Veterans Alliance Blasts VFW Endorsements [View All]

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee (http://www.vfw.org) endorsed George Allen over Navy Cross Winner Jim Webb in the Virginia Senate race and has now endorsed Peter Roskam over Tammy Duckworth an Iraq war double amputee. "This is outrageous." Said Paul Bucha the Chairman of the VETPAC Advisory Board and Medal of Honor recipient, "By what criteria were these decisions made? Is the VFW doing its usual pandering to the GOP in order to court favor with the administration. If so, have they forgotten the best interests of the troops and the veterans?"

"The largest organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (http://www.iava.org) rated the House Republican Leadership, excluding Denny Hastert, an anemic "C" on the number of votes cast in support of the troops and veterans. With Hastert, the GOP leadership gets an "F"." said Colonel Richard Klass, USAF (ret) the groups Executive Director and decorated Vietnam War veteran. "The incumbent, Henry Hyde (R) was rated a C- plus, hardly a ringing endorsement. On key issues identified by the Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org) Hyde supported only 2 of 8 and skipped votes on two other issues. Is this what the VFW PAC considers adequate support of the troops? Is this the position the voters want his replacement to take?" Klass continued.

"I am ashamed and appalled." said Gen. Joseph Hoar, USMC (ret.), the former Commander of Central Command, "The VFW seems more concerned with supporting the war in Iraq than supporting those who have carried the burdens of that war. They seem more interested in overturning a free speech ruling on flag burning by the Supreme Court than protecting veterans' benefits. They have become as much a mouthpiece for this administration's tragic failure in Iraq as have most Republican members of Congress. Shame on them."

Lorin Walker, VETPAC Deputy Director concluded, "There are 194,000 homeless veterans in America, thousands sleeping on the streets of Chicago and other Illinois towns and cities, many from the current conflicts. I do not know how the leadership of the VFW PAC can sleep at night and endorse those who would ignore these veterans"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20061105/pl_usnw/veterans_alliance_blasts_vfw_endorsements099_xml