Veterans rally for Obama at Reno protest

Veterans rally for Obama at Reno protest
By ANJEANETTE DAMON • adamon@rgj.com • September 16, 2008


A cadre of Nevada veterans irritated by Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain's lack of support for their initiatives rallied for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Reno on Monday, launching what they hope is an intensive turnout effort in this battleground state.

Saying the Arizona senator failed to support a bill that would've increased the education incentive for veterans and has consistently opposed increased funding for Veterans Affairs, they urged Nevadans to support Obama.

"That's a lot of baloney," said Reno veteran Doug Smith of McCain's opposition to a recent Democratic-backed bill that would have dramatically increased veterans education benefits. "With the amount of money we are spending on Iraq and Afghanistan."

Chuck Fulkerson, an advocate for increased funding to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, criticized McCain for failing to back more VA funding.

"The VA is underfunded," he said. "They don't have enough money for PTSD. They don't have enough money for traumatic brain injuries."

Fulkerson called PTSD a "silent killer," describing the symptoms as road rage, being unpredictable and shouting at family members.

"Does that sound like John McCain?" he said.

An estimated 340,000 veterans live in Nevada.

McCain has centered much of his campaign on his military service and time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Smith said he's bothered by McCain's constant use of his military service on the campaign trail.

"He did not do that before (he ran for president)," Smith said. "Normally veterans don't ask for any special favors."

Those of us who have served know he doesn't walk the walk."
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS19/809160346/1232

You know how I hate to post the whole article, but some just can't be cut right. Please, as usual, click the link so the reporter gets the credit for the hit. It's too important that this is not acknowledged. It's what I've been trying to show the veterans who believe McCain deserves their vote when he doesn't vote for them. He wants their support but will not support them. With McCain, the "Straight talk express" will just run the veterans over and the back the bus up if he gets caught to say he just got there.