BY MAURA SATCHELL • November 6, 2008
I am so thankful that Americans joined me in electing Barack Obama president. I am truly thankful that they, like me, appreciate the leadership qualities he has and will bring to bear in addressing the tremendous and weighty problems our country has to face in the coming years: wars; economic, educational, and technical declines; energy independence; the broken health-care system that bilks our seniors and the infirm.
The key trait that drew me to Sen. Barack Obama is one shared by other individuals I interacted with during this campaign, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. We recognize that as president, Sen. Obama will reunite the country and heal the destructive divide that has come up in the past two decades. He'll blur the lines between red states and blue, between liberals and conservatives, between elite intellectuals and Joe six-packs. Instead, he'll lead our country in celebrating our differences because, as the saying goes, "E Pluribus Unum" — out of many, one.
So ends a historic and very long election cycle. Thank you, fellow Tennesseans who supported Obama's candidacy and voted for him! And for those who supported John McCain or another candidate, console yourself in this: You are in for something good. An era of growth, unity (if you will allow it), and a resurgence of the America of days gone by when our country led the world by example, a shining beacon of liberty for all others to follow. It is our turn, once again, to stand tall and proud, as Americans. Standing not as Republicans or Democrats, but as citizens of our United States of America.
It is our choice, however. We have to first put aside the partisan rancor and look at the big picture and ask "what's best for the country?" That will surely move us forward in a way that restores America's edge and position of global leadership. Can we do this? Together? I am confident we can and I urge you to join me. Choose unity. Choose America.
Maura Satchell is a Smyrna resident and a member of the Democratic National Committee's Veteran and Military Family Council.
When my sons served in Iraq, we lost my mother, their grandmother. To find solace in her passing, I told myself the boys had another “guardian angel” watching over them, and I choose to believe she had been able to adopt powers that transcended this earth and her body and could protect them from harm in some way.
I'd like to believe that's the case with Barack's grandmother, Toot, and hope Barack and Michelle and all the family can accept her devastating loss in much the same way, choosing not to view it as the tremendously untimely passing of one who meant so much to someone so special to us all, but to think of it as another guardian angel making ready to protect Barack, to oversee a safe and fair election, and later to be with him, in the stillness, as he ponders the tremendous challenges we face during this time.
Madelyn, you did a great service to America by guiding this young man, and before him your own daughter. We are blessed by your life, the examples you set, and your sacrifice, and we now greatly mourn your loss. But we will look beyond that and celebrate your life and the young man who is about to reunite our country and to lead us forward. Rest easy, Madelyn, and know that the world owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CONTACT: Name: Matt Cary, President
Tel: Tel: (202) 841-1687
E-mail: president@vmfp.org
Veterans and Military Families for Progress endorses Barack Obama for President.
Washington, D.C.:
By vote of the Board of Directors, Veterans and Military Families for Progress (www.vmfp.org) proudly endorses Senator Barack Obama in the upcoming United States presidential election. Founded in 2005, VMFP is dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of veterans, those currently serving (including national guard and reservists), and their families are understood by the American public, endorsed by our elected officials, and protected by legislation, regulation, and public policy initiatives.
As the grandson of a veteran of World War II, his appreciation of veterans’ issues is underscored not by words but by actions. He serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has shown leadership by introducing several non-partisan bills, some of which have been enacted into law, for the benefit of veterans. He shares the values of our military forces, and fights to ensure our forces are well-rested and properly equipped. Of particular interest to VMFP, Senator Obama shows superior support for veterans’ “coming home” issues such as accessible physical and mental health care, expanded educational benefits and job opportunities, and reduction of homelessness and suicide within the ranks of America’s veterans.
From his days as head of Harvard’s Law Review to the moment he entered the Senate, Obama’s leadership and commitment to our country have been recognized. His superior leadership and commitment to the issues that are critical to veterans, those serving, and their families is unsurpassed by other candidates in this election. His public support for full funding of the Veterans Administration and his declared determination to provide for the establishment of a national veterans and military family policy give veterans and their families hope -- hope that at long last a President will support veterans in such a way as to honor the sacred trust of those who have served and sacrificed.
Senator Obama’s decision to support the passage of a 21st century GI bill, and his deep understanding of the need for providing and guaranteeing full healthcare coverage for National Guard and Reserve personnel who have deployed in combat zones, demonstrate he is a candidate who has the character and courage to do what is right for those in service to our country. We feel that veterans, those now serving, military families, and in fact, all people of the United States will be well-served with Barack Obama as their president by ensuring that America’s military remains strong, ready, equipped, and properly managed to protect the country against the threats we face in the 21st Century.
Veterans and Military Families for Progress is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan, not-for-profit veterans organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a 21st Century organization made up of members located throughout the country, and from across the breadth of rank and military services, who served, are serving, or are family members of those who have heeded the call to serve their country in the U.S. armed forces. VMFP’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President is based upon a number of non-partisan criteria assessed for major party candidates for this office, including support of VMFP’s mission, proposed policy agendas -- especially those focused on coming home issues -- grades, rankings and ratings of other veteran-related interest groups, and each candidate’s actions in the Senate.
Thank you Barack and Michelle!
Thank you for lighting the spark of this movement in America right now. This push to change our country, to rewrite the story from this day forward.
We’ll be writing about how we saw a glimmer of hope in a blind vet’s eyes the first time he got to vote in his 60 years of life since a volunteer was out there, ready to register him, deliver him to the polls, and ensure he was afforded the assistance he needed to vote.
We’ll be writing about the little children we met in low-income streets, so excited about their own future they could say your name out loud – and did, into a campaign volunteer’s bullhorn for all their neighbors to hear.
We’ll be writing about the single mother of three, so motivated by your call to heal our country she’d cart her infant and toddler along, and watch from her minivan, tooting her horn, heralding in hope, and monitoring her 11-year-old daughter’s effort to canvass with older volunteers.
We’ll be writing about the unemployed volunteer, so worried about healthcare coverage she made herself sicker, but who believed enough in your leadership to pack it up and head to a battleground state to ensure you won there.
We’ll be writing about the downtrodden red-state county Democratic party that for the first time in years pulsed with vitality, youth, and achievement as they broke new voter registration and voter participation records and planned a unified victory party like never before!
And we’ll be writing about the blue star families, the moms, dads, spouses, sons and daughters who believe your call to service honors their military member’s commitment, who trust you will be good stewards of their loved one’s military service, and who believe you will keep America’s promise to them as they hang up their uniforms and become veterans.
We’ll be writing the story of America from this moment on. Because you took a chance on us. I want to say, Barack and Michelle, we’ve got your back, and will do all in our means to ensure you make it to the White House.
And as I write these words, I call on my fellow Americans. Please join me in voting for Sen. Obama and bringing change, hope, unity, and vision to America. It is the time. It is the place. Yes we can!
Dear Cindy McCain:
I, too, am part of your ranks, part of the sisterhood that makes up the Blue Star Moms. I think I’m a bit senior to you and Sarah, at least in the most recent post-9/11 wars, since my eldest was one of those Marines perched on the berms in the "no-fly zone" waiting to go into Iraq from day one. Like you, I am overwhelmingly proud of my sons and their service to our country.
Because of my seniority, I don’t think you shared the quandary I was in because of Senator McCain’s strong support for the war from the days right after 9/11. You see, because my son was one of the first to go into Iraq. I wanted to truly buy into the belief that it was a just war though inside my head was screaming "what about Afghanistan? I’d rather he went there!" I wanted to believe we HAD to do this – or else.
You missed that early time, when I was glued to CSPAN coverage of the U.N. Security Council meetings when Hans Blix and Mohammed El Baradei reported their work was not completed. Reported they were not finding any significant support for the Bush Administration’s claims about active WMD’s and unmanned aerial vehicles that could drop nerve gas on our allies. My "Mom radar" was on full alert and I absorbed it all. And wondered: If we were so sure Iraq had these WMD’s why didn’t we give Blix and El Baradei pinpoint instructions as to where to find them? Why didn’t your husband insist on that, Maverick that he was, Cindy?
Well, there I was, a Blue Star Mom with a son perched at that berm. I truly wanted this to be a just war, and hoped for some evidence to support our impending attack. At the same time, I was desperate for us to go in, since I knew the longer we waited, the hotter and more unhealthy the conditions for my son and his fellow military forces wearing their protective suits. I mean, they could’ve died from the excessive heat in those things... And you probably weren’t aware the news was reporting they were looking to draft, if necessary, morticians in case the casualties were that tremendous. For us early Blue Star Moms, It was a mindf***, Cindy, of the worse kind.
On the one hand, I DIDN’T WANT my son and our military to attack without provocation. On the other hand, there was this DO IT AND GET IT OVER WITH SOONER RATHER THAN LATER concern that if they waited too long, they’d be sitting ducks.
So they went. And it became all too clear early on that there were not enough troops. Your husband rightly screamed for more forces, but honestly, Cindy, for all his posturing that he’s a maverick, he’s one impotent dude! I mean, he didn’t get them any more forces, and the whole thing turned into this great giant clusterf***! If he was such a strong leader, with so much respect, why didn’t they listen to him? And when it came to Abu Ghraib, sure he spoke, said he was against torture, but he didn’t end the torture, did he? Not much of a consensus builder, I reckon. It was then that this Blue Star Mom decided John McCain was not leadership material.
Back to my Blue Star Mom story... My two sons have survived three deployments (and a pair to another dangerous territory), and believe me, Cindy, I’ve shared that worry with you of a stranger at the front door, a strange car pulling into the driveway, an unfamiliar telephone number on the caller ID, the desire to be fully alert when your son calls you during the night because it is the most precious moment of your life right then. And yes, the sending off of our troops, the trying to be brave in the face of putting our sons into harm’s way. But you haven’t yet shared the joyful returns yet, have you? I don’t think so, and believe me, that’s not to be missed either, Cindy!
Another thing you missed, though, was the anguish felt when John voted against funding our troops because there were timelines included in the funding bill number H.R. 1591. It was an emergency spending bill that would have funded the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and would have added more than $1 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs. President Bush was threatening to veto the bill and "your guy" voted alongside him on that as he’s done like 90% of the time in recent years. So much for his "Maverickness."
Now, as for that vote, you and I both know it was all about the timeline issue, just as you and I both know Barack felt strongly, in his vote, about issuing a blank check without seeing an exit plan or an end in sight to this war. That’s the real difference they have on this issue of Iraq, isn’t it, Cindy? Issue a blank check to our government, our defense contractors, and the Iraqi people, without any accountability, or set limitations to what we’ll expend in money, time, and lifeblood of our forces there in Iraq.
After spending several days recently with my son’s "terp" (Iraqi Interpreter), an absolute gem of a young man from central Iraq who has put his life on the line to help secure his country’s future, I am more convinced than ever it is in the U.S.’s best interest to establish timelines and exit Iraq as Barack Obama, the Bush Administration and even Al Malaki would have us do. The interpreter, a smart young man with a university degree, acknowledged reluctantly that even though he would love nothing more than for the U.S. to remain there indefinitely, when looking at it from the U.S. perspective that is in our best interest. It is a hard choice, but it comes down to our spending billions in Iraq or fixing our own economy. It comes down to our sending our tired and weary forces back or having them enjoy more "dwell time" with their families, to be ready, healthy, and strong for the next threat to our country.
By the way, that bill your husband voted against passed in the Senate and, after being reconciled with the House (where it was approved, too), was voted on again. This time, your husband was AWOL on that vote! AWOL on a vote to provide money to the troops after first voting to oppose it!
And speaking of going AWOL on votes, Cindy, I was shocked and disheartened more recently, first when your husband joined a few others in the Senate to offer a competing 21st Century GI Benefits bill to the wildly popular non-partisan bill offered by Senator Jim Webb, the former Undersecretary of the Navy, who had years of experience in manpower issues in the DOD.
Again going along with Bush, Senator McCain opposed it, first claiming it would mean an exodus of troops from the active duty military to take advantage of it. That was a shortsighted concern since a non-partisan Congressional audit estimated it would end up attracting more and better quality forces to join the military in the long run. Then, John and a few others tried to sell a competing measure as something better since there was a transferability clause, to give these benefits to a spouse or child of the service member. It was a far cheaper bill and clearly was an effort to balance the budget on the backs of our 21st Century veterans. The transferability factor was a weak argument and they obviously took for granted the American public wouldn’t be too up on this, since those in the know realized the head of each branch of the military has the power to authorize that transferability on their own. In the end there was plenty of support – from both sides of the aisle - to pass the Jim Webb version of the bill, the more generous one, and in the end, the transferability clause was added and everyone was happy. But what did your husband do? He went out and attended a campaign fundraiser instead of flying home to vote on the bill. He was AWOL on our sons’ GI Bill educational benefits!
Now, maybe you can afford it with your multiple houses and multiple cars, but I work hard for a living and my sons stepped up to serve in large part for the educational benefits (which had been greatly diminished in recent years since tuition rates skyrocketed), so John’s absence was disrespectful to my sons’ and so many other post 9/11 GIs’ service, do you see? I guess you could say he put his campaign first, instead of country first.
A word of advice, Cindy. Before you go around knocking Senator Obama on his vote again, why don’t you ask your husband to explain to those of us who do not want to cede our national security, our national treasury to Iraq why he voted against funding our troops last year? And why he refuses to support our veterans? You haven’t gotten that far in "Blue Star Momhood" to worry about what happens when they return from war, who will care for your son and our other veterans after the war is over, but I sure do. And frankly, your husband’s record sucks when it comes to vets. I wonder why that is, and why he never once has felt it important to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee in all his years in Congress?
In closing, my fellow Blue Star Mom, "tomato/tomahto," but I’d suggest you not throw any more stones from one of your glass houses. And be ready for that touching welcome home reunion too, Cindy! I pray your son (and Sarah’s) return in one piece, healthy and whole. But listen, once you get past that glory reunion "honeymoon", let’s have another chat, shall we?
Despite the rain, Veterans and Military Families for Obama showed up in a big way in Nashville to make their support for the candidate known Tuesday afternoon before the Second Presidential Debate that night hosted at Nashville’s own Belmont University.
Brandishing a banner, bookended by a pair of American flags, the group led the way in an eyecatching parade through Nashville’s Hillsboro Village to the quad at Belmont with more than 600 other Obama-supporting participants from all walks of life following behind! Horns blared as the group made its way along and the Tennessee, national, and international media took notice:
Tennessee’s veterans and military families, blue star families and those serving, all support Sen. Barack Obama for President! An endorsement crafted by a few of this group sent out the day before to the national media explained how Obama gained their support by being the kind of Senator that does, rather than says, that crafts legislation that gets passed, rather than taking issue but not getting things accomplished.
Tennessee Veterans and Military Families Endorse Sen. Obama
As the nation focuses its attention on the Volunteer State, Tennessee, site of the 2nd presidential debate, there is something we wish to clarify. At the end of the first debate, we Tennessee veterans and military family members listened with surprise as Sen. John McCain described his relationship with this country’s veterans. His words were:
"I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I'll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."
In light of his own military service, as well as his many years as a lawmaker, we might expect that Senator McCain would take care of us. But the facts counter that assumption and there are many thousands of veterans in Tennessee, including those of us who have signed this letter, who find that is not the case. We strongly support Senator Barack Obama, instead.
Whereas Senator Obama has promised to fully fund veterans’ medical care, Senator McCain has repeatedly voted to cut, eliminate or gut veterans’ health care 29 times since 1990, and in what we consider a disaster waiting to happen, wants to privatize some of the veterans’ healthcare services. He also intends to restrict veterans’ healthcare to those with combat injuries only. This would exclude hundreds of thousands of veterans with illnesses or injuries that cannot be tied directly to combat, but that clearly occurred during and because of their service.
Since coming to the Senate, Obama has led a bi-partisan effort to focus the military and veterans health care systems on suicide prevention for veterans, treatment for brain injured veterans, access to mental health treatment, and homelessness among veterans. He also introduced a bill to halt so-called “personality disorder” discharges which erroneously deny veterans benefits to tens of thousands who have served.
On the other hand, Sen. McCain voted against appropriations for mental health, rehabilitation, post traumatic stress disorder, and brain injury services for America’s veterans. And although he should have known better, in 2006, McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve the military health facilities such as Walter Reed. Astoundingly, despite his recent claim that he is committed to the nation’s veterans, in all his 26 years in the Senate, McCain has never served on the Veterans Affairs Committee (which Obama, an incoming freshman Senator, requested assignment to.)
In terms of military readiness, Senator Obama supported millions of dollars for troops’ safety equipment and vehicles and recognizes the imperative of resting the troops, and rebuilding and repairing the military, while Senator McCain opposed additional funding for troop’s safety equipment and vehicles.
And finally, Senator Obama co-sponsored the 21st Century GI Bill, which will enable millions of veterans to further their educations after serving in the military. Senator McCain was AWOL on that particular vote after having introduced a competing version of that bill that would have short-changed most veterans.
So when we heard Sen. McCain’s comment at the end of the debate, we had to assume that it was merely the political pandering that we’ve come to expect from him. But we feel the need to set the record straight as the Senator falsely claims he has the support of this country’s veterans. The fact is, those veterans organizations that most closely track legislation that impacts veterans, such as Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America overwhelmingly rate Sen. Obama more favorably than they do Sen. McCain.
In closing, we ask our fellow Tennesseans, our fellow Americans, to look at the two Senators’ records on veterans issues. If they find, as we have, that Senator McCain has been less than forthcoming about this subject, it may give them pause with respect to other claims the Senator has made during this campaign season, too.
For us, there is no better leader to guide us through the difficult times ahead than Senator Barack Obama. We appreciate his integrity, and his commitment to veterans and to our country.
Signed,
Tennessee Veterans and Blue Star Families for Obama, including:
Robert Tuke, former Capt., US Marine Corps
Robert Washko, LTC Army (Retired)
Jim Jones, former Petty Officer, Second-Class, US Navy
Joe E. Collier, LTC US Army (Retired)
Jill Collier Woodworth, Military Spouse
Maura Satchell, Blue Star Mother
Richard Conover, CDR, SC, US Navy (Retired)
Wes Reed, LTC US Marine Corps Reserves
Martha Boyd, former Major, US Army Reserves
William McNeal, SGM US Army (Retired)
David Stricklin, former LCpl, US Marine Corps
Chris Christi, former Capt., US Army
Cross-posted at Daily Kos:
Conventional wisdom holds that Tennessee is going to stay red and vote in the McCain/Palin ticket, and handily re-elect Lamar Alexander to the U.S. Senate.
I beg to differ.
First off, those in the know recognize how poor McCain and Alexander are in terms of their Senate votes on the issues that are most important to everyday Americans. They’re opposed to breaking free from the Petro-energy conglomerates, big contributors to the Republican party and their own campaign war chests for years. The oil gluttonous corporations keep getting corporate welfare and tax cuts while Americans lose jobs and are forced to take on second jobs to earn gas money to get to their primary jobs. Obama/Biden and Bob Tuke plan to move America ahead by heralding in a Green Economy and taking the lead to herald in a new Technology revolution akin to the PC tech boom that restored the middle class in the 1990’s under Bill Clinton.
Healthcare? Forget it! McCain and Lamar Alexander are backed by big pharma and insurance companies, and want to make sure Americans remain at the mercy of their insurance companies when it comes to their healthcare needs. Obama and Bob Tuke know we need to set a new course in America, which is at the lowest rung of the developed nations in providing healthcare for its citizens.
Tennesseans are not stupid and we in Rutherford County are tapping into this “awakening” and registering voters by the droves.
We’ve been going door-to-door in the fastest growing neighborhoods and communities around (and Rutherford County leads the state in terms of rapid growth), signing up new residents, those who haven’t voted in years, and those who, like the gentleman I signed up a week ago, were born in 1944, and never, ever voted in their lives!
We’ve formed teams to cover the county. Lee, a retired schoolteacher who worries over former students who are more and more serving in the military, returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan maimed or in flag-draped coffins. Cecilia, a brilliant woman with a criminology degree who’s been beaten down by health problems and the rising cost of medications, battles her own aches and pains to trudge alongside Lee in North Rutherford County. Together, the two of them are supplemented by a group of volunteers who vary from the disaffected lifelong Republican woman CPA to the state employee and her two teenage sons, too young to vote this cycle, but preparing already to vote in the Obama/Biden and Bob Tuke re-elections in a few years time.
The South County team is headed by a band of energized individuals, including Dana, who hails from California originally and worries our earth may not be around long enough for her (future) grandchildren to enjoy, and Hans, a thirty-something gentleman married to a professor at the local university who accepted the time-consuming task of identifying all of the apartment complexes in a designated region and mapped out the county so we could visualize our nightly routes. Then there is Jill. Like Sarah Palin, she’s a mother of five, but her marriage to a career soldier who earned a purple heart (among other medals), she traveled around the world and lived on military bases all over the place and could blow the Pit-bull with lipstick out of the water in terms of foreign policy understanding and experience. And there's Richard, an injured veteran who served in Vietnam. Richard's no fool and recognizes how poor McCain would be as commander in chief (not to mention the erstwhile hockey mom should something happen to McCain). Wearing back support, Richard hobbles along with the rest of the group, knocking on doors when he is up to it, and remaining behind to head up the command center when he needs a break.
Yes we can is the motto of the Obama campaign, and in Rutherford County, we absolutely embrace that motto. We all dig deep and volunteer whatever time, resources, and capabilities we can to ensure that Barack Obama is elected President, that we can call Joe Biden our Vice President, and that we can happily celebrate the election of Bob Tuke to the U.S. Senate.
Yes we can, Rutherford County! Yes we can, Tennessee! Ye we can United States of America! YES.WE.CAN!
Despite all my efforts, I didn't make it to Invesco Field for the truly historic event Thursday night. I'd been in Denver all week, not as a delegate but as member of the DNC's Veterans and Military Families Council which I addressed briefly Tuesday afternoon, telling of my son's "homecoming" from war, shortchanged by a military budget cut that left room for no-bid contract payouts, but not for welcome home receptions for our troops.
I hung out with veterans all week at Coors Stadium, thanks to sponsorship by ALPA (Airline Pilots Association), VETPAC, and other organizations that played host to the constituents that ensure free speech, security for our nation, and ultimately, support of the tenets of our Constitution. On Thursday afternoon, I was about to take possession of tickets for myself and a fellow military mom to be at Invesco Field when a military spouse whose husband is deployed to Iraq as a Helicopter Pilot inserted herself into the negotiation. I couldn’t refuse her plea and we hung out at Coors Field, watching the speech on the Jumbotron, kicking ourselves for missing it.
The overarching theme of the week's events within our venue was "Team Obama/Biden" are a slam dunk in terms of National Security, Foreign Policy, Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs.
I heard tell that in his four years in the Senate, Barack Obama, who serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee, as well as the Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced or co-sponsored more legislation in support of veterans than Sen. McCain has in his entire career in the Senate. Inexplicable, when you consider McCain is a vet. When I get my act in better gear, I'll post links to the legislation.
See more about some of the high-name folks that support Obama/Biden below.
“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education.” - Thomas Jefferson.
When groups or individuals try to undermine or mislead the American electorate for their own personal gain, it really bothers me.
Two recent incidents have occurred that demand our attention:
First, I was stunned the other day by the swift and <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/obama-scrubs-vi.html"><b>strong attack by Sen. McCain</b></a> who charged that Barack Obama never took the time to visit any military hospitals while on his overseas trip. Apparently that was a falsehood since Barack was joined by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) on a visit to the troops receiving care in an emergency medical surgical unit within the Green Zone in Iraq. Because they expelled the press from this visit,it flew under the radar. Obama's tour to Germany was to include a visit to Landstuhl, the storied Military Hospital so many Iraq and Afghanistan casualties are medevaced to. It was all set when the Pentagon rejected Barack's visit claiming it was a "campaign" visit. Read about all the back and forth <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/25/8227/32024/605/556729"><b>here.</b></a>
Here's a link to coverage about this very troubling and clearly democracy-derailing effort by some scurrilous folks.
The next effort to undermine our democracy and dumb down our citizens is an e-mail smear that was fomented by some disgruntled military officer who claimed Barack avoided spending time with troops in Afghanistan to play basketball for a glorified photo op. Totally untrue <a href="
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/24/2008-07-24_army_officials_refute_claim_of_barack_ob.html
"><b>as this Daily News article quoting top brass </b></a> shows.
Ghandi said "First they Ignore..." well, clearly, since so much firepower is going into these coordinated smear efforts, Barack Obama's candidacy is seen as a threat to those who want status quo for America at the expense of our democracy; Those who would keep our citizens down, by misleading and passing along false information to insure the strongest America possible.
We all know Barack is committed to transparency and an open government, traits important for a strong, vital democracy. Join me in countering the scurrilous spin by passing along this information whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Maura Satchell - Smyrna, Tenn.
As owner of a small international consulting business, I appreciated USA TODAY's article on Barack Obama's tour abroad. For the past seven years, working in international trade has been difficult for this American, at least, and I suspect for many others as well ("Obama prepares tour of Middle East, Europe," News, Thursday).
People in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America look forward to a return of sane and substantive foreign policy over that of the Bush administration, which many perceive as ideologically driven and abusive.
I already hear it from colleagues and friends across the world. There is a promise of hope, and a President Obama would deliver on that promise.
Those who serve in the military are prevented by the Hatch Act, I think it is, from endorsing or publicly sponsoring candidates for political office. We now it happens all the time, subtly, and sometimes not so subtly as the time, in 2004, I drove onto a military base brandishing my Kerry / Edwards bumper sticker and waved through by security only to be chastised by someone inside the base for the polical sentiment I was expressing. Had it been a Bush/Cheney sticker, he would never have spoken up.
Because of his training, and perhaps with some degree of disillusionment at his perception of politics in general,, my son, who served in Iraq and in other foreign posts, has done his best to remain apolitical and disengaged.
We happened to gently ease into a discussion of politicals with his girlfriend on day trip to a gorgeous state park for some swimming and frolicking, when I reminded them it WAS important to their lives, their futures. They listened, and I took the opportunity to read him the first few lines of an article in The USA Today:
"Republican John McCain's campaign jousted Sunday with two prominent politicians over when and how to pull troops out of Iraq: Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Read why here:
Though I've been involved in the past two presidential campaigns, I've never participated in voter registration events before. I was a bit down this holiday with both of my sons away. One is going back to Iraq in the near future under Stop Loss orders. This will be his third tour and as a Marine Infantryman, he ain’t no POG (though we need them too!) My younger son is transitioning out of the active duty military after an extended tour in Iraq that left him shaken to the core, and more than a little jostled around.
Since he is a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Barack understands what they are going through and is sponsor or co-sponsor of a number of pieces of good legislation that supports them. He is a strong advocate for veterans and as a member of a national veterans and military families advocacy organization, (DISCLAIMER: I do not speak for the organization, here, but only for myself) I recognize and appreciate his efforts.
I am so glad I got the opportunity, first on the Fourth, at Middle State University's annual "Celebration Under the Stars" and on the Fifth at the Smyrna Town-sponsored fireworks event to advocate for Barack. He will make a fine president, and I know America’s military forces will be well served with him as our commander-in-chief. What’s more, the country can return to its former glory. The leader of the free world should be an individual of extraordinarily intelligence and superior communications capabilities: We want someone in the White House we can be proud of, and who reflects the best that America can be. Barack Obama fits that bill.
At the MTSU event, I milled through the group with my newfound friend "Mary" handing out Obama stickers, registering voters and the like. We were shy at first, not exactly sure what to do to engage folks, but I learned that holding out the Obama stickers was enough: if the person who spied them offered some form of interest and recognition, I'd go right in with the offer: "Would you like an Obama Sticker?"
Since this is Tennessee, solidly red since even native son Al Gore ran for president in 2000, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of enthusiastic "yes" responses we got. More surprising was the fact that we did not see any representation for the opposition at all. At all! We got to talking with one couple over by the children's activities area and the woman said "I don't know who I'm voting for, but I'm a Republican, anyway..." at that, "Mary" jumped in, totally without guile: "I"m a Republican too, but I'm definitely supporting Barack Obama in this election."
I wanted to suggest to this other woman, this undecided voter that she might consider her children's futures and put them before party politics. She might ask herself, what would it mean for them on issues like the health of our planet, if we just vote along party lines. And what might it mean to her elementary-school-age sons if we enter a war with Iran and have a president comfortable with occupying Iraq for "a hundred years. I heard a military affairs reporter on a radio program the next afternoon speculating if we went into Iran, it would mean our children's children might still be fighting on the Battlefields in the Middle East twenty, thirty years from now. Can we afford that? I didn't ask that woman but wish I had.
The next night, we registered voters at the Smyrna Parks celebration where I brought my dalmatian and we met some firefighters. You'll have to click to
Though I was involved pretty heavily in the Kerry Campaign, I was unable to get too involved in the local effort. Man was that a mistake, as I've learned recently.
I am so impressed by my fellow Tennesseans and their commitment and passion! I mean, we've got retired folks kicking in seed money to buy Barack yard signs, bumper stickers, and pins to sell and raise money for expanded inventory next go round, and we've got young professional couples who are willing to sacrifice time to do what's needed for the voter registration effort. Me, I'm gonna concoct a dog "banner" for my attention-getting Dalmatian to wear whenever we find ourselves in a crowd that needs to know Smokey endorses the good Senator from Illinois (and give me the opportunity to give out lapel tags, gather names of supporters and such).
When I get it done, I'll post a photo of her and it. Wish us luck!
But back to minding the office. I brought in my laptop and was able to do plenty of work while there as it was pretty quiet and had a nice desk on which I was able to spread out my papers. I'm looking forward to volunteering there again soon but somehow, I don't think it will remain quiet enough for me to my business work done too often. I did get a few visitors, including one lovely retired teacher who is now a certified clown and plays the keyboards. She's looking forward to working for the campaign here in Middle Tennessee and has been a supporter of Barack since the get go!
To my amazement there were more than 35 individuals that showed up at the Rutherford County Democratic Party Headquarters building on this warm and hazy Saturday afteroon to show their support for Barack Obama, and embrace the unity that has come since Hilary Clinton's storied run came to an end.
I was impressed by the diversity of the group which included an aging Korean War Veteran who was award the Purple Heart for his efforts, to the tow-headed toddler perched on the hip of a new dad. There were grade-schoolers and grannies, asians, latinos, blacks, and whites. There were out-of-work educators and homemakers, computer techhies and musicians. And there was one shy Republican.
"Mary" confessed she was very nervous before she came, fearful we might castigate her for her Red Roots, but she admitted she was afraid our country was venturing so far down a wrong path it might never get on solid footing again. An accountant by profession, Mary explained her own father was a dyed in the wool Republican who she was very close to and who boasted to any that would listen that he never once voted for F.D.R. Her concern was not just for America's role in the war in Iraq but also the lack of fiscal discipline and common sense illustrated by the administration and her former party these days. "Everything is much too devisive these days," she explained. "And America needs to change."
"I think Barack will bring much-needed change and we really need that."
Enough about Mary. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I explained when we went around the room that I had two military sons and then launched into a tirade: "Don't buy into the nonsense that John McCain is good for veterans." I went into this passionate rant about the fallacy of that argument. Later, after watching a video, Giselle, who ran the meeting, explained that Barack wants to run a positive campaign and we should try to frame our messages in a way that enforces that. Later, I raised my hand and apologized for my earlier rant and the negative message, and drew smiles when I asked if I could rephrase what I'd said.
"Look, Barack Obama is on the Veterans Affairs Committee and I belong to a national veterans advocacy organization that works to pass legislation on behalf of veterans. Barack is very good for Veterans, and in fact has sponsored and co-sponsored a number of the bills we find critical for veterans now. Senator Barack Obama is very good on veterans issues. Period."
I drew some smiles and applause and knew I was in a good place.
One takeaway message from the video was from Barack himself. It is that no matter the outcome of this fall's election, we are creating an infrastructure that will encourage change. I saw that start after the 2004 election when I became involved in that veterans advocacy group I spoke of and I trust that what we are building will absolutely ensure "a change is gonna come."
