My letter to the editor of the Post/RMC
| By Kevlar Liberal - Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:35 am EDT |
| Also listed in: Veterans for Progress |
It might not get published, so I wanted to share it here.....
In response to Senator McCain's latest round of inscrutable advertising, I've decided that I would like to do an ad in the same vein as "Joe the Plumber." I'd call it "Dan the Iraq Vet."
I met Dan the Iraq Vet at the Stand Down for Homeless Vets in Colorado Springs last week. Dan was an Army Infantryman from Fort Carson, and had 7 years of service, which included deployments to Iraq and other countries in the Middle and Far East. He also had some time at West Point, carefully herding clueless Army Cadets thru weapons instruction.
Dan the Vet wanted an Army Career, but he was wounded in Iraq, and suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his head and neck. The Army patched him up, but wasted no time hustling him out with crappy transition classes, no Purple Heart and no mentorship to transition him to civilian life. That was 2005 or 2006...Dan has trouble remembering.
Dan the Iraq Vet lives in a tiny apartment now in Colorado Springs, but he only recently managed to land a minimum wage job that could help pay for that. Before that, he was either living on his buddies' couch, or out of his car. Dan the Iraq Vet drinks a lot - before he goes to work, when he tries to sleep, and when he's with his friends. It's the only way he can keep going day-to-day without being angry or depressed.
He finally has a disability rating from the VA, but he still hasn't managed to get an ID card for treatment, or attend any therapy sessions....they're during the day, which would force him to choose between attending his session and getting fired, or missing his session and keeping his job.
In short, Dan the Iraq Vet got screwed over by his country. When he answered the call to defend our nation, our Constitution and our way of life, he did not hesitate. He took the toughest and most dangerous job the Army had for him, and he very nearly paid the ultimate price for his patriotism.
In my ad, I would tell Dan the Iraq Vet's story, and I would say what Senator Obama would do for him. Senator Obama will make sure the VA takes care of Dan the Vet, including PTSD therapy and proper medical attention for his wounds.
That's because Sen. Obama took his job on the Senate Veteran Affairs committee seriously, and he's consistently voted for funding for the VA, especially mental health counseling. Because of this, he has an 80% rating from Disabled American Veterans.
Senator McCain would tell him to go see a private doctor who might figure out what's wrong, and he'd use a "plastic card" to pay for it - IF the doctor takes the card.
And if the doctor doesn't want to take the "Plastic Card", then he can wait in line for the limited service the VA would have under McCain's idea of a budget. See, Senator McCain always votes for the least amount of money for the VA, like he has every year since 2004. Dan the Iraq Vet wouldn't get extra counseling for his mental illnesses, because Senator McCain fought against funding that program.
Senator McCain, the 100% disabled vet from his Vietnam service and his torture as a POW, will not help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan. Because he wouldn't help vets from ANY conflict his entire term in Congress. That is why he has a 20% rating from Disabled American Veterans. It is his record, and it is shameful.
And that's why he does not deserve to be the President of the United States. And if people would see an ad about Dan the Iraq Vet, and if America would talk about him, and remember his sacrifices and troubles, they will not vote for Senator McCain.
In response to Senator McCain's latest round of inscrutable advertising, I've decided that I would like to do an ad in the same vein as "Joe the Plumber." I'd call it "Dan the Iraq Vet."
I met Dan the Iraq Vet at the Stand Down for Homeless Vets in Colorado Springs last week. Dan was an Army Infantryman from Fort Carson, and had 7 years of service, which included deployments to Iraq and other countries in the Middle and Far East. He also had some time at West Point, carefully herding clueless Army Cadets thru weapons instruction.
Dan the Vet wanted an Army Career, but he was wounded in Iraq, and suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his head and neck. The Army patched him up, but wasted no time hustling him out with crappy transition classes, no Purple Heart and no mentorship to transition him to civilian life. That was 2005 or 2006...Dan has trouble remembering.
Dan the Iraq Vet lives in a tiny apartment now in Colorado Springs, but he only recently managed to land a minimum wage job that could help pay for that. Before that, he was either living on his buddies' couch, or out of his car. Dan the Iraq Vet drinks a lot - before he goes to work, when he tries to sleep, and when he's with his friends. It's the only way he can keep going day-to-day without being angry or depressed.
He finally has a disability rating from the VA, but he still hasn't managed to get an ID card for treatment, or attend any therapy sessions....they're during the day, which would force him to choose between attending his session and getting fired, or missing his session and keeping his job.
In short, Dan the Iraq Vet got screwed over by his country. When he answered the call to defend our nation, our Constitution and our way of life, he did not hesitate. He took the toughest and most dangerous job the Army had for him, and he very nearly paid the ultimate price for his patriotism.
In my ad, I would tell Dan the Iraq Vet's story, and I would say what Senator Obama would do for him. Senator Obama will make sure the VA takes care of Dan the Vet, including PTSD therapy and proper medical attention for his wounds.
That's because Sen. Obama took his job on the Senate Veteran Affairs committee seriously, and he's consistently voted for funding for the VA, especially mental health counseling. Because of this, he has an 80% rating from Disabled American Veterans.
Senator McCain would tell him to go see a private doctor who might figure out what's wrong, and he'd use a "plastic card" to pay for it - IF the doctor takes the card.
And if the doctor doesn't want to take the "Plastic Card", then he can wait in line for the limited service the VA would have under McCain's idea of a budget. See, Senator McCain always votes for the least amount of money for the VA, like he has every year since 2004. Dan the Iraq Vet wouldn't get extra counseling for his mental illnesses, because Senator McCain fought against funding that program.
Senator McCain, the 100% disabled vet from his Vietnam service and his torture as a POW, will not help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan. Because he wouldn't help vets from ANY conflict his entire term in Congress. That is why he has a 20% rating from Disabled American Veterans. It is his record, and it is shameful.
And that's why he does not deserve to be the President of the United States. And if people would see an ad about Dan the Iraq Vet, and if America would talk about him, and remember his sacrifices and troubles, they will not vote for Senator McCain.
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