Blue Star Families, Blue Star Families www.bsf4o.com

Death never 'in vain' by Kathy Roth-Douquet

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:11:44 EDT

Death never 'in vain'

Policy decisions can't tarnish a soldier's ultimate sacrifice. This act of faith for American ideals is what matters and should be revered, whatever the war and no matter the outcome.

By Kathy Roth-Douquet

Originally published in USA Today http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2006/10/death_never_in_.html

Died in vain?

President Bush wants to stay the course in Iraq so that those who have died there will not have died "in vain." Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan urges us to pull out immediately to prevent more Americans from dying in vain.

Bush and Sheehan have both got it wrong.

Too many partisans in the battle for Iraq policy have used soldiers' deaths as a football in a bid to score points. It's cruel (imagine being a family member and being told the death of your loved one was in vain), but even more, it's just wrong. Those who argue that a soldier's death has meaning only if the politics are "right" misunderstand military service in America.

"We think of Kristian (Menchaca) as a hero," says Sylvia Grice of her cousin, 23, one of the soldiers kidnapped, tortured and killed by insurgents last June in Iraq. "He didn't have to do this. He believed in what he was doing." The terrible death's meaning, in other words, came from the soldier's commitment. It is his commitment that gives his life meaning, and even his country's possible errors staying in too long, leaving too early can't take that meaning from him.

The phrase "died in vain" comes to us from our great moralist president, Abraham Lincoln. In Gettysburg's graveyard, Lincoln urged the gathered to fight on for the survival of the United States so that those interred in that ground would not have died in vain. He did not argue that a soldier who loses his battle or his war has died in vain. Instead, he noted that America itself its ideas and ideals is what gives the soldier's life meaning.

Behind the sacrifices

So where does the meaning of military sacrifice come from?

Military service in America flows from our Constitution as a covenant among free people. The parties to this sacred contract are, on one hand, a group of citizens who assent to bear arms for their country for a time, and on the other, the rest of us, the civilians whose task it is to decide whether to send our compatriots into peril. Those bearing arms promise to bring their loyalty, skill and honor to the task; the civilians, for their part, promise to weigh the fate of those soldiers with seriousness and care, and provide the support necessary to those who go.

The meaning in the lives of those who bear arms resides in their loyalty to the democracy that sends them, and the skill and honor they bring to their task. If the civilians who send them falter in their decision-making, it dishonors those who steer and not those who serve.

So let's apply this to the war in Iraq. What if the war is a mistake, or we pull out too early? Are the deaths then for naught?

From the standpoint of a soldier or Marine, or in my case, a Marine's wife, the answer to these questions must be no. Why? Because despite any partisan's passion for the rightness of a position, none of us will know how right or wrong we really are until long after the last shot is fired. So we make decisions the way one does in a self-governing society of 300 million cantankerous souls: imperfectly, inelegantly, with unnecessary suffering.

Whether we are led by Democratic presidents or Republican ones great men such as Franklin D. Roosevelt or middling men such as Warren G. Harding there will be mistakes, judged differently at different times in history and perhaps never resolved utterly in consensus. Even in the "good war," there were bad engagements, bad decisions, unnecessary, sad, tragic deaths.

Service, then, is even more ennobling because it represents an act of faith in an unwieldy system a representative democracy of human beings. The weakness of our system lends poignancy to the decision to serve: Those who go into harm's way recognize that our society is in many ways deeply flawed, but to paraphrase Winston Churchill, it's the best one available yet.

Bad policy can't tar a soldier

Philosopher Nancy Sherman says the military resolves this tension by adopting a version of the ancient Stoic philosophy, which holds that one may be judged only by the rightness or wrongness of one's own acts, not by the acts of others. A soldier who does his portion morally and well cannot be tarred by the brush of a leader's bad policy. This does not mean that some individuals' willingness to serve translates into a blank check for irresponsible policy if anything it requires us to constantly scrutinize our policy and commit to do better.

In complicated times like these, it's important to remember that self-government is perishable it can be killed not only by enemies outside the gate, but also by indifference and alienation within. The decision to serve is a decision to be part of our country and, ideally, to make the part one touches the best possible. This is what has value, so that even in the tragic cases of friendly fire, or accidental deaths or deaths in battles later lost, those who die did not die in vain. They died in service to an ideal Lincoln's ideal that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the face of this earth.

There is nothing vain about that.

Kathy Roth-Douquet is the co-author, with Frank Schaeffer, of AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service and How It Hurts Our Country. She lives on a military base in South Carolina.

Dear Senator McCain by Ann-Marie McWilliams

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:04:24 EDT

Dear Senator McCain by Ann-Marie McWilliams

When my son swore his oath to the U.S. Military, he joined something larger, nobler than himself. Whether I wanted to or not, I became part of something larger too, the military "family". To cope with my son's deployment to Iraq, I began volunteering with two organizations dedicated to supporting our troops.

I am troubled by an unspoken rule within one of these organizations, that absent an unequivocal 100% blind faith buy-in to the actions in Iraq, I am not a Patriot, I am an "enemy". How absurd is this, while my son serves alongside yours, and I am here working shoulder to shoulder with you?

Through my volunteer work, I have the opportunity to speak to men and women from all branches of the service. Resoundingly they speak of the seriousness under which they took their oath, completing their orders to the best of their ability, and their passion to fight, work, and protect their comrades. Compelling them is the fundamental basis of brotherhood, leaving all politics aside.

My support of our troops follows that of a more basic nature as well; Motherhood. Your son/daughter is now mine. Every action I take is to see that our children are provided for, protected, and receive the veterans benefits they deserve. The polarization I find within the "family" runs anathema to what our children exemplify every day: unity. This skewed view of patriotism that I encounter rends the fabric of our family. Screaming "Victory at all costs" while waving a flag shows a lack of understanding of what our children, our military's objective is. We "won" the war in Iraq:
Saddam's Republican Guard ran for the hills, and we marched in without opposition. This was a resounding success, and in no way then or now could our military be deemed as failing in its mission.

I wish never for my son to return to Iraq. As a parent, I wish that no other mom will bear the excruciating pain of a child deployed there. Being realistic, I know these wishes are not to be granted anytime soon. Yet, if my son should be called to make the ultimate sacrifice, is it really
patriotism that would ask other parents to continue to suffer the same fate, the loss of their beloved child? Or does it mean that I have failed to grasp the inherent nobility of my son's service to our country? No validation is required: my son is, and always will be, a hero. His character and
integrity, as well as that of all who serve today, speaks most eloquently to that.

Where is our sense of brotherhood? The attitude of, "if you do not share my views, you are a pariah" is deplorable. We have no intercourse. When I attempt to frame my views through quotes from a renowned military commander, I am met with vehement spews of "Liberal!" hurled at me as an epithet:

"When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. After my experience, I have come to hate war."

"Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose"

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom."

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without."

These words were spoken by President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. If Ike now sounds "liberal" is it any wonder we find ourselves, our country, and our "family" so far adrift?

We are all in this together, paying with our blood. To impugne my Patriotism, or the service of my son fighting alongside yours, because of political differences does more harm to the fabric of this country than any terrorist could; destroying ourselves from within though jingoism. My kind
of Patriotism, predicated upon the example of those who serve, has no place for that.

Also posted at <a href="http://bsf4o.com/forums/index.php">Blue Star Families for Obama Blog</a>

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:27:59 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Friday night, John McCain said “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.”

However, McCain’s record in the Senate contradicts this statement. And America’s veterans know this – which is why groups like the Disabled American Veterans and Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America have given McCain failing grades for his voting record on issues facing veterans and military families.

· McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08)

· McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)

· Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)

· McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)

· Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)

· McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)

· McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)

· McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03)

· McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)

· McCain Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)

· McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)

· McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)

· McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)

· McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)

· McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)

· McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:27:21 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:26:28 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:25:31 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:23:42 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:22:29 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:21:38 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:20:37 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:19:49 EDT

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues Friday night, John McCain said “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.” However, McCain’s record in the Senate contradicts this statement. And America’s veterans know this – which is why groups like the Disabled American Veterans and Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America have given McCain failing grades for his voting record on issues facing veterans and military families. · McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08) · McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07) · Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06) · McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06) · Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06) · McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05) · McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91) · McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03) · McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07) · McCain Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08) · McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03) · McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01) · McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00) · McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99) · McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96) · McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:33:04 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:31:49 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:30:37 EDT

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McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues

www.BSF4O.com gets 3000 hits first afternoon

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:18:55 EDT

Our new website, www.bfs4o.com got more than 3,000 hits the first afternoon. Check out our latest on huffpost. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dempsey-and-kathy-rothdouquet/some-military-families-fl_b_127086.html

Two "Pro Military Pro Obama" articles to check out

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:11:33 EDT

Check out our latest on huffpost authored by Blue Star Families for Obama co-founders Kathy Roth Douquet and Laura Dempsey.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dempsey-and-kathy-rothdouquet/service-matters-but-its-n_b_125721.html

Plus take a look at the article titled, “Military Families Support Obama” in the Seattle Post Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/378794_bluestar12.html

While you’re there, take a moment and write a comment about the fact that military familes ARE supporting Obama. It would be impactful to see it directly from military family members themselves.

Then, consider writing a similar letter to your local paper. It’s a terrific way to get the dialogue opened up and bring attention to the military family support of Barack Obama.

Powerful Ad FIGHTING BACK at McCain

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:00:51 EDT

Please take a minute and check out this terrific ad that FIGHTS BACK at McCain’s distortions of Obama and includes McCain’s lack of support for our Military Families and Veterans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

Pass it around, especially to at least one undecided voter you know. Make it viral!

Obama VS McCain when it comes to Military Families & Vets

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:53:26 EDT

BARACK OBAMA ON MILITARY FAMILIES & VETERANS

BARACK OBAMA WILL LISTEN TO MILITARY FAMILIES

Restoring educational opportunities for veterans and military families

Barack Obama co-sponsored the GI Bill for the 21st Century, re-establishing America's sacred trust to never forget the service and sacrifice of our military. The bill includes a transferability feature for spouse or child education, allowing members to use the benefit while continuing to serve and alleviating a significant burden for military families who want to get ahead.

Easing the burden of multiple deployments

Obama will establish regularity in deployments so families will know what to expect. He will increase dwell time between deployments to allow military families to spend more time together. Finally, he will fight for additional support for military families who are struggling to cope with long separations by increasing mental health services for military families.

Modernizing our military health care system

Obama sponsored and pushed through legislation supporting screenings for Traumatic Brain Injuries for all military personnel returning from OIF and OEF. He voted in favor of extending Tricare benefits and reimbursements, saving them from scheduled cuts that were tied to Medicare decreases.

Protecting military families from predatory lending

Obama voted in favor of an amendment to the bankruptcy bill that would help protect active duty, veterans, and National Guard members and their families from financial scams and predatory lending.

Lighten the Burdens on Our Brave Troops and Their Families

An Obama administration will create a Military Families Advisory Board to provide a conduit for military families' concerns to be brought to the attention of senior policymakers and the public. Obama will end the Bush administration's stop-loss policy and establish predictability in deployments so that active duty and reserves know what they can and must expect.

Improve Mental Health Treatment:

Obama will improve mental health care at every stage of military service. He will recruit more health professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer.

Expand Vet Centers:

Obama will expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.

Compare this to John McCain's Record on Veterans and Military Families

· Voted against Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.

· Opposed the new GI Bill and failed to show up for the vote on the proposal

· Voted against an amendment providing an additional $20 billion to VA medical facilities.

· He was one of only 13 Senators voting against a VA bill for $430 million outpatient care and treatment funding for veterans

· Voted against closing corporate loopholes to increase VA funding by $1.5 billion

· Voted against closing "abusive tax loopholes" to increase VA funding by $1.8 billion

· McCain has only a 20% rating from Disabled Veterans of America and received a D from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:09:23 EDT

"Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century". John McCain, Republican Nomination Speech, September 4th, 2008.

If so, why did John McCain oppose the new GI Bill? This legislation provides access to higher education for our veterans and their families. Barack Obama understands this and supported this landmark legislation and is dedicated to ensuring its full implementation. Unfortunately even now the Bush-McCain team is working to undermine this law by poor management and leaving it to contractors instead of VA education specialists to administer

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:08:37 EDT

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:07:41 EDT

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:06:34 EDT

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:05:21 EDT

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:04:20 EDT

"Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century". John McCain, Republican Nomination Speech, September 4th, 2008. If so, why did John McCain oppose the new GI Bill? This legislation provides access to higher education for our veterans and their families. Barack Obama understands this and supported this landmark legislation and is dedicated to ensuring its full implementation. Unfortunately even now the Bush-McCain team is working to undermine this law by poor management and leaving it to contractors instead of VA education specialists to administer

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:02:44 EDT

If "Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century" then why didn't McCain vote to pass the Webb GI Bill?

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:58:57 EDT

"Juneau For President" is Funny. But... by Colonel Jay Parker, USA (ret)

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:59:10 EDT

The "Juneau For President" cartoon is Funny. But...

Folks, like it or not, like her or not, she hit on all cylinders in her convention speech and focused brilliantly on the target audience she was hired to bring home to McCain. She also motivated those on the right who were discouraged by Obama's strengths. I am also willing to bet she has McCain pumped up to give the kind of acceptance speech which--though rare--he is capable of. Rest assured we will hear her speech again and again between now and November. This is a serious threat and we must treat it as such. We can respond effectively, but we must be absolutely clear on what we are dealing with here.

The media line this morning is she far exceed the bar set for her and in 24-hours she's gone from a punch line to someone they are taking seriously. "Mainstream Media" folks are already backing off on their critiques and, in fact, they love the fact that she has given them a real fight to cover. Her soundbites are being run over and over and over. Meanwhile, the right wing media is fired up. Furthermore (again, like itor not, factual or not) she effectively demonstrated how she will be used to lock Obama and Biden into the definition McCain and the GOP have already set for them while changing the agenda to one McCain can use to his advantage.

We can exchange emails allday about her many errors of fact and inference. We can make jokes and snarky attacks and be self righteous. All we're doing in the process is further frustrating ourselves and motivating the GOP base while not communicating with those we have to reach, convince, mobilize, and turnout in a little more than 60 days. Palin will be very effective in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in the Rocky Mountain Western states that are in play. She can also make a real difference in Virginia and the Carolinas. And, by the way, rest assured that if Obama-Biden do win in November, Palin will still come out as a GOP hero. She will be their biggest fundraiser and speaker. She will lead the charge to bring more GOP into the House and Senate in 2010 and to win back the White House in 2012.

She can be countered and defeated, but do not make the mistake of thinking we can ridiculeSarah Palin and dismiss her as a pushover. She may stumble and fall, but take nothing for granted. Counter, not counterattack. Respond not with personal attacks and dismissive insults but with hard facts--facts about Obama's actual record and actual proposals and facts about the state of the nation and the world--that matter not just to you but to the working families and the middle class suffering in this economy. When the GOP and the hard right lie and distort, shoot back immediately with straightforward, verifiable data.

Meanwhile, raise money and keep all eyes on election day. Stop reinforcing your anger and angst by stewing with those who already agree with you. Stop directing your energy and anger at those who are already hardwired to vote McCain-Palin. Get off the email loops and into the local Obama-Biden/Democratic Hq. Reach out to undecideds and independents. Work on those who are soft supporters of McCain and reinforce those who are soft for Obama. Remember that an Obama Presidency cannot do the job without Democrats in the House and Senate. Remember that the Democrats elected to legislatures and Governor's mansions this year will be able to affect the Congressional redistricting battles in 2011-2012.

The time for jokes and personal attacksis done. The stakes are too high and the risks are too great. There is much to do and little time to waste. We have two months to get serious and take back our country.

Fired up!

JayParker

Colonel United States Army (ret)

Visiting Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University.

An interesting take on Mike Huckabee's speech last nigh by BSF4O Co-Founder Laura Dempsey

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:17:37 EDT

For an interesting take on Mike Huckabee's speech last night, check out this insightful blog by Kenneth Traugott:

http://theenlightenedpatriot.blogspot.com/2008/09/great-veteran-exploitation-of-2008.html

For the record, I don't believe that Senator McCain thinks he is owed the presidency because of his military service. But there is a very fine line between highlighting one's honorable service to country and implying that it makes one uniquely capable of running it. The former shows a well-deserved pride in the military. The latter just sounds militaristic

THOUGHTS: Sarah Palin's Speech by BSF4O co-founder Laura Dempsey

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:33:23 EDT

Sarah Palin was widely lauded for her speech last night attacking Barack Obama's lack of "real" decision-making experience. She has been touted from the beginning as somebody who has made real decisions, has more decision-making experience than Sens. Obama and Biden combined, and a person who isn't afraid to make hard decisions.
Does this sound disturbingly familiar to anyone? I'm getting flashbacks to another "decider" and his brand of leadership. As somebody who has been intimately acquainted with the effects of this administration's biggest "decision" of the past eight years, I would like a little less deciding and a little more listening.
Barack Obama cosponsored the new G.I. Bill, which not only gives servicemembers the right to attend college, but is transferable to their families. Studies show that most servicemembers and their families would like a college education http://www.nmfa.org/site/DocServer/Spouse_Education_Report_FINAL.pdf?docID=10381. In other words the Senator listened to what the actual troops wanted, not simply what was expedient for the government.
He also supports fully funding the VA, based on his experience listening to deliberation in the Veterans Affairs Committee. The Veterans Committee is a relatively thankless assignment in the beltway. Yet Barack Obama asked for the assignment. Still think he's just a celebrity who is looking to glorify himself? Or might he actually want to listen and learn about what issues are affecting troops, their families and veterans?
Finally, the Senator has promised to create a military families advisory board, the purpose of which would be to hear strengths and challenges facing real military families so that his administration could respond to them. This is a fundamentally important concept in an all-volunteer force that has struggled to retain its numbers in the past ten years http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/washington/10army.html?ex=1302321600&en=cc81835224264ae3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.
Michelle Obama is using her campaign muscle to conduct roundtables with military family members. The purpose as she describes it, is to "learn and listen." http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_michelleobama_families_080608w/ . I had the privilege of meeting Michelle Obama in Denver, at a service event for the troops. She said her number one priority is to use her role to listen to families and advocate for them based on what she learns. This simple, unglamorous gesture to listen before deciding how to best support military families is worth a fleet of yellow ribbon car magnets.
Decision-making is a necessary job skill for an executive. Listening, processing and deliberating before deciding is apparently a lost art. If you, like me, feel a bit crushed by the weight of all those decisions of the past eight years, perhaps we should all do a little listening and deliberating about who is the candidate who is really looking out for us, and not simply trying to be the next "decider."

Convention news from Kathy Roth-Douquet

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:14:53 EDT

Cong john lewis at creative coalition bfast: -I was on the podium 45 years ago with Martin LK and 8 others and I'm the only one here still today and to those who say nothing has changed I say walk in my shoes. Then I shook hands with him when he left and told him I was sending this blog about him, and he smiled. Now pras a hiphop artist from the fugees is speaking. A lot of young marines listen to them. He did a documentary about homelessness, lived on skid row 9 days and recorded it. He spoke about the need to give back. He's a former Yale student now multi millionaire. I asked him if he had a message for our troops, and he put a hand on my shoulder, leaned closer to hear what I said, I repeated 'the marines and soldiers' and he stopped moving through the crowd, leaned down (cause I'n a good foot shorter) and said 'the have my full support and appreciation. Its because of what they've done for the past 100-200..300 years that I can stand here with you a black man with a white woman and even talk about this. I appreciate what they do, and I don't support the war, but I support them.'

Hey -I feel great about the terrific vibes here about our young folks in uniform. Its a beautiful thing.
Other messages dorothy height civil ights leader, is saying 'we may have all come here on separate ships, but we're all in the same boat'

One other speaker said 'it may be time for a change - we are the change'

Host a Blue Star Families for Obama House Party

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:22:50 EDT

Blue Star Families for Obama is catching the attention of many Americans. One of our founding members has been asked to open the National Democratic Convention by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Another member who attended Michelle Obama's roundtable discussion for Military Families has been asked to speak during the Convention.

Now it's your opportunity to help build the momentum. It is important we let America know there are many military families supporting Barack Obama to be our next president and you can take action by hosting a Blue Star Families for Obama House Party. We'll provide all the information you need to have a successful event.

Your guests will be invited to participate in an evening of friendly, thoughtful discussion about military family issues like healthcare, deployment schedules and their impact, childcare, family mental health services, foreign policy and veteran's benefits.

Senator Obama wants to hear from military families like yours, and we will forward concerns and ideas raised in your discussion on to the Obama campaign. Join us -- let your voice be heard by signing up to host a Blue Star Families for Obama House Party. Just send an email to BlueStarsForObama@gmail.com indicating your interest and we'll help you with the rest.

Blue Star Families for Obama, a comprehensive grass roots initiative, borrows the symbolism of the blue star flag which immediate family members of active duty service members in times of war may fly, but it is not in any way affiliated with the Service Flag or the Blue Star Mothers organization.

Join Blue Star Families for Obama TODAY

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:31:54 EDT

Do you want to be a part of this exciting group and help let America know there are many military familes supporting Barack Obama? Join Blue Star Families for Obama TODAY. Visit

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

Blue Star Families for Obama Convention events

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:36:17 EDT

Attention Blue Star Families for Obama!

If you live in the Denver area or are attending the Convention, please let us know ASAP by emailing Heidi at BlueStarsforObama@gmail.com.

We’d love to have your help at Blue Star Families for Obama events!

Thanks, Heidi & The Blue Stars Families for Obama Team

Why I want Barack Obama to be Commander in Chief Part 2

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:28:28 EDT

Answers to this question from Blue Star Families for Obama members:

Name: Vivian Greentree

Location: Norfolk, VA

Service Member's branch: Navy

Relationship to Service Member: Veteran and Spouse

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: As a military spouse, I attended the military roundtable event with Michelle Obama at ODU in Norfolk and was very much impressed by both her willingness to listen to military spouses as well as her choosing to spend time with the families of those who serve. A belief in public service and that we are all in this together is what drew me to public service in the Navy myself and I see that in the Obama campaign. Honor, courage, commitment…the ideals that military personnel abide by are also needed in the White House. And I see those values reflected in how Obama wants to govern. Frankly, he inspires me.

Name: Maura Satchell

Location: Smyrna, TN

Service Member's branch: Marines, Army

Relationship to Service Member: Mother

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: My two sons have served in Iraq, my brother was a career diplomat, and my dad served under Eisenhower in WWII. I recognize and can certainly appreciate the need for a strong military, but as Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama recognizes and will implement all the tools in Foreign Policy - military, yes - but also diplomatic, political, and economic in order to lead America in the coming years, and will restore America's moral authority once again.

Name: Kathleen Slocum

Location: WNY

Service Member's branch: Army National Guard

Relationship to Service Member: Mother

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: He has the vision and clarity of thought to anticipate and see the changes that need to be made to protect our troops and our country.

Why I Want Barack Obama to be Commander in Chief Part 1

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:38:27 EDT

Answers to this question from Blue Star Families Members:

Name: Stephanie Marushia

Location: Virginia Beach, VA

Service Member's branch: Army, Air Force

Relationship to Service Member: Cousins currently serving (my husband and I are Veterans and my brother served in Iraq & Afghanistan but got out of the Army a year ago)

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: If you compare the voting records of both candidates it's obvious who has and will care for our troops and veterans - Barack Obama. He has done more than pay lip service to supporting our troops; he has made the public more aware of important issues like PTSD, TBI, homeless veterans, and the need for adequate time between deployments.

Name: Blue Star Mom

Location: Chino Hills, CA

Service Member's branch: US Army Ranger

Relationship to Service Member: Parent

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: My son has already done 8 tours with a 9th pending. It’s all about trust! I TRUST only Barack Obama and a new Obama administration to ensure that he and all our service personnel don’t spend one more day than they have to in Iraq and that they spend 0 days in Iran!

Name: Cherrise Russel

Location: Texarkana, TX

Service Member's branch: US Army

Relationship to Service Member: Spouse

Why I want Barack Obama to be my commander in chief: Barack Obama is always calm under pressure. I think that is the most important characteristic a CIC should possess. I would sleep much better knowing that decisions were being made by someone like him. Especially when those decisions concern the military.

Virginian-Pilot article about Michelle Obama’s visit and roundtable discussion in Norfolk on August 6

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:23:51 EDT

Dear Blue Star Families For Obama Members,

Please take a minute right now and check out the article from the Virginian-Pilot about Michelle Obama’s visit and roundtable discussion in Norfolk tomorrow, August 6.

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/michelle-obama-will-meet-military-spouses-norfolk#comment-636477

Please take a minute and let the readers hear from Blue Star Families themselves and what the Obama’s involvement in military family issues means to you.

Thanks,

Heidi and The Blue Star Families Team

Help encourage others to join Blue Star Families today

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:48:08 EDT

Dear Blue Star Families for Obama members,

Thank you for supporting Blue Star Families for Obama. We feel honored to have you as a member and would appreciate your willingness to connect Blue Star Families for Obama to other military family members who can join us in promoting a positive message that is Pro Military, Pro Obama.

We all know there are countless military family members who share in our patriotism and support of Obama. As an organization we want to reach these family members and provide them the opportunity to join our organization. In reaching family members, however, we have to ensure that we maintain the highest of standards.

There are strong policies that prevent the military and its members from participating in the political discourse. Specific guidelines are outlined in the letter below. We appreciate you upholding these guidelines and maintaining the integrity of Blue Star Families for Obama. We are excited to have you involved in our organization and can’t wait to see the results of your outreach efforts!

The Blue Star Families for Obama Team

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Dear

I am writing to you today as a friend and a fellow member of the military family community. I don't know your politics, so please excuse me if this is outside your interests.

With the upcoming presidential election on the horizon, there is much in the media about both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama and how the selection of either will affect the military community. While I certainly think John McCain is a fine man, I am excited about Barack Obama. I am excited about his ability to increase US prestige around the world and I appreciate his commitment to renew the social covenant with America's Military by voting to pass the 2008 GI Bill, and his commitment to create a Military Family Advisory Board within DoD.

I am also excited about Michelle Obama taking special interest in issues facing military families. She is meeting with military family roundtables on bases around the county to hear first hand how she, in her unique position as First Lady, could make a positive impact on our lives.

If you would be interested in finding out more, or would like to connect with other family members who support Barrack Obama, please take a look at this site - http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama.

If you'd like to forward this letter to other people, please keep in mind the following rules that keep the important distinction clear between official military business and personal business:

Do not send this letter to any official DoD (.mil) or government (.gov) email address.
Do not send this letter to any DoD or government fax machine or mailing address.
Do not use any DoD or government equipment or supplies in forwarding this letter or any other official Blue Stars communications.
Do not forward this letter, unsolicited, to any spouses who are subordinates of your family member/service member.
We discourage members from sending this letter, unsolicited, to any family member in their service member’s chain of command

If you are aware that any of the above actions are occurring, notify Heidi at BlueStarsForObama@gmail.com.

Thank you again for your time and I hope to have you join me in helping elect Barack Obama this fall. Together, we can show one can be both Pro Military and Pro Obama.

Thank you

Pro-Military, Pro-Obama!

Blue Star Families for Obama

Response McCain attack ad

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:38:46 EDT

Response to McCain attack ad

By Phillip Carter, Veterans Director, obama for America

Over the weekend, John McCain’s campaign released an attack ad which attacked Sen. Barack Obama's patriotism and charged that he doesn't support our troops. The ad even went so far as to criticize Sen. Obama for going to the gym instead of visiting the troops -- even though the video showed actual footage of him playing basketball with U.S. troops in Kuwait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49hC9TpP_rY

In the words of our campaign spokesman: “John McCain is an honorable man who is running an increasingly dishonorable campaign. Senator McCain knows full well that Senator Obama strongly supports and honors our troops, which is what makes this attack so disingenuous. Senator Obama was honored to meet with our men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan this week and has visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed numerous times. This politicization of our soldiers is exactly what Senator Obama sought to avoid, and it's not worthy of Senator McCain or the 'civil' campaign he claimed he would run.”

To combat these false smears and ads, our campaign staff put together two websites with detailed, factual rebuttals to each:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/woundedtroops

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/troopssmear

As you receive the viral emails going around the web on this subject, please respond with these two links, and encourage your supporters, constituents and colleagues to set the record straight.

"The Unobserved Strength of Military Families"

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:33:47 EDT

"The Unobserved Strength of Military Families"
By Blue Star Families For Obama members Kathy Roth-Douquet and Laura Dempsey

The recent AP story on the toll of the recent conflicts on military families may be well meaning, but also is skewed journalism that leaves people with the impression that there is a widespread epidemic of violence and mental instability in the military community. Like many stories covering military families the piece quotes no hard evidence to back its more sensational claims then goes on to make the claims anyway.

We need to be careful about how we discuss the effects of these conflicts on military families. Clearly multiple deployments have taken their toll. The problems listed in the article are occurring. But the extent of the problems is not known, nor is the prognosis for these families once the war ends.

The bottom line is that our military has never experienced this kind of sustained long term foreign war with such a relatively small and largely married force, and we need to find ways to make it more endurable. But there is a lot more health and resilience in our combat forces than the story reflects. It is also not a foreign experience for people to find strength in their marriage and bonding as a result of weathering the challenges of deployment. And the Marine Corps, which has a similar proportion of its force deployed with less distress, is not mentioned, and therefore whatever lessons there are to be learned there (hint: 7 months for battalion-level combat deployments instead of 15 month deployments) are also unmentioned.

We cannot dismiss the very real problems facing military families as a result of the current OPTEMPO. But exaggerated claims of families on the brink of mental instability and emotional ruin are premature, and run the risk of offending those who are proud of the strength they've brought to the challenge.

Another potentially awful byproduct of articles such as this is the risk that the American public will revive the Vietnam-era stereotype of the combat soldier (and now it would appear his family as well) as a dangerous, mentally unstable character. This is especially troubling given the total lack of comprehensive, analytical data on the issue.

Bottom line:

Clearly this war is taking a toll on our military families, who have had to bear the burden of the Iraq war alone for too long. Combat troops and families have been heroic in the resources they've brought to bear, but we need to do far more to make the burden more bearable.

We need to take a closer look at the damage being done, get better numbers on the extent of the problems and find out if the problems continue after a soldier separates from the service. We also need to take lessons learned of the success stories, and recognize and celebrate the successes.

Finally we need to make absolutely sure that our country is providing a robust support system for its military families and recent combat veterans and their families that is commensurate with the honorable and heroic service that they continue to provide for this country.

"Alex: Listen to Your Conscience, Not Your Mom"

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:30:39 EDT

"Alex: Listen to Your Conscience, Not Your Mom"
By Blue Star Families For Obama members Kathy Roth-Douquet and Laura Dempsey

MoveOn.org recently aired a television commercial featuring baby "Alex" and his mother. Alex's mother had a message for John McCain and his plan to keep American troops in Iraq for 100 years. The message: If you were relying on Alex to help you with this plan, "You can't have him."

It's true that the Bush administration's failed policy in the Middle East has made it increasingly difficult for our nation's military to sustain its numbers and (in some cases) recruit new members. If this policy is continued by John McCain, as he has announced, it will become nearly impossible to sustain our forces at a level that will keep America safe.

But the impulse to say "not with my child" is ultimately a terribly troubling message. It implies that military service is something to be feared, that a young person's enlistment is a disappointment or a loss, and that a person's choice to join the armed forces is a political decision about a current administration's foreign policy.

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of service. The choice to defend this country is a calling to public service. It's a choice to forego wealth, status and power in order to serve something bigger than oneself. It is taken seriously and with a great measure of pride, patriotism and strength by those who are daring and selfless enough to accept it.

If Barack Obama becomes president, he can count on the loyalty and excellence of the men and women in uniform, even if they do not vote for him. John McCain can count on the same. It is one of the triumphs of our democracy that free people are willing to so serve the constitution.

So today we issue a challenge to the crafters of the MoveOn ad and those of their ilk: Open your minds about the men and women of this nation's military and about the nature of military service. Don't confuse politics with the oath to serve. Americans have the right to choose not to serve in this manner, but foregoing military service is not an accomplishment.

It is an honor and a privilege to defend this country. When we talk about honoring the troops, don't just honor their sacrifices and suffering in a time of war. Honor their patriotism, their incredible volunteerism, their community spirit and their generosity.

Military families donate millions of dollars worth of volunteer hours to their communities each year. They help out their neighbors when a spouse is deployed. They care for each other's children and support each other emotionally and spiritually in wartime and peacetime. They should be held up as an example of what this nation can be when its citizens are civically, actively engaged.

So we say to Alex's mother, you may not want your son to serve in Iraq, but please don't deny him the opportunity to honor his family and all of us by serving his country.

Take a leadership role in Blue Stars

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:12:42 EDT

Dear Blue Star for Obama group member,

Thank you for taking the time to join Blue Stars for Obama. As a military family member, you and your loved one’s commitment to the defense of our country is echoed in Barack Obama’s unyielding personal commitment to public service and his dedication to make America safer by increasing the prestige of the US around the world. Please encourage all other military family members in support of Barack Obama to join the group too. There is amazing power in numbers!

Participation in Blue Stars for Obama can take many forms. The Blue Stars for Obama will have many opportunities to demonstrate one can be both “Pro Military, Pro Obama” by displaying placards, bumper stickers and clothing items, as well as hosting small informational house parties to inform neighbors why Obama should be Commander In Chief, and coming together with other Blue Stars for Obama members to show support at local rallies and media events. Stay tuned to the Blue Stars group page blog and events for more information.

ADDITIONALLY, we are currently looking for committed individuals to take leadership roles in your community, and for those with special skills like graphic design, data base management, media relations, public relations, etc., to help spread our message to the American audience. If you are interested in participating at this level, please send an email to BlueStarsFrObama@gmail.com including a note about yourself explaining why you are a good fit along with experiences you have had that will prepare you to take a leadership role, providing specific example(s) of your ability to handle complex tasks from beginning to completion.

With YOUR support, as a military family member, we can make the change you want happen this November.

Thank you ,

Heidi and The Blue Stars fro Obama Team

Response to recent anti-Obama e-mail

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:37:47 EDT

Yesterday, my husband received the email letter referd to below. In response, I sent this article from the Military Times to all those on the orginal distribution list in hopes of setting the record straight. I'm posting ithe aricle for you to do the same if you receive the email smear.

Thanks, Heidi

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2008/07/Military_blog.Obama_072508w/

Officer: Part of anti-Obama e-mail was wrong

By Matthew Cox and Rick Maze - Staff writers
Posted : Sunday Jul 27, 2008 10:04:27 EDT

An Army officer’s negative e-mail account of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s visit with the troops in Afghanistan that set the blogosphere ablaze prompted Army officials to correct aspects of the e-mail and resulted in a statement from the message’s author that “some of the information that was put out in my e-mail was wrong.”

The e-mail, signed by Capt. Jeffrey S. Porter at Bagram Airbase, characterized Obama’s July 19 visit with soldiers there as contrary to the positive portrayals of the mainstream press.

“As the soldiers where (sic) lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the general,” the e-mail said.

Porter wrote that Obama then went straight to the base’s “Clamshell” or recreation facility to pose for “publicity pictures playing basketball” and “shunned the opportunity to talk to soldiers to thank them for their service. I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don’t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-in-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.”

Army Times sent an e-mail to Porter, a Utah Army National Guard member assigned to the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, asking if he could verify that he wrote the controversial e-mail and requesting an interview.

Porter’s reply declined the interview request, but said:

“I am writing this to ask that you delete my e-mail and not forward it, after checking my sources some of the information that was put out in my e-mail was wrong. This e-mail was meant only for my family. Please respect my wishes and delete the e-mail and if there are any blogs you have my e-mail portrayed on I would ask if you would take it down too.”

When contacted, Tiffany Porter who identified herself as his wife, said: “There were discrepancies in the e-mail, but I am not at liberty to say more.”

The Army refuted the accuracy of the account of the Obama visit.

“These comments are inappropriate and factually incorrect,” Bagram spokesman Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green told the New York Daily News.

Obama didn’t play basketball at Bagram or visit the Clamshell, she said.

“We were a bit delayed ... as he took time to shake hands, speak to troops and pose for photographs,” Nielson-Green said.

Opinion aside, Obama campaign officials cited factual errors in the e-mail. Porter said Obama had gone to play basketball; Obama aides said that during the trip he only played basketball in Kuwait, not during stops in Iraq or Afghanistan.

An Obama campaign Web site, called “Fight the Smears,” labels it a “lie” that Obama refused to meet with the troops. It includes links to news stories and videos showing Obama interacting with crowds of service members as evidence.

Blue Stars For Obama : Pro Military, Pro Obama - Your link to the campaign and to Michelle Obama’s Roundtables on Military Families

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:01:18 EDT

Blue Stars For Obama ~ Pro Military, Pro Obama

Your link to the campaign and to Michelle Obama’s Roundtables on Military Families

Blue Stars for Obama is an organizing site for military families to take action in the campaign! Through Blue Stars for Obama we’ll collect list of endorsements, ask you to help us grow the group, and seek ideas that we can feed back to the campaign. Blue Star members may have the opportunity to get invitations to Michelle Obama’s roundtable discussions with military families held near bases around the country.

Help us take action! Even if you belong to another MyGroups military family site, please join Blue Stars too. Blue Stars for Obama is “Pro Military, Pro Obama.”

It was started by Army and Marine Corps Spouses who believe supporting Senator Obama reinforces our support of our loved ones serving in the military and sees our commitment to the country as military family members echoed in Barack Obama’s unyielding personal commitment to public service and his dedication to make America safer by increasing the prestige of the US around the world. The essence of Senator Obama’s candidacy reflects the traditional military values of courage, commitment, honor, loyalty and selfless service ~ values needed in the White House. You can help bring about this change by becoming a “Blue Star for Obama.” This exciting comprehensive grass roots initiative borrows the symbolism of the blue star flag which immediate family members of active duty service members in times of war may fly, but it is not in any way affiliated with the Service Flag or the Blue Star Mothers organization. Blue Stars for Obama is open to all who have any family member serving in the military ~ that includes a spouse, child, parent, grandchild, niece, nephew and so forth.

For more information on this exciting group and updates on Michelle Obama’s activities, check out the blog at our site:

. http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

Thank you,

Heidi & The Blue Stars for Obama Team

Join Blue Stars for Obama for Military Family Issues

Heidi & Blue Star Families, Blue Star Voices — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:59:00 EDT

Blue Stars For Obama ~ Pro Military, Pro Obama

Your link to the campaign and to Michelle Obama’s Roundtables on Military Families

Blue Stars for Obama is an organizing site for military families to take action in the campaign! Through Blue Stars for Obama we’ll collect list of endorsements, ask you to help us grow the group, and seek ideas that we can feed back to the campaign. Blue Star members may have the opportunity to get invitations to Michelle Obama’s roundtable discussions with military families held near bases around the country.

Help us take action! Even if you belong to another MyGroups military family site, please join Blue Stars too. Blue Stars for Obama is “Pro Military, Pro Obama.”

For more information on this exciting group and updates on Michelle Obama’s activities, check out the blog at our site:

. http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

Thank you,

Heidi & The Blue Stars for Obama Team