Larry Pressler is a combat veteran of two tours in Vietnam and spent 22 years as a Republican member of the U.S. House and Senate. He's voting for Barack Obama. Here he explains why:
What really set me off was Romney's reference to 47% of Americans to be written off - including any veteran collecting disability like myself, as a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) veteran.
Behind closed doors with his donors, Romney made clear he'd write off half of America - including service members and veterans - because, as he said "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility for their lives." But there's no greater personal responsibility than to wear your country's uniform and defend the rights we all enjoy as Americans. We don't sow division between "us" versus "them." The Commander-in-Chief sets the bar for all to follow and fight for the entire country. Mitt Romney fails that test. As a veteran I feel written off.
Just as revealing is what Romney actually says publicly. As a former Foreign Service Officer, I find it offensive that Romney, Congressman Paul Ryan and their Republican Party are politicizing the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other brave Americans who lost their lives in Libya. Being Commander-in-Chief requires a resolve and steadiness that's immune to politics and fear mongering. Mitt Romney fails that test...
We are a nation at war - the longest war in our nation's history - and we must remember the sacrifice that so many have given for the protection of our country and our values. That's why it's so surprising that Republican nominee Mitt Romney has given five speeches on foreign policy - and will be giving another one today - and has yet to outline any plan to end the war in Afghanistan or bring our troops home. That's unacceptable for anyone running to be Commander-in-Chief.
Some other reasons:
- Romney and Ryan might gut by up to 20 percent investments in the Department of Veterans Affairs - and even suggest privatizing the veterans' health care.
- President Obama enacted tax credits to spur businesses to hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors.
- President Obama implemented and improved the post-9/11 GI Bill, the largest investment in veterans education since the original GI Bill over sixty years ago.
- President Obama proposed a Veterans Jobs Corps that would put returning service members to work as police officers, firefighters and first responders.
- President Obama also secured the largest increase in VA investments in decades so our veterans get the care and benefits they earned, like treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
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