Yesterday Jon Soltz of Votevets.org a group of veterans primarily of the Iraqi War, but which have members from other era's of veterans, such as Vietnam, Gulf War One etc, he met with Jack Murtha, Steny Hoyer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among others.
They were not there to be polite, they wanted to be heard, and heard they were, they called Senator Mitch McConnell guilty of "aiding the enemy" and pronounced out President and Vice President as "draft dodgers", not exactly the usual decorum the perfumed Princes of Capitol Hill are used to hearing. I think I can hear Colonel Hack in the background still whispering in some soldiers ears.
They spent the day visiting mostly Republican Senators office's trying to get support for the debate on the "surge or escalation" whatever they want to call it, these veterans just want the damn thing debated, and they minced no words.
The WAPO gave them some coverage here and I am sure it is not what capitol hill staffers are normally used to when visited by constintuents.
Soltz, the group's intense 29-year-old co-founder who served in Iraq in 2003, displayed a fiery impatience with the procedural morass that has paralyzed the Senate. "I don't need some fancy Senate talk about why they can't vote," he said in an interview. "We just want a vote. We need a vote that tells the president that his strategy is not working."
In several news conferences, Soltz accused McConnell of "aiding the enemy" by allowing the Bush administration to build up troops in Iraq at the expense of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. "We are not fighting the war on terrorism, we are in the middle of a civil war," he said, referring to Iraq. "Meanwhile, the guy who attacked this country on 9/11 is living in a cave in Afghanistan."
Soltz called Cheney a "draft dodger," repeating charges he made last month when he disparaged a "president who frankly knows nothing of war and a vice president who knows even less." He said: "Senators on the fence have a choice. They can stand with veterans like us, or they can stand with the draft dodgers down the road."
Democrats said they will not muzzle the veterans. In many ways, the former soldiers and Marines are expressing sentiments the lawmakers want broadcast, and they help inoculate Democrats against Republican claims that opposing the president's plan undermines the troops.
This is a list of the leaders and Board of Advisors, there are some interesting known names to the blog community"
Staff & Advisors
LEADERSHIP
Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran, Co-Founder and Chairman, VoteVets.org
Jeremy Broussard, Iraq War Veteran, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, VoteVets.org
Andrew Horne, Senior Advisor
Sam Schultz, Senior Advisor
General Wesley K. Clark (US Army, ret), Board of Advisors
Bob Kerrey, Board of Advisors
Paul Hackett, Board of Advisors
Leslie H. Gelb, Board of Advisors
Bill Belding, Board of Advisors
Ed Vick, Board of Advisors
Nathaniel Fick, Board of Advisors
Richard Beattie, Board of Advisors
Elaine Kamarck, Board of Advisors
I am sure most of you recognize General Wesley Clark, Andrew Horne, Major Paul Hackett, they are as active in veteran issues, as they are in politics.
This vet group is the one responsible for the "flack vest" commercials that ran just before the 06 elections, and played a prominent role in a few republican losses. These are smart and organized veteran advocates, and they are determined to be heard.
I like the part in the article where they and the Chief of Staff for Senator Larry Craig seemed to agree to disagree, rather loudly according to the article, lol.
UPDATE ONE this is an e mail I just received from the John Kerry PAC
Dear Michael,
As you know I'm not leading a campaign for the presidency in 2008. Instead I have chosen to campaign to end the war in Iraq and protect America.
Yesterday I stood up with a remarkable group of Iraq war veterans who are speaking out because they believe the best way to support the troops is to change a course that squanders their lives. When brave patriots suffer and die because of the incompetence of mere politicians, the only patriotic choice is to demand change.
These veterans offered a profile in courage.
The Senate this week provided a profile in politics -- Republicans blocking even a vote up or down, one way or another on a bi-partisan resolution opposing the Bush escalation.
This has to end.
Republicans refuse even to go on record over the Bush escalation. We need to escalate the pressure for a policy change.
That's why I am introducing legislation that will again set a firm one-year deadline for the redeployment of most American troops from Iraq.
If you agree it is time to set a deadline, come to http://www.setadeadline.com and become a citizen co-sponsor of the legislation.
In addition to setting a deadline, my legislation includes key recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, many of which we have been advocating for some time. It will:
launch a major diplomatic initiative, the only hope for a sustainable resolution in Iraq
enforce a series of benchmarks to hold Iraqis accountable for meeting key political objectives
change the American military mission to training Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism operations
maintain an over the horizon presence to protect American regional interests.
Learn more about the legislation at:
http://www.setadeadline.com
Now that a new Democratic Congressional majority has convened in the U.S. Capitol, a deadline must be set. The President must respect the real needs of our troops and the will of the American people.
Step by step, we will ensure that he does.
Co-sign the legislation:
http://www.setadeadline.com
Thank you,
John Kerry
P.S. This weekend I will continue to speak out about changing course in Iraq. Please tune in to the Democratic radio address on Saturday and to my interview on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" Sunday morning.