

use the web, do some research, and check it out for yourself.. good luck to you.

{"commentId":3693396,"threadId":"398814","contentId":"2036620","authorDomain":"morikawarandim"}

1 vote

#2 - Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":3693662,"authorDomain":"morikawarandim"}

follow the money

check out also..you tube.com

there is a lot to learn on mccain and his stance with veterans on there also.

{"commentId":3693662,"threadId":"398814","contentId":"2036620","authorDomain":"morikawarandim"}

#2.1 - Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":3701295,"authorDomain":"curioustoknow"}

curioustoknow

There was a great ad running here in New Mexico that showed younger vets and families talking about Obama's support and McCain's record of neglect.

{"commentId":3701295,"threadId":"398814","contentId":"2036620","authorDomain":"curioustoknow"}

#3 - Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":3701599,"authorDomain":"curioustoknow"}

curioustoknow

Attack they are and will continue, So when McCain trots out his own character, here's what I'd like Barack to say:

40 years ago you were welcomed home from war a hero. We Americans honor our heroes; that what we Americans do. 40 years ago you suffered, came home suffering. We Americans are a compassionate people; we put in our Declaration of Independence that we believe all people have a right to the pursuit of happiness. What's what we Americans stand for. 40 years ago you served honorably. Some years earlier my grandfather and many Americans' grandfathers served their country. We have a brave history of American heroism and service.

And 40 years ago when you came home, millions of people who will vote in this election were not even born. And they honor America's past; they respect your past. But they want to hear from their President about their futures and their children's futures.

The soldiers coming home today and tomorrow want to know about their futures, whether we'll continue to respect them when they need a chance to continue their education, to have jobs and housing for their families, and to know we'll make sure they have the healthcare they need to return to producive lives and the pursuit of happiness. That's what all Americans hope and want. Those soldiers and their families and all the families of Americans want to know they'll be ok, they'll have jobs and a family doctor who cares for them and their children.

But you're not protecting them, helping them, when you repeatedly vote against veterns healthcare benefits. when Veterans groups give you only a 20% rating on supporting them. You're not protecting or defending the xx American families who are worried about mortgage foreclosure, the x million who are unemployed, the millions who want a chance to participate in this great counry or the y million who are relying on Social Security in retirement.

What I will do as President is: x,y,z, ensure service is honored from enlistment to grave...

John, the President of the United States, makes a promise to protect and defend our country and each and every American, who God created as equal - protect and defend them when they come home from fighting for our country, protect and defend them when they hope to go to school, get a job, stay healthy and become prosperous. John, I owe it to my single mother and my veteran grandfather, I owe it to Sasha and Malia my children, to all the people I met in communities in Chicago when I was younger and all the people I've met during this campaign, to listen to their hopes and dreams and to keep on keeping on to protect and defend each and every one of them. That's a sacred duty they passed on to me, that I've commited my life to being worthy of, that I feel in the core of my being. That's what I will do as President of the United States of America.

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#4 - Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:52 AM EDT

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	Where Do You Stand On Cold War Victory Medal?	Jerald Terwilliger	Fri Oct 24	21
	Candidates agree that VA is broken	mcclatchydc.com	Fri Oct 24	0

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Eleven days left where do you stand Senator McCain? Some veterans would like to know!

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