Good ole W constantly uses military imagery to his advantage on the stump. Recall his flight suited stroll across the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and his regular wearing of leather and nomex flight jackets when he flies Marine One or stumps on military bases. He consistently gives policy speaches on military bases where he surrounds himself by uniformed personnel. He shamelessly uses men and women in uniform at even the highest level addresses, recall the State of the Union with strategically seated veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
But the truth is that GWB's allegiance to men and women in uniform is a sham...............
In the four years and change this clown has been our President he has;
- Consistently underfunded the VA.
- Instituted a backdoor draft by imposng Stop Loss programs on active and reserve troops.
- Failed to provide armor and armored vehicles for troops in the thick of fighting.
- Cut staff and VA facilities during war time.
- Opposed increases to military pay.
- Increased healthcare costs for low income veterans.
- Lied about our reasons to go to war.
Democrats have to make this a centerpiece in the fight to take back congress in 2006. The Republican record on supporting the troops is abysmal. Dems need to rally around our vets, support them with legislation in congress and with speeches on the stump. The voting records of key republicans should be given high visibility. The voting records of Dems had better be pristine. If Dems want to model themselves as the party of the working man, the everyman than they had better get behind veterans issues and fast.