An open letter to Oklahoma's female veterans:
I'm reaching out to you to express my appreciation for your service, and to ask for your help. Our Nation often overlooks the proud tradition of women who've worn the uniform, but American Fighting Women have served with equal courage, dedication and sacrifice as men in virtually every theater of combat during our nation's more than 230 year history.
In an era of increasing combat action and more women in the Armed Forces, it is critical that groups advocating respect for, and promoting veterans issues, more accurately reflect what those issues are. I am a firm believer that as veterans, we all share common concerns, but there are also issues that male veterans simply cannot natively understand.
We need you to be active in the Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee, to help lead and shape our voice as we speak for the issues most important to us as veterans, as Democrats and yes, as men and women. Without your voice, ours may fall on deaf ears or be perceived as little better than the right-side of the political aisle... a club for the good 'ol boys.
As a U.S. Navy SeaBee Veteran, I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve alongside men and women of great strength, courage and dedication. These are increasingly tough times for veterans, and we need your strength to help us in our fight to preserve the promises our great country made to all veterans.
Join us in speaking up for veterans issues in your town and county, come to our meetings, help represent our fellow Democratic veterans as as a part of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, help us keep our issues at the forefront, and help recruit other veterans to join our cause. And please renew your membership in the Veterans Committee for 2012. Dues are only $10 for 2012, and you can pay either by mail, in person, or online via the PayPal link at the left side our website www.okdemocrats.org/odpvc.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee also gladly accepts contributions using the same PayPal link or via mail at the address listed on the website.
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We have a few blues in our crowd, but we are mostly yellow dog, proud liberal Democrats with a capital D, and our focus is on helping to elect Democratic candidates who understand the issues most important to veterans and their families.
The Oklahoma Democratic Party's official platform is progressive: We support full equal marital, employment and societal rights for all persons; We believe that the rights of women to make their own decisions on reproductive issues should be respected; And we believe that doctors know medicine and physiology much better than politicians, meaning medicinal marijuana should be a decision for the doctor and the patient alone.
Please help us in our fight against some of the craziest Republicans in the country, and donate anything you can or want to the Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee or the State Party. We need your help.
Respectfully,
Isaac M. O'Bannon
President
Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee
www.OKDemocrats.org/odpvc