Rumor on Obama and veterans proven false

Rumor on the Internet has it that Obama is against veterans and wants to cut VA benefits. I've seen these rumors for a very long time but after a conversation I had today with someone I really admire, it's time to put this rumor into the ashbin of the people that started it.

I told my friend what I know about Obama's feelings toward veterans and that I have a lot of hope in him. He was shocked. Then I told him how Obama, after delivering the speech during the 2004 Democratic Convention, he had the opportunity to sit on any committee he wanted, choosing Veterans Affairs over others. He said that was where his heart was. (This article points that out.)

Aside from this then candidate Obama traveled to Montana to meet with the brother of Spec. Chris Dana. Dana committed suicide and his death touched the heart of the commanders of the National Guard so much so they decided to do something about it. They created their own program to address PTSD. After 27 years of working on PTSD, working with veterans and investing more than half my life in studying the programs offered, this program really showed great promise. Obama, as a senator, on the Veterans Affairs Committee, could have picked any program out of thousands to study, but he picked this one. This showed how much he was paying attention. He picked the best one. Quietly, without being surrounded by hundreds of photographers, he met with Chris Dana's family and the Commanders. He promised that he would take this program nationally if he ended up being elected.

This is how seriously he takes the plight of our veterans.

When you read rumors about President Obama doing anything against the veterans instead of for the veterans, remember what is true and what he is doing, then slam the people sending you false rumors. No one likes to be lied to and you shouldn't tolerate it from people calling themselves your friend. They have their own agenda and it isn't what is happening to our veterans.

Obama renews pledge to transform VA

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 16, 2009 17:00:01 EDT

President Barack Obama spoke Monday about keeping his promises to transform veterans programs and cast that pledge against the personal story of his grandfather, a World War II veteran who benefited from VA help.

Speaking at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which marked its 20th anniversary as a cabinet-level department, Obama expressed confidence in his VA secretary, retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki, to fix much of what ails the agency.

Obama said the homecoming of U.S. combat troops as they withdraw from Iraq over the next 18 months will be a “test” of the nation’s commitment to veterans.

“I intend to start that work by making good on my pledge to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 21st century,” he said.

Transformation, he said, began with a plan to add $25 billion to the VA budget over the next five years.

“With this budget, we don’t just fully fund our VA health care program — we expand it to serve an additional 500,000 veterans by 2013; provide better health care in more places; and dramatically improve services related to mental health and injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury,” he said.

“We also invest in the technology to cut red tape and ease the transition from active duty. And we provide new help for homeless veterans, because those heroes have a home — it’s the country they served, the United States of America. And until we reach a day when not a single veteran sleeps on our nation’s streets, our work remains unfinished.”

Obama said his grandfather enlisted in the Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and after the war went to college on the GI Bill and bought a home with federal government help. Obama said his mother was born at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., while his grandfather was deployed.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/03/military_veterans_programs_031609w/