Clinton at VFW
Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 4:34 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Democrats
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Hillary Clinton was the first presidential candidate to address hundreds of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during this year's national convention in Kansas City, Mo. In a policy-heavy speech, Clinton outlined her plans to help veterans and highlighted her bi-partisan efforts to do so in the past. She waited until the end of her speech to address Iraq. Placing a hand upon her chest, Clinton acknowledged that some people will disagree with her for saying the best way to honor the troops is "beginning to bring them home."
"I think it is unacceptable for our troops to be caught in the crossfire of a sectarian civil war while the Iraqi government is on vacation," Clinton said. "I think it is time that the Iraqi government took responsibility for themselves and their country. Because the American people and our American military cannot want freedom and stability for the Iraqis more than they want it for themselves."
Clinton spent most of her time speaking on her policy, which is five-fold and stems from the idea of having "secretary for veterans" instead of "a secretary of veterans affairs." She called for (1) mandatory funding for veterans' healthcare; (2) a new GI Bill of Rights that accounts for educational possibilities; chances to buy, build, and improve veterans' homes; and micro-lending programs for veterans to start their own businesses; (3) a seamless career transition assistance program; (4) a transformation of bureaucracy to create 21st century system with a high level veteran reporting directly to her on healthcare, educational, and career programs for veterans; and (5) ending the prohibition on concurrent receipt for disabled veterans.
Clinton did attempt some humor in an effort to connect with the veterans by talking about her late father, a WWII veteran. "I imagine he is looking down, and saying I never thought I would see my daughter addressing the VFW," she said, "and I am sure many of you didn't either."