IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS BLAST ERIK PAULSEN FOR ATTACKS ON MADIA
WASHINGTON – The largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, VoteVets.org, today blasted Erik Paulsen for hiding behind a Congressman to launch smears against Marine and war veteran Ashwin Madia.
This week, Congressman John Kline hurled a smear – accusing Madia of “exploiting” Marines in a new campaign ad, which uses widely available stock footage of Marines to visually reinforce Madia’s service. Kline is from another Congressional district, while Madia’s opponent, Paulsen, never served in the military.
“Shame on Erik Paulsen for using others to hurl baseless smears against an honorable war veteran, and not having the guts to do it on his own,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. “Ashwin has every right to be proud of his service to the Marines, and hold that experience close to his heart. And, he has every right to highlight for voters how that experience has shaped his views and values.”
“If Erik Paulsen has a problem with Ashwin’s service to the Marines and to America, then he should be man enough to say it himself. And, if he can’t do that, people need to ask whether or not Erik Paulsen is strong enough to talk straight with his constituents,” Soltz added.
VoteVets.org PAC’s primary goal is to help elect those Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans running for public office, and defeat those whose views and records are not in line with the best interest of veterans and troops. The group has endorsed Ashwin Madia for Congress.
Oh snap.
So much for Semper Fi with Kline, eh? Nice to see Votevets defending Ash’s right to talk about his service.
Seriously. Paulsen’s campaign has turned into a buffet of PATHETIC. So many different serving trays of pathetic from which to choose, chafing dishes full of warm pathetic, flowing fondue pots of melted bubbling pathetic, silver bowls of iced pathetic … . I’ve never seen such a variety of pathetic in my life.
Madia is a vet. Since when is it a negative to be a veteran?
They can’t shut up about McCain’s POW status of gong on 40 years ago.
When no one does it for him, McCain drops it all over the place.
And its great that he did his service.
How funny that staying at home & having a mortgage is more important. There’s something schizophrenic
in the way the Republicans are trying to slice this crosswise.
Especially Kline. That’s close to home. Does he think he’s worse for HIS own service?
Doesn’t he blatantly peddle it? If he’s that convinced its a bad thing, then people should honor
Kline’s opinion - and not vote for KLINE!!!!
Does this make Paulsen what is called a “chickenhawk?”
Rip the guys who did the heavy lifting - and be prepared to send them out
to do more?
God votevets is an awesome website.
I’ll be the first to say I’m not qualified to comment on whatever code there is for military people using their service in the campaign. If I were a Vet running for office, I would sure use it. I think Kline’s point had more to do with the sanctity of the silent gaurd that is featured in the ad. Maybe within the military community there is a special reverence for it, kind of how there is for the grave of the unknown soldier.
And to have VoteVets come out and condemn Kline is just more partisan mudslinging. Unfortunately, VoteVets isn’t exactly a nonpartisan group. They are endorsing 10 candidates for Congress. 10 Democratic Candidates.
I respect military service. I think it is to be respected in Madia, Sarvi, Kline, and John McCain, and others who have served. To admire military service in a Democratic candidate but to find fault in or diminish it when it is a Republican candidate makes no logical sense at all.
vote vets endorses people who vote FOR vets. No coincidence they would back democrats.
“vote vets endorses people who vote FOR vets. No coincidence they would back democrats.”
??? Say what you want about lame duck Bush, but one thing he has done is created the largest expansion and budget increases in the history of the VA.
dan, its too easy, and you’re too jaded. I will leave your strawman to someone who values your opinion. Vote McCain
Just another stupid negative attack by Paulsen, the candidate that doesn’t listen to his mentor, Jim Ramstad, who stated that the candidates need to stick to the issues and stop the attacks. I thought Erik was standing right next to him, but maybe he never got the memo. As for Ashwin Madia, he puts out another top notch positive ad…he’s the only candidate that has the courage to make the tough decisions. It’ll take discipline and teamwork to get our economy turned around and Madia will work tirelessly with Dem’s, Rep’s and Independents to get the job done.
DtM - Boy Blunder had to increase the VA, because there are more wounded veterans to take care of. And typically, with Boy Blunder, when a $100 increase is needed, he’d send $5. Numbers don’t lie, but Boy Blunder And The Plunderers lie with numbers - constantly.
(gratuitous insult fired at DtM, deleted)
FOR THE RECORD: George W. Bush and the GOP in this century have done a terrible job of utilizing America’s military, and taking care of America’s veterans.
“George W. Bush and the GOP in this century have done a terrible job of ….. taking care of America’s veterans.”
Examples, TPT? Yes, there are issues like the handoff from DoD to VA care being a little shaky, but if anything that has improved recently. It has been an issue throughout history and is being fixed under Bush.
DtM - I’m a member of the VFW, and a member of the DAV - and you are simply full of shit.
cut ‘n paste…
“Examples, TPT?”
DtM, I’m not going to school a loser like you.
But, to remind everyone else what a gutless bootlicker you are, this one was in my inbox today, from the VFW:
VFW Salutes Passage of 2009 VA Budget
From: Veterans of Foreign Wars (friendsoffreedom@vfw.org)
Sent: Thu 10/16/08 3:39 PM
VFW Salutes Passage of 2009 VA Budget
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2008 — The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is saluting the 110th Congress for providing $50.2 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal year 2009 budget.
As part of the $634 billion Continuing Resolution signed by President Bush yesterday, VA discretionary funding is increased $4.5 billion over last year, which meets Independent Budget recommendations for healthcare funding. The Independent Budget is a detailed analysis of VA operations that the VFW has co-authored for the past 22 years with AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
VA budget highlights include $3.8 billion for mental healthcare, $584 million for substance abuse programs, $510 million for medical and prosthetic research, $250 million to improve access for veterans in rural areas, and additional funding for homeless grants, the hiring of 2,000 additional claims adjudicators, and to raise the mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile.
“We are very grateful to the president and to congressional leadership for keeping to their pledge to take care of our veterans,” said VFW National Commander Glen Gardner, a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas. “And we hope the delivery of an on-time budget is the start of a trend that will continue into the next administration and Congress.” VFW
Now, I don’t mind that I served my country, DtM - even if it means pukes like you can spew your partisan rhetoric every chance you get.
But reasonable people should have determined long before now, what I said in my last post to you: you’re full of shit.
DtM regurgiated, in post #8:
??? Say what you want about lame duck Bush, but one thing he has done is created the largest expansion and budget increases in the history of the VA.
Not that this would change DtM’s mind at all, but to demonstrate that while numbers don’t lie, DtM is bootlicker and Boy Blunder is a liar that uses numbers, let’s look at what Dumbya told the VFW iom 2004:
Serving veterans is one of this Administration’s highest priorities,” Bush said. Telling the crowd that “we’re getting the job done,” he explained that if Congress approves VA’s 2005 budget it will have increased 40%, or $20 billion, since 2001. He added that this is a bigger increase in four years than the previous Administration achieved in eight years.
Now while those numbers are true - Boy Blunder did increase the budget the same amount in 4 that Clinton did in 8 - there’s two names that prove he’s a liar using numbers:
Iraq, and Afghanistan.
And Boy Blunder’s own words prove DtM, as usual, is full of shit.