Obama camp launches veterans group

Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 3:46 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Alex Wall
In an attempt to mobilize support among veterans, the Obama campaign announced a veterans group designed to tout their candidates’ judgment on military issues.

Phillip Carter, the campaign's veterans director, said in a conference call that the group -- called Next Generation Veterans for Obama -- will be involved in activities at the Democratic convention, as well as in grassroots organizing and speaking to veterans and non-veterans across the country.

While several veterans on the call expressed respect for McCain’s military service, the group stressed Obama’s superior ability to tackle issues in the 21st century. Drew Sloan, a veteran Army infantry captain in Iraq and Afghanistan, argued that the “threats this country faces” were “too complex for a Cold War mentality” and praised Obama’s recognition that there must be “a plan to win the war” and “a plan to win the peace.”

When asked during the Q&A about Obama’s claim that he would still have voted against funding for the surge in hindsight, Carter defended him by arguing that additional troops won’t lead to victory in Iraq. “The primary reason why things are better in Iraq today is because of the political negotiations with the Sunnis and the Shiites, which has brought them out of the equation and it has improved the situation markedly,” he said. “You could double the number of troops in Iraq, but we’d be no closer to a lasting Iraqi political solution. The security gains are tenuous at best without political solutions in Iraq.”

Carter also praised Obama for his support of the GI Bill (McCain voted against it), citing it as a major reason for veterans to throw their support behind him. “This next generation isn’t looking for a handout, we’re looking for opportunities,” he said. “The GI Bill was such a big victory because it allowed all of us to buy into the American Dream and also to continue our service to this country as tomorrow’s doctors and lawyers and engineers and businessmen and women, and that is what this next generation brings to the table.”

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Comments

Richard - and you are perfect for McSame's campaign...lies, inuendos and hot air.

This military family is for President Obama all the way.

ob08 (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:55 PM)

How could McCain have not known the questions before hand? He was chomping at the bit to answer the question about the Supreme Court Justices. Before the question had been asked!

John Gallaway (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:57 PM)

"Drew Sloan, a veteran Army infantry captain in Iraq and Afghanistan, argued that the “threats this country faces” were “too complex for a Cold War mentality”

It seems a bit odd for a military veteran to be implying that a "Cold War mentality" is somehow simplistic and straightforward.

With all due respect for Mr. Sloan's service, I think he is perfect for Obama's campaign.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:18 PM)
--------------------------------------------------
With all due respect Richard, since Capt. Sloan is on the front lines and has first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground, in addition to being an officer who most probably had to take courses in military history, I'm sure he has a more educated background in this then most people.

Maybe, just maybe Capt. Sloan understands the cold war mentality and due to his extensive education and experience, what may appear complex to you, might actually be rather simplistic to him.

And I'm sure that he thanks you for believing that he is perfect for Sen. Obama's campaign. We sure do.

Eric (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:58 PM)

Equal pay is an example of something that sounds good, but isn't. I majored in economics, and learned the REAL meaning of 'equal pay'. Take two jobs: both require a high school diploma, proficiency in arithmatic, and an ability to pay attention to detail and work independantly. One job, dominated by women workers, pays $12 per hour, the other, dominated by men, pays $20. Sounds unfair; however, job number one is a bank teller, job number two is a warehouse packer/shipper. Job number one is considered 'white collar'; job two, 'blue collar'. Morever, the bank teller works in a climate controlled environment, while the packer/shipper in a warehouse subject to extreme temperatures. The difference in wages is called by economists the 'opportunity cost'. You choose the higher wage and difficult work environment, or the lower wage and more pleasant work environment. If you legislate skill/pay scales, you will have no shipper/packers, because people will not do jobs that are less pleasant without the extra money. Legislating skill/pay scales will leave us with no trash collectors, (who are very well paid), fork life operators, etc. Letting the marketplace set the wage has made us the most productive country in the world. Socializing this will destroy the marketplace, and ensure that many are unemployed. You have to THINK, people.

Donna, Lincroft, NJ (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 4:59 PM)

I'm just wondering.....

If John McCain's treatment of his first wife 35 years ago can't be used to help to define his lack of morality, then

why CAN he say that he know's wars and how to win them based on being a POW 40 years ago?

BD in WI (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:00 PM)

Bobbie in Eau Claire:
"obama has to keep pandering to the under-30 crowd. If he goes more than 3 or 4 days without giving them attention, they'll go back to their PlayStation's and forget to vote in Nov."

What planet are you on? I work for the WI campaign. Our hardest working people in our area are the young under 30s who you so stupidly and flippantly blow off. They are gearing up to get voter registration updated, as many of our college students here change addresses yearly. They are canvassing. They are doing grass roots neighborhood work. They're doing the same thing in Eau Claire. They are active and they are highly motivated, because they see the wisdom of change so badly needed in this country. I'm sorry your children are being raised to be couch potatoes. Mine are out there trying to make a difference. Why don't you go crawl back to your old Hillary rock you've been hiding under and leave the blogging to people who have a clue?

mad in Madtown (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:01 PM)

As a veteran, I would rather follow into battle a brave, wise and life-tested person than a dude who crashed his plane and then betrayed his country.

But that's just me.

Mark Thieme (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:02 PM)

Richard, Washington State - why don't you tell us what you think? Are you educated enough to talk about the cold war or other other war?

I understand the jest of CPT Drew Sloans's comment and the intention of it's meaning.

I think you are prefect for the John McCain campaign.

No substance.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The- Democrat Soldier (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:03 PM)

Check out the website Veterans Against John McCain for some interesting reading. He's not the hero he'd like you to believe he is.......singing like a bird didn't help his standing amongst his "buddies" in Nam.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:06 PM)

HEY BOBBI,EAU CLAIRE! I RESENT THE FACT THAT YOU STATED ..."THE AA ZONING OUT". I'M GOING TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND NOT TAKE THAT FOR MEANING "THE AFRICAN AMERICANS ZONING OUT". IF THAT IS WHAT YOU MEANT THEN YOU "SWEETIE" ARE AN IGNORANT RACIST AND IF YOU PUT THAT IN PRINT I SHUDDER TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY AROUND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! THANK GOD YOU'RE NOT ON MY SIDE! PS. I'LL PRAY FOR YOU! PPS. ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS VOTE.

margaret,baltimore,md. (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:09 PM)

Am I remember it wrong or was the surge sold as a way of getting US troops out of Iraq? So how can it be succesful if we have to keep the troops there?

I am glad that Obama is reaching out to groups who have supported the GOP recently more by instinct than for any policy reason. I think some of these voters can be peeled off by putting forward Obama's record and putting it next to McCain's.

markymark (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:10 PM)

I can't stress enough how happy I am that McCain's hypocrisy on veterans affairs is starting to come to light.

It's no wonder donations from military break 57-43 for Obama and from military deployed overseas breaks 6 to 1. While McCain spits on legislation that helps veterans, ie. GI Bill, Obama helps push it through.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:11 PM)

Obama leads McShame 6-1 with the inlisted folks. With older Vets I'm quite sure McSame will be leading Obama. When the general public becomes more aware of the current feelings of the their sons and daughters backing Obama it will only be a matter of time before Mamas, Pappas, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents will follow. Because voting against McBush is like voting to keep your relative in JAIL for something they had nothing to do with!!!!!

Gary Ward, Ardmore, Okla (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:12 PM)

Why does McCain hate our troops consistently voting against the Veterans? Why is he all talk, no record for the Vets?

Vietnam Vet - TX (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:13 PM)

So we have a few military veterans for Obama, what's news about that. No one has ever said that all veterans vote republican. We had Vietnam vets for Kerry and we had vets against Bush. Veterans are made up of people from all walks of life and have different political leanings. I was in the service from 1960 to 1980 when I retired. Voted across party lines in some elections.

Robert, Sacramento, CA 95831 (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:15 PM)

Bush Cheney had "experience" AMERICA. Another 4 years of McSame will only continue the downfall of America as we know it. The world is watching with disbelief as our markets crumble, the dollar weekens, we start wortheless war, it's sad from the outside looking in. Sad.

Jason K. - Paris, France (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:16 PM)

It seems that evangelicals are against abortion and gay marriage but don't mind cheating. Rick Warren should be ashamed. I watched the show taking him at his word that John Mccon was in a "cone of silence." I guess since Mccon is willing to let American kids DIE in order to "WIN" in Irag (whatever that means - he still hasn't defined winning) a little cheating at a faith forum in order to "WIN" means nothing.

patti ruffo, west chicago il (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:17 PM)

Let's see here. McCain voted against the GI Bill because he felt it would reduce re-enlistment. As a taxpayer, I have to ask if paying for somebody's entire college education after serving three years is reasonable. How many people work for a company three years and get a bennie like that to take with them?

concerned (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:17 PM)

As a veteran, I would rather follow into battle a brave, wise and life-tested person than a dude who crashed his plane and then betrayed his country.

But that's just me.

Mark Thieme (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:21 PM)

Why do overseas members of the military support Obama more than five to one? It isn't because McCain was right about the "surge" It's because Obama was right about the war.

thebob.bob, Portland, OR (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:21 PM)

Veterans have been a major force in Obama's campaign, so this move just formally integrates that support.

Look at active military contributions to Obama's campaign far outpace McSame's.

McSame, in spite of his own service, takes our soldiers, Guard, and Reserves for granted!

McSame opposed the new GI Bill specifically because he was concerned about manning his occupation of Iraq!

He's also full of bluster on Georgia, Iran, and other hot spots.
Veterans and active military are much more in line with Obama support and advisor former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Wes Clark.

Veterans for Obama!

Dave in OC, Vets for Obama (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:22 PM)

Mc Cain keeps saying he intends to "win the war!" I ask, what does winning the war look like? The U.S. is an occupying force in Iraq. There is no enemy to surrender, no conditions of surrender so how does he define wining. Truth be known, this is another Rovian simplistic use of words, identical to "support the troops." For way too many this meant a displaying a yellow ribbon. The unthinking among us seem to say, "yea, win the war," having no idea what it means. Maybe the Obama veterans group can surface the foolishness of the McCain meaningless buzz.

Lou R (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 5:29 PM)

Obama gets it. McCain just doesn't get it.

John, PA (Sent Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:04 AM)

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