I'm John Kerry's Internet Director (and a Kossack since 2002, btw)
Sometimes the Bush Administration just outdoes itself and gives us another stark reminder of not just what a disaster the Bush Iraq policy has been, but how cavalier they are with our country’s soldiers.
Here’s an email John Kerry wrote this morning:
Want a reminder why we still need more people in Congress who know what war really is, and the obligations we owe those who bore the burden of battle?
Just last week, Vice President Cheney was asked about the burden of the Iraq War on our military. His answer? George Bush bears the greatest burden of the war.
4,000 American troops who gave their lives? The Vice President summed it up: "They volunteered."
When I read the Vice President’s comments, I was reminded by what the former top operating officer at the Pentagon, a Marine Lieutenant General, said about the war in Iraq: "the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions–or bury the results."
This is why our work isn’t done changing the face of Congress. Dick Cheney doesn’t get it, but he’ll be gone in January – the question is, who will be coming here to speak up for the troops?
Once again, this year the GOP is going to try to make patriotism=supporting their policies. But there are some great Democratic veterans proving – once again – that true patriots support our soldiers when they come home and commit them to combat only in the most extreme need.
John Kerry is helping some of those Democrats get elected (or re-elected) to Congress. We need a true working majority in Washington for the next Democratic President to work with. I’ve been a part of this Daily Kos community for a looooong while now (as has John Kerry), and I hope you’ll join us in supporting these great Democrats.
So click here to help Joe Sestak, Eric Massa, Charlie Brown, and Bob Tuke.
Or click here to help Jon Powers, Patrick Murphy, Mike Lumpkin, and Tim Walz.
Joe, Patrick and Tim stood up to the Bush Administration’s fear-mongering on FISA, and their efforts made them big targets for the right. So I’m trying to make sure we have their backs.
And if you ever needed a reminder of the stakes – of how cruel the Republicans have been to our veterans – let me share with you an email John Kerry got today in response to that email he sent:
John,
You have seemed to hit the nail on the head for me this morning.
Please let me explain: My very dear old Dad, a world war II vet who jumped into Southern France with a Mortar attached to himself while using one of those old back breaking parachutes, now spends his days in the VA Nursing home in the Bronx. Yes, he joined up because it was the right thing to do at the time. A war worthy of fighting for and he is proud of every second he was there. All that so you know my Dad, [name], love him and his intense attitude.
It is unfortunate that government cuts have caused the VA Hospitals to cut to a skeleton staff on weekends leaving a 3-4 person staff to tend to an overwhelming number of real war Heroes.
One Saturday not to long ago, someone on the overworked staff left my dads food tray someplace other than where it should have been placed once taken away from him. This mistake led to Dad, falling down and breaking his hip.. It took till that Wednesday for him to be properly diagnosed and then another couple of days before he was operated on.
My Dad is a tough guy. The only time I ever seen him cry was at my Moms Funeral. But he was in so much excruciating pain and there was literally no one there to help because the emergency room doctor did not see the fracture in his hip. He was crying and wincing from unbearable pain. I am crying now just thinking about how all of this came to be but the main issue is CARE for our War Heroes..
How can a government send kids to fight wars and then make them pay for their own help care if they are lucky enough to make it home? I am talking about kids coming home in need of prosthetic limbs and having to fend for themselves.
What happened to planning.. Did GW actually not think about this before he sent our troops out to fight his personal war?
This country has failed its veterans. It’s time we elect some Democrats who know the debt we owe, and realize the ways government can help its citizens.