Congress "Farm Bill" cut 170,000 veterans off from food stamps

From Vote VetsLast week, Republicans passed a Farm Bill that would kick 170,000 veterans off food assistance. 

Faced with a looming, losing debt ceiling fight, Tea Party Republicans have turned to veterans and the poor as a sacrifice designed to appease their austerity-starved base. 

We've been fighting this battle for a few months, but the stakes are higher than ever this week. 

It's critical that you send a letter to your Senator telling them to oppose any legislation that cuts food assistance for veterans and military family members. You can do that here: 

http://action.votevets.org/food-assistance 

It gets worse... 

A Department of Agriculture study last year found that over 5,000 active duty service members receive food assistance. And, in the same year of the study, over $100,000 in food aid was used on military bases. 

Hundreds of VoteVets veterans have also told us they're currently receiving assistance. We're going to fight for them on this issue. 

Thanks for standing with us in that effort. 

Veterans' Group asks Rick Scott to return $500K contribution

Group asks Rick Scott to return $500K contribution
Tampa Bay Times
Katie Sanders, PolitiFact
Florida Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 10, 2013

A liberal veterans group called on Gov. Rick Scott to return a $500,000 campaign check from St. Petersburg mogul (and Vietnam veteran) Bill Edwards, saying Scott should not take the money following news of Edwards' company being hit with a record fine for violating the “Do Not Call” telemarketing rule.

“Surely Governor Scott will not willingly retain political contributions -- totaling a half-million dollars -- derived from funds that may have been the fruit of misrepresentations to veterans,” VoteVets.org Florida chairman Pablo Pantoja said in a statement. “He should return these tainted contributions immediately. Quite simply our veterans deserve better.”

Update: Pantoja, a 33-year-old veteran of the Iraq War, made headlines last year when he left his post as Hispanic outreach director for the Republican National Committee. He became a Democrat because he grew uncomfortable with the GOP's embrace of tea party positions, and he did not see the party as inclusive, he said.

A representative from Scott’s political committee could not immediately be reached.

It was the second time news of the FTC penalty came up Wednesday. Pinellas County School Board member Linda Lerner brought it up at a mayoral forum hosted by Suncoast Tiger Bay in St. Petersburg.

In June, the Federal Trade Commission announced a civil penalty of $7.5 million against Mortgage Investors after the agency said the company called more than 5.4 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry about home loan refinancing services to current and former members of the military.
read more here

Turner Construction raising money for Butler County veterans

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
Each holiday season, we at VoteVets.org try to raise support for a cause that directly helps the veterans of this nation. Last year, you came through – big time – by donating over $11,000 to Operation Second Chance, which provides support and goods to patients at Walter Reed Medical Center. This year, let’s come through again for another great cause, and show what the season of giving is all about.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO A FUNDRAISER FOR THE BUTLER COUNTY VA
Each year, Turner Construction in Pittsburgh raises money for local causes around the holiday season. Turner is a union shop, employing members of the local Carpenters, Laborers, Pipe Fitters, Electricians, Sheet Metal Workers and Operators. This year, Turner has chosen to raise money for their local VA Center, in Butler County, PA.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, “The medical center offers inpatient care which include nursing home care and domiciliary. Inpatient services are strongly supported by a host of generalized and specialized outpatient programs which generate approximately 125,000 outpatient visits annually.”
As you know, the VA is overstretched, and almost every VA center is coping with underfunding. While we’re hopeful that President-Elect Obama and Secretary-Designate Shinseki will increase the VA budget, VA centers could use some help right now. So let’s help a great one make it through the new year.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO HELP VETERANS IN BUTLER COUNTY
We’ll take your donations and give them to Turner Construction’s fundraiser for the Butler County VA, and local veterans will know that you came through for them.
We know times are tough, and many of you donated incredible amounts to us during the last year. But, please give what you can spare, so veterans can receive the care they deserve.
Thanks for your support, and on behalf of everyone at VoteVets.org, we wish you a very healthy and happy holiday season and the very best in 2009.
Sincerely,
Jon SoltzIraq War Veteran Chairman, VoteVets.org
And Brandon, Peter, Brian, and the entire VoteVets.org team

Who released where Sarah Palin's son will be deployed to?

From VoteVets.org

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
One the most disturbing developments we at VoteVets.org have seen this week are media outlets reporting details regarding the deployment of Track Palin to Iraq, Governor Sarah Palin’s son. In a number of outlets, the details of when and where Track will be in Iraq have been reported. This isn’t just a violation of Operational Security (OPSEC), it puts the lives of every troop around him in danger.

It’s time for the Department of Defense to investigate who is leaking these details to the media. And, we need you to co-sign our letter to the Pentagon to get an investigation underway.
CO-SIGN OUR LETTER DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION HERE

We’re all proud of every child of a politician who is serving in uniform – Democrat and Republican. And, their parents deserve to be proud. That’s not the point.
When someone chooses to bolster that story by leaking classified details to the media, it allows the enemy to gain valuable information that allows them to strike at a symbolic target of importance – and all the troops around that target. It’s dangerous, it’s illegal, and it needs to be investigated.

SIGN OUR LETTER HERE, TO STOP LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

Whoever is divulging this information to the media should be prosecuted and punished, if found guilty. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or of another party, we should all agree that we cannot accept anyone feeding classified details to the press. Join us in demanding the Pentagon investigate.

Sincerely,Jon SoltzIraq War VeteranChairman, VoteVets.org
And Brandon, Peter, Brian, and the rest of the VoteVets.org team
Paid for by VoteVets.org

When it comes to PTSD help heal it or get out of the way!

One more case of "but"

Military Update: Treating mental combat wounds
BY TOM PHILPOTT Daily Press
June 16, 2008

Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, alleged on Wednesday that Bush administration officials were continuing to downplay the mental trauma and brain injuries suffered by veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Filner, D-Calif., said an April RAND Corp. study — "Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery" — justified a 10-fold jump in the U.S. casualty count, compared with the figure of 33,000 American dead and wounded used by the Pentagon.

RAND researchers extrapolated from a survey they conducted of 1,965 vets to conclude that nearly 300,000 service members and vets of Iraq and Afghanistan were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder — PTSD — or major depression. Filner told the pair of researchers, who summarized their findings for his committee, that their work probably understated the problem.

"I personally think these are low estimates, just from my own studies," Filner said. "But if you take even the 300,000, (it's) 10 times the official casualty statistics from the Pentagon. Shouldn't this 300,000 be included?"

Lisa H. Jaycox, a senior behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist who co-directed the RAND study, embraced Filner's argument.

"Well, they are (suffering) an injury condition resulting from combat deployment, and so it's a different kind of casualty," Jaycox said, "but, yes, they are very important numbers."

The three-hour hearing also included testimony from retired Navy Rear Adm. Patrick W. Dunne, assistant secretary for policy and planning for the Veterans Benefits Administration.

At the same hearing, Michael L. Dominguez — principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness — said RAND gathered solid data from its survey but drew the wrong conclusions. The study, Dominguez said, "did not, and cannot, definitively say that there are 300,000 cases of clinically diagnosed cases" of PTSD or depression among vets who served in the two theaters.

Filner angrily interrupted him, telling Dominguez that RAND didn't say it showed 300,000 clinically diagnosed cases of PTSD or depression.

"It was an extrapolation to the possibility" of 300,000 cases, Filner said.

With more than 1.6 million U.S. service members having served in Iraq or Afghanistan, Dominguez said, a finding that 300,000 vets "have experienced some kind of mental health stress is very consistent with our data. And those people do need to be discovered (and) to get help."
go here for more
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/military/dp-local_milupdatenew_0616jun16,0,6743686.story

Over 30 years ago, when people who got into this before I did, there was very little known about PTSD and it had just received that title because Vietnam Veterans fought for it. Five years later, I got into this because of my husband. By then a lot more was known. One of the things was that there were 500,000 with PTSD and this came from a study funded by the DAV. This study was published in 1978 before most of the people being quoted as "experts" today were even born. This is not a new illness. This is not a changing illness because humans are pretty much still made up of all the same parts of their original design.

At the NAMI convention in Orlando this weekend, we heard a lot about a lot of people suffering. A great deal of the people attending were consumers, otherwise known as patients and their families. They sat in the conference rooms right next to people who have working on helping them ranging from simple advocates like me all the way up to psychiatrists and psychologist. Why would people like us get together for 4 days of talking? Simply to provide understanding, knowledge and support to keep trying to fight for all of them. I heard a lot of heartbreak from some of the families dealing with PTSD in their own families.

Every time there was a denial of what is going on, people got up and walked out of the room. Frankly I was wondering why some of them were there are all at the head of the room instead of sitting in back and listening. No one is such an expert they have nothing to learn about this. This is why having conferences is so important for anyone living with or working in mental health needs to participate in events like this whenever and wherever possible.

Throughout the years I've come up on many articles trying to diminish the magnitude of the suffering. Whenever this happened the only question in my mind was focused on why anyone would try to do this instead of listening, learning and being quiet until they knew the answers.

While I post about medications taken totally out of the report I read, I never discuss medication when helping veterans other than to tell them they may need it, to stop self-medicating and to talk to their doctor if they feel like their medication is not working. I have very little to offer on this subject because I am not a doctor and I just don't have enough knowledge to know I am helping instead of harming with the limited knowledge I do have on this subject. In other words, a little knowledge can do a lot of harm so I keep my mouth shut on this and won't step over the line using guess work.

Why can't "experts" do the same when it comes to PTSD? If they are experts with other issues, then they should stay where they are, focus on what they know and stop pretending to be experts on what they know very little about. Why can't they except history for what it is and stop trying to stand in the way of new data drawn from history? The numbers from the Rand Study did not shock me or surprise me at all because all I had to do was pay attention in the first place to the data from Vietnam veterans to know the Rand Study is a lot closer to reality than the VA and DOD numbers are. One more thing jumping out from all of this is the fact the VA and the DAV are jumping around like their hair is on fire trying to cope with all of this. If the numbers are only about 30,000, they would be fully capable of dealing with them otherwise. They are not so inept that 30,000 would totally overwhelm them.

Just open your eyes and know what real is and what an illusion is. If you don't know what the hell you are talking about then go sit in the back of the room and open your ears as well as your mind. Otherwise, you are standing in the way of healing and that is not helping!

The following are in response to some of the things I heard during the conference which caused me to walk out of the room.

FACT: Dr. Katz did conceal the numbers of suicides and attempted suicides. The emails did not just suddenly show up on Senator Akaka's desk. The Katz emails were discovered because of the law suit brought about by Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth. The emails were what he sent because he was trying to cover up the data CBS found with their own research work. The emails were about harmful conditions attempting to be covered up after we already saw too many suicides.

FACT: Norma Perez email about not doing a diagnosis of PTSD, was what it was. No it was not a poor choice of words because of what she followed up this with and mentioned cost cutting and how they "didn't have time" to do a thorough diagnosis. This email did not suddenly show up but was discovered because of a Freedom Of Information Act filed by CREW and VoteVets.

While we are reading horrible stories about suicides and suffering of our troops and veterans, we would not be reading them if they were not happening. This is obvious! How could any of the service organizations be taking on the VA and the DOD if there were not problems that enabled them to be taken on? The DOD and the VA heads will defend everything they are doing no matter what harm is being done as long as they can get away with it. It's all as simple as that. If they were just simply mistaken on what they did, then why were they not willing to correct the harm done and leave it at that instead of defending what they did and their right to keep doing it?

Folks, this is really simple. If there is damage being done and no one is addressing it, the damage will continue and nothing will be fixed. We will keep reading more and more stories about suffering instead of less and less. This blog alone has over 2,000 posts on it and I doubt there are two hundred good stories on it. That's really sad when you consider that PTSD has been known for over 30 years and reported in humans since King David's time.




You can read more about NAMI here.

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
The mission of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is "to eradicate mental illness and improve the quality of life

VoteVets cost increase disability rating for wounded vet

VA Denies Iraq War Veteran's Disability Claim; Cites VoteVets Membership
Brandon Friedman


Vet Voice

Jun 13, 2008
June 12, 2008 - The VA rejected an Afghanistan veteran's disability claim for PTSD last month, citing his membership in VoteVets.org as a reason for the denial.


Staff Sergeant Will King retired from the Army in late 2003, after serving in both the first Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan. As one of the first troops into the Afghan theater after 9/11, Will had been awarded a Bronze Star after participating in fierce fighting in the Shah-e-Kot Valley in March 2002. I know, because I was there with him.

As the months turned to years after his retirement, however, Will started having problems as the Iraq War dragged on. Depressed and unable to sleep, he thought it might be PTSD. Because, as those who study PTSD know, this is perfectly normal: The symptoms of PTSD frequently have a delayed onset that can take months or years to fully materialize. That's why, in April 2007, Will filed a claim with the VA for combat-related PTSD. The VA eventually agreed with Will and diagnosed him with mild PTSD. But Will felt like his condition was worse than that. And to boot, he thought it was getting worse. So Will appealed, and filed another disability claim with the VA in November 2007: He felt his symptoms were serious enough to warrant an increase in his disability rating from "mild" to "moderate."*

Unfortunately for Will, the VA denied his claim six months later, in May 2008. And while I won't challenge the VA's ultimate decision (I'm not a doctor), I find it repulsive that they cited Will's membership in VoteVets.org as a reason to deny his claim.

go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/10373

I am the last person to defend the rules of the VA or how they process claims but in this case, I have to do it a little bit anyway. I doubt being a member of VoteVets cost Staff Sergeant Will King an increase. I'm not saying it didn't but given their track record and reading denials for many, (ok too many) years, this is not something unusual for them to do.

They hear doctors tell them to get a hobby, do some volunteer work, get some exercise, all so that they are not just sitting around. These suggestions the doctors make, all make sense and they do in fact help the veteran to live a better quality of life. A hobby, exercise and especially volunteer work, do not come with a set schedule they have to live up to everyday and the veteran can do these things as the day permits. Take a bad night of nightmares and no sleep that drains them of all energy or bad flashbacks have the same kind of effect on them and bingo, you have a no show at work and you also have someone who is fired. With the "non-committal" aspect, it depends on the day if they can do it or not. I haven't heard of volunteers being fired from organizations for not showing up. How can you fire someone working for free and donating a couple of hours a week? This is the problem with the VA when they use "facts" of the veteran's life to add into the reason they are denying the claim.

If Staff Sgt. King had volunteered for the VA itself, they would have used that for a reason to deny the increase in the rating.


This is part of a decision and it shows how the VA works out claims

In a July 2004 statement, the veteran indicated that he was
unable to function socially. He could not be in crowds, and
was very anxious. He claimed that he was totally disabled
socially due of PTSD.

On July 2004 VA examination, the veteran reported that he
cannot stand people and hates groups or crowds. He reported
extreme anxiety, and that he was unable to sit still or
relax. He frequently started projects and could not complete
them, because he became very anxious and moved on to other
tasks. He had no close friends, as he does not trust people.
He was hypervigilant, and sat with his back to the wall when
in a restaurant. He reported flashbacks and sleep
disturbances with frequent nightmares. He stated that he was
unable to exhibit emotion. He reported intrusive thoughts.
He avoided watching television or discussing current events
relating to war. Mental examination revealed that he was
fully oriented. His verbalizations were largely relevant and
goal directed. He was extremely anxious during the
interview, with constant movements. He exhibited difficulty
with concentration. He acknowledged longstanding depression.
He denied suicidal or homicidal ideation, intent or plan. He
denied delusions, hallucinations or having special powers.
There was no evidence of underlying thought disorder. Severe
PTSD was diagnosed. The examiner noted that the veteran
continued to experience significant difficulties with
interpersonal relationships, emotional numbing, and anxiety.

At the January 2006 Travel Board hearing, the veteran
testified that other than the hobby of flea marketing, he did
not do anything else. That was the only time he felt
comfortable, because he felt he was in control.

On March 2006 VA examination, the veteran reported that he
would occasionally go out to dinner with friends; he did a
fair amount of socializing when he went to the flea markets.
He indicated that he had a great relationship with his
daughter who lived with him along with her two children. At
times they could be overwhelming, and he would then retreat
to the cellar to relax. On a day to day basis he tried to
keep busy. He had done fine occupationally, but was now
retired. He complained that he could not relax and was tense
and restless. Medications helped somewhat, but he continued
to feel nervous. His sleep remained "lousy". He reported
hypervigilance. The only thing that relaxed him was going to
flea markets. On mental status examination the veteran was
described as appropriately dressed and groomed and in no
acute distress, although somewhat edgy. He smiled and
laughed occasionally, but generally seemed to have a
restricted affect. He denied suicidal or homicidal ideation.
He was alert and oriented. His speech was normal. His
thought processes were clear, coherent, goal directed, and
logical. His thought content was free of obsessions,
compulsions, delusions or hallucinations. His judgment and
insight were felt to be intact.

In August 2006, R. J. T., Ph.D., a VA psychologist noted that
the veteran's use of flea marketing was not employment. He
indicated that the veteran's dissociative activity was to
organize and catalog his wares, and that he eagerly awaited
for his daughter and her children to move out of his house so
that he can reorganize it (viz., prepare it in case of enemy
attack).

May 2004 to October 2006 Vet Center records show ongoing
outpatient group therapy for PTSD.

On April 2007 VA examination, the veteran reported that he
continued to struggle with anxiety and depression. He
indicated that as soon as the weather broke he would go to
the flea markets again. He felt at peace at the flea
markets. From time to time he walked to the local fire hall,
which was a block and a half away from his house, and
socialize there while drinking a cup of coffee. He also
socialized at the flea market; he related well to people
there, and did not think about the war. The examiner noted:

"It is a very unusual presentation in that it was
described in a previous report that he dissociates, I
did not really pick up a dissociative episode and I
believe this term has been used figuratively anyway, but
it rather sounds like he goes to relax there and almost
strikingly so".

The veteran stated that he does go out to eat occasionally.
He stated that he was afraid to make friends, although he had
the capacity to make friends. He continued to complain of
recurring nightmares. The examiner noted that on the last
examination the veteran displayed a restricted affect,
although on this examination he did not endorse the same
degree of effectual restriction, as he indicated affection
for his daughter and that he had feelings for his wife when
she was alive. He continued to complain of sleep
disturbances, irritable feelings and hypervigilance. On
mental status examination it was noted that the veteran
appeared anxious throughout the evaluation, twiddling his
thumbs and moving in the chair back and forth constantly. He
was alert, oriented, and a reliable historian. He exhibited
good eye contact. His speech was normal, although at times
pressured. He denied suicidal or homicidal ideation. His
thought process was clear, coherent, goal directed and
logical. His thought content was free of any obsessions,
compulsions, delusions, or hallucinations. There was no
evidence of any major concentration or memory disturbances.
His judgment was good. The examiner noted that the veteran's
current severity of PTSD appeared to be in the moderate to
severe range.

Regarding the 70 percent criteria, the examiner noted that
the veteran was not employed (as he was retired), however he
did do a hobby/job which he seemed to enjoy. He stated that
he was not totally occupationally disabled as he was
"working" selling items on a regular basis in the flea
market. Regarding social impairment, he indicated that there
were deficiencies in family relations, judgment at times,
thinking and mood. He noted that the veteran denied suicidal
ideation, and that there were no obsessional rituals. It was
noted that the veteran's judgment and thinking were mildly
compromised; and that his mood was anxious in the moderate
range. He indicated that the veteran did not have obsessive
rituals that interfered with routine activities, nor did he
have intermittent illogical incoherent obscure cognition. He
stated that the veteran did have anxiety, but it was not
considered to be near continuous; in fact, the veteran
reported that when he was flea marketing he did not feel
anxious, but actually felt at peace. The examiner noted that
there was some inability to function independently, although
he noted that the veteran largely remained independent in
functioning. He noted that the veteran had significant
problems with impulse control and irritable outbursts from
time to time. The veteran did not exhibit spatial
disorientation, and was appropriately dressed and groomed.

The examiner noted that the veteran's PTSD caused some
impairment in areas such as work, school, family relations,
judgment, thinking and mood. He opined that the impairment
as completely debilitating. He described the PTSD symptoms
as functionally impairing in particular areas, with some
areas moderate and others severe.
go here for more
.txt">http://www.va.gov/vetapp08/files2/0810616.txt

You can read more decisions here
http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/va_search.jsp?SQ=vt_vetapp08_ext&RS=1

With the VA it's all about facts. Anything you tell them will go into a claim file. What you tell your doctor goes into how he/she treats you but what you tell the VA is part of the process they use to either approve your claim/increase, or deny it.

It is not that VoteVets should have known better but it's more about doing this and seeing it all for all these years. Some of the cases the Board of Appeals takes on makes my head spin. They are not all about PTSD claims. They cover every claim that does not satisfy a veteran's claim. I've seen some pretty strange findings in claims but they are always cut and dry and state every fact they know. It's not just because the Staff Sgt. was involved with VoteVets, but that he is involved at all goes into the decision. Sometimes it works against the veteran and at other times it just gets mentioned. It depends on what the denial is based on and depends on clinical findings. If they did deny the increase based on being involved with VoteVets, I'll be shocked.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

McCain's war posturing killing morale for troops

Veteran, vets' advocate: McCain's war posturing killing morale for troops
Nick Langewis and David Edwards
Published: Thursday June 12, 2008

The "surge" is working, we are winning in Iraq, and it's "not too important" as to when the troops will be returning home, Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain (R-AZ) said this week.

Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), or McCain's "dog's body," as MSNBC's Keith Olbermann refers to him, portrayed McCain as a particular authority on the Iraq occupation based on his service in Vietnam.

McCain's potential position of power as Commander-in-Chief and his experience in combat give his words extra power to disappoint the troops that hear his projections, and he should know better, said Brandon Friedman, Vice Chairman of VoteVets and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Keith, this is a morale crusher," Friedman said. "If you can imagine, say, a sergeant, who's on his third tour, and he's in the fourteenth month of that tour, and he hears the potential President say something like this, it kills morale.

"The troops over there hang on every word they hear from a leader...especially the Commander-in-Chief, but also someone who could be the Commander-in-Chief. And when they hear something like this, it really kills them on the inside because, you know, their families want them home--they want to come home--or focus on the real Global War on Terror elsewhere."

Olbermann asked: "Does it matter more that they are abandoned by a John McCain who did serve as opposed to a George Bush who did not?"

"Absolutely, Keith," Friedman said. "We've come to not expect a whole lot from George W. Bush. But, when you have a veteran like John McCain who has gone through so much in Vietnam, you really expect a lot more out of him...He should know better. And, for those of us who have been there and who have lived through this, we just would expect a lot more, and it really saddens us to see this happen, because there are thousands and thousands of veterans who just disagree with him on this."

This video is from MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, broadcast June 11, 2008.
go here for video
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Veteran_McCain_gaffe_kills_morale_for_0612.html

Keith Olbermann had a special comment tonight which will end up on YouTube sometime tomorrow I'm sure. He talked about this and about the fact the families are really hurting with the redeployments and extended tours. Olbermann also raised the point that the American people are paying for all of this. It doesn't seem to matter very much to the people in Washington DC that none of this was what we were told it would be and no one lived up to the obligation they owed those who were sent.

I would really like to know what McCain thinks qualifies him to run as someone ready to lead the military. Did he ever plan any kind of military operation? Give orders to men and women in his command? Was he ever responsible for anything more than what he flew? When it comes to being a veteran, yes he was a POW and he bravely chose to stay with the rest of the POW's when he had the chance to leave, his record however as a veteran and a Senator has not been with the veterans. Is it because he had it so hard as a POW that he doesn't think the troops are suffering so badly compared to what he went through so no one should really feel sorry for them, want to take care of them or want to fight for them? It really is a shame when you get right down to it. I voted for McCain in 2000. If he was still the same kind of man he was back then, or what he appeared to be, I would be thinking of voting for him again. The problem is, that man, the man who earned respect is now thinking he's entitled to it without any question.

As for the rest, he doesn't seem to know much about Iraq or Afghanistan, the economy or anything else.

VA officials answer criticisms in Congress

VA officials answer criticisms in Congress
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, June 06, 2008



WASHINGTON — For the second time in a month, Department of Veterans Affairs leaders testified before Congress about an embarrassing e-mail which implied a cover-up of serious health problems among servicemembers.

This time, Democratic senators and veterans advocates called for an independent investigation of the department, saying they believe leaders have created a toxic culture for veterans seeking care.

"There is a sense, whether it’s perception or reality, that [VA officials] make decisions based on money and not on whether veterans are getting the best health care they need," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "It’s disconcerting when we see things like this."

Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org, said a VA bonus program to reward clinics that process the most cases has only exacerbated the problem, unintentionally encouraging managers to cut corners and opt for less-costly treatments.

But VA officials denied those charges. Dr. Michael Kussman, undersecretary for health at the department, said recent controversy surrounding the department is the result of poor publicity from a few missteps, but not a lack of effort by employees treating veterans.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55337

VA retaliated against employees who did not comply with denials

CREW and VoteVets to VA Inspector General: Investigate PTSD Misdiagnoses; "This practice is widespread and systemic."
Submitted by crew on 28 May 2008 - 11:42am. PTSD Veterans Affairs
CREW and VoteVets.org requested that the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) open an investigation into the process and manner by which the VA makes a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans. The letter to the VA, which we sent today, can be found here.

In the wake of the disclosure by CREW and VoteVets.org of an internal VA e-mail advising VA mental health staff in Texas to consider a diagnosis of adjustment disorder in place of a PTSD diagnosis as a cost-cutting measure, both organizations have received new information from VA employees and veterans attesting to the fact that this practice is widespread and systemic. VA Secretary James Peake has repudiated the email as not reflecting VA policy.

The VA has adopted incentive programs that, by rewarding those employees and hospitals that distribute lower levels of compensation to veterans, encourage adjustment disorder diagnoses rather than the most appropriate but also more costly diagnosis of PTSD.

In addition, the VA's internal computer system permits medical files to be changed by health professionals who did not conduct the initial examinations, a practice that appears to have resulted in changed diagnoses from PTSD to adjustment disorder, even where there is no additional medical evidence to support the downgraded diagnoses.

CREW and VoteVets.org also heard from VA employees who suffered retaliation for their failure to support these practices.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said:

It is unconscionable that the VA would actively encourage its staff, through monetary incentives, to misdiagnose our veterans’ mental health. Add to that the mind-boggling disclosure that medical files can be altered to downgrade service members’ conditions, and we have a VA that is betraying those it is supposed to serve. The VA Inspector General must spearhead an investigation into these abhorrent practices immediately.

Jon Soltz, Iraq War vet and Chair of VoteVets.org, added this statement:

Despite what Secretary Peake said, the misdiagnoses being encouraged at the Temple, TX VA Center were not an isolated incident. The only question now is: How widespread is this, and how high up does the problem go? Those of us who served this nation in war deserve to have full confidence in the programs set up to help transition us back to civilian life. These new revelations personally give me zero confidence in the mental health screening and care system the VA oversees.

On May 14th, CREW also sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the VA asking for all records pertaining to any guidance given regarding the diagnosis of PTSD.
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/31847

While it sickens me greatly reading this from CREW and Vote Vets, I have to admit it does not shock me. How could it? Given the fact the DOD is still using Battlemind, which has been proven to be of little good if at all, along with everything else going on, it appears to have been lip service in support of the wound and then sharpening the knife to stab them in the back.

According to the BBC report, the new arrivals in Iraq and Afghanistan are shown Battlemind for "11 1/2 minutes to learn about the psychological impact" as if that is supposed to prepare them for anything. Why is this not working? Simply because it is no good. The rate of suicides has gone up since they began to use it, not only while actively deployed, but the suicide rate has gone up back home as well. What they are doing is not working. If it was, then the rates would drop, not go higher.

Now we learn from the investigations like this one from CREW and Vote Vets, the law suit filed by Veterans For Common Sense, this has all be a fraudulent claim of care. How dare they not only deceive the American people, but further damage the troops as well?

Female veterans are told they will not receive the treatment they need because "they cannot afford the money" when the senate said they would have funded even more if they had known there was a problem.

Dominic DiNatale did the report for the BBC from Afghanistan. He interviewed Sgt. Bruce Cantral, a medic on his 4th deployment between Iraq and Afghanistan, at Bagram Air Base. The Sgt. has already been diagnosed with PTSD and is on a mix of medication and therapy.

Back to Battlemind, again, while only in country a few hours, the new arrivals have to spend two days worth of briefings, which include a lousy 11 1/2 minutes of Battlemind, to prepare them for the psychological impact of war. A very lame attempt to prepare them for the fact 1 in 5 will develop PTSD in theater and later half of those deployed will develop it later.

There are now combat stress teams being airlifted in to try to face this crisis. Yet there are not enough of them. A case in point comes from Fort Warrior.

At a chapel in Afghanistan's Fort Warrior, Chaplain Hill recounts a unit that had been through a terrible fight and arrived at the chapel still covered in blood.

While many will have to live with PTSD, there is also combat stress that is immediate and happens under extreme stress. How is 11 1/2 minute going to prepare them for any of this?

Physical and psychological conditions do not seem to matter as long as they can get them back into combat. This again will only harm them further. The "relentless deployments" and stop loss add to the development of PTSD. This the Army knew years ago, yet the warning fell on deaf ears.

DiNatale tried to interviews at FOB Warrior, but the commander told him that he thought it would harm the careers of anyone he interviewed. Imagine that a commander still thinks it will harm the careers of his men if they talked about being human. Yes, this still exists and give the above report from CREW, it is alive and well no matter how much reassurance the public is given that this attitude no longer lives in the minds of those in charge.

One last thing came in the last few minutes of this report. Congressman Filner was interviewed. He stated that 1/3 of the already diagnosed have committed felonies and there have been 200 homicides, mostly committed against family members.

Go here and watch the interview for yourself and see how seriously this all needs to be taken.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/7422853.stm

Now you can see that the troops are not getting what they need while deployed and then are greeted with more of the same from the VA afterward. Yet they seem so surprised there is such a huge problem. The right-wing bloggers are attacking the media and Peake is telling them that the problems reported are overblown!

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation."

- George Washington

McCain says the legislation is too expensive on GI Bill

McCain says the legislation is too expensive and has proposed his own version, which would increase the monthly benefit available to most veterans to $1,500 from $1,100. It would not offer the equivalent of a full scholarship.

The ad by VoteVets.org Action Fund, features Iraq and Afghanistan veterans noting that both McCain and President Bush oppose the bill.

"McCain thinks covering a fraction of our education is enough," one veteran says. Another one, pictured recovering from head wounds, adds in a voiceover: "We didn't give a fraction in Iraq. We gave 100 percent."

"Senator McCain" an announcer concludes, "we respect your service. Please respect ours."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052000020.html

I heard this ad. McCain said the GI Bill was too generous in one of the speeches he gave. Can you imagine that? Too generous? For men and women who were willing to risk their lives, do what they were asked to do and always gave 100% while deployed doing their jobs! McCain doesn't think they are worth it. I don't think he's worth any support from any of them. Think about it. While McCain seems to be running on being a Vietnam Vet and POW, he has voted against the veterans and the troops while in the senate. He is no longer a POW and he is longer in the military, so that makes him a veteran, yet he cannot be bothered to vote in their best interests or in the interests of the troops serving now.

He is a Senator and must be held accountable for what he has done, along with what he has not done all these years serving in the Senate. That is what this election has to come down to. Yes, he deserves respect as any veteran does, but just because he is a veteran that does not mean he is not a jerk and a hothead who does not give a damn about any of the needs veterans have. Begin a veteran does not give him the rank of saint demanding unquestioning worship! Stop bowing down to him and hold him accountable.

I would be the first one backing him if he cared about the troops and the vetearns. After all, I voted for him when he ran against Bush in 2000. He is no longer that same man who cared more about the country than the power he could obtain from this country. He has found people more worthy of his attention than the troops and most of them are lobbyists.

Senator John Cornyn didn't stand up for Vets, Vet Runs Against Him

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tony Gray at 713-857-2069
DATE: May 20, 2008 Cara Morris Stern at 202-261-2387

New Vets Ad: Cornyn Should Stand Up for Troops
Troops Gave 100% and Deserve Leader Who Will Do the Same, Says Noriega
Veterans Group Highlights Cornyn’s failure to fight for our Troops

HOUSTON, TX – Yesterday it was announced that more Texas troops will be heading to Iraq this fall and in 2009 – some of them for their third or fifth tour of duty. U.S. Senate candidate and Texas State Representative Rick Noriega, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard, is continuing his fight to make sure these men and women are supported when they return home with the bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act which would cover full in-state tuition at public universities.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, however, refuses to support the bipartisan GI bill that passed the House of Representatives and is supported by the majority of the Senate and instead supports a greatly watered down bill that would only cover a fraction of the tuition for returning veterans.

“Our brave men and women give 100% on the battlefield and they deserve 100% of our support when they return home, but Senator John Cornyn backs GI benefits that would only cover a fraction of the tuition for our veterans. Texans and our troops deserve better,” said Rick Noriega. “As a member of the Texas National Guard and an American, I am proud to give our troops the tools they need on the battlefield, but I know they will also need new tools when they return home.

That’s why I support the bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act that would give our brave men and women the kind of GI Bill education benefit they deserve.”

Votevets.org, a group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, announced a television ad campaign today in Texas targeting John Cornyn and calling on him to support the bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act, which has the backing of most major veterans groups.

Cornyn’s Record of Shortchanging Our Troops and Veterans

• In May 2003, Cornyn voted against an amendment that would allow a 50 percent tax credit on the salaries employers pay workers who are in the National Guard or Reserves and have been put on active duty. [Vote 163, 5/15/03]

• In 2005 Cornyn voted against bringing to vote an amendment that would ensure that funding for the Veterans Health Administration takes into account changes in inflation [S AMDT 1937 to HR 2863].

• In the same year he voted against bringing to vote an amendment that would have appropriated $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder [S AMDT 2634 to S 2020].

• In 2006 Cornyn received a grade of D- by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a rating of 60 by the Disabled American Veterans.

• In 2007 he voted against the Webb Amendment that would have mandated minimum intervals between deployments for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would have required that soldiers spend as much time at home as they do deployed in a combat zone (S AMDT 2909 to S AMDT 2011 to HR 1585, Vote #241, 7/11/07).

• In July 2007, he voted against an amendment that would have limited the length of troop deployments in Iraq, with certain exceptions, beginning 120 days after enactment. It would have limited the deployment of soldiers in the Army and Army National Guard to 12 consecutive months. [HR 1585, Vote #243, 7/11/07]

.-30-
Paid for by Rick Noriega for Texas

Rick Noriega is a member of the Army National Guard. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense


Moira Mack
Hildebrand Tewes Consulting Inc

Public opinion on Iraq:Call in

Media Advisory for Friday, March 28, 2008 @ 1PM, EDT***

Call-in#: 888-325-3989, Passcode: 546571



Iraq Experts Hold Press Conference Call to Respond to Upsurge in Violence, Out of Touch Bush, McCain Assessments on Iraq



As U.S. Forces Are Pulled into Fighting in Baghdad, and as Green Zone Comes Under Attack, Iraq Veteran, National Security Expert, Expert on Public Attitudes Towards Iraq Asses the





WHO: Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman and Co-Founder of VoteVets.org, Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Jim Gerstein, Democracy Corps



WHAT: Press Conference Call Regarding Upsurge in Violence in Iraq, Evolving Public Opinion on Iraq



WHEN: Friday, March 28, 2008, 1:00 P.M.



Call-in#: 888-325-3989

Passcode: 546571

Bad news on Army Mental Health. Is McCain Listening?

Latest Army Mental Health Survey Brings More Bad News -- Is McCain Listening?
Posted March 6, 2008 12:46 PM (EST)

Today's release of the Army's latest mental health survey provides very little to be happy about. In the past, I've talked repeatedly about mental injuries in war, so I won't rehash all of that again. But here are the highlights from today's report:

Despite all the talk about how wonderful things are in Iraq, the overwhelming majority of troops in Iraq continue to say that morale in their units and their own morale is low. Just 11 percent reported that their unit's morale was "high or very high." Only 20 percent said their own morale was "high or very high."

Afghanistan, which is quickly becoming the 'forgotten war' for Bush/McCain, is finding a worsening of the mental health among our troops there. Preliminary reports are that there has been a rise in the amount of troops in Afghanistan reporting depression. In Iraq, troops report the same level of depression as last year.

Combined, the findings are highly troubling. What it tells me, and any person with an elementary school education, is that for all the talk of success in Iraq, the troops aren't feeling that, at all. At the same time, we're crushing our troops in Afghanistan, who have done heroic work there with little help, but now are feeling increasingly overwhelmed.
click above for the rest

McCain Bush's pal and no friend of veterans

John Sidney McCain
Current Office: U.S. Senate
Party: Republican
Status: Announced

Veterans Issues

2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 20 percent in 2006.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of D.

2006 Senator McCain sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 25 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The American Legion 50 percent in 2003.

2001 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 46 percent in 2001.

1999 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 66 percent in 1999.

1997-1998 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 0 percent in 1997-1998.

1989-1990 On the votes that the Vietnam Veterans of America considered to be the most important in 1989-1990 , Senator McCain voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.

Veterans Issues

Date Bill Title Vote
10/01/2007 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 NV
02/02/2006 Tax Rate Extension Amendment N
11/17/2005 Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment N
10/05/2005 Health Care for Veterans Amendment N
go here to see how the others rank.
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJAN08/nf012108-1.htm

Support the troops and get rid of Mitch McConnell

This is a no-brainer! If you really support the troops and the veterans, you need to get rid of Mitch McConnell. Take a look at his record and fully understand that while he claims to care about those who serve this nation, he has served his friends instead. This is a double post on both blogs because it is too important to not post all over the place. If you're like me, you are tired of hearing what they say but watching what they do proves they are full of hot air!

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
How badly do you want to send Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, packing? Pretty bad, right? Now, how badly would you love to see an Iraq War Marine be the guy who takes McConnell's place? If you're like me, the very idea of that has you pretty pumped.
Well, I have some good news for you. Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (Ret.), a Marine who served in both the current war in Iraq and Desert Storm, has launched his campaign to beat Mitch McConnell and take this government and country back for the people. The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote of the promise Andrew holds in an editorial this weekend, saying, "Mr. Horne is a serious man, and his candidacy should be taken seriously," and "He would be a credible alternative to the incumbent."
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ANDREW HORNE IN HIS RACE TO BEAT MITCH MCCONNELL
While Andrew holds great promise for us this cycle, he cannot do this without your financial help. Mitch McConnell is one of the best-funded politicians in 2008, because of the support he gets from his corporate buddies. So, what's all that special interest money gotten us? Let's take just a small walk through the record of Mitch McConnell (Warning: Hold your nose):
He led the filibuster of the Webb-Hagel "Dwell Time" amendment that would have given our exhausted troops as much time at home as in the field.
He led the all-night filibuster of legislation that would have set us on a real change of course in Iraq, that would have allowed us to give Iraqis more responsibility, while freeing U.S. forces to take on the real threat to America -- al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He consistently worked his side of the aisle against the same veterans he's been fighting tooth and nail to keep in Iraq, beating back amendments to ensure a funding stream for veterans' health care, increase Veterans' medical services by closing corporate tax loopholes, and guarantee full-funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
And, most recently, he callously quipped that we ought not feel too bad about those who died in Iraq, because, afterall, "remember, these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."
CLICK HERE TO TAKE DOWN MITCH MCCONNELL AND SUPPORT THE TROOPS
We all know these issues are going to come up in McConnell's campaign. When they do, at the debate, who do you want on the stage with McConnell to challenge him face-to-face? A politician, or a genuine patriot who served our nation in Iraq? As Andrew says, "Simply put, while Mitch McConnell carries George Bush's water on Iraq, I carried a rifle in Iraq."
That's the type of opponent that Mitch McConnell fears the most, but this can only come to pass if you get into the fight. That's why today, I'm proud to say VoteVets.org PAC endorses Andrew Horne for Senate, and why I am asking you to please give him your support.
Sincerely,
Jon SoltzIraq War VeteranChairman, VoteVets.org
P.S. The above links will take you to Andrew's donation page. If you're in Kentucky and are interested in helping his campaign, or just want to find out more, you can go to his website - http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?key=135352556&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewhorne.org%2F

Support the troops? Then listen to them and take care of them

I would really like to know who the "pro-war" people are really being active for? It certainly isn't the majority of the troops in Iraq. I even doubt it is for the troops in Afghanistan considering they probably wouldn't be there either had Iraq not been invaded. I have never once read anything they had to say about what is happening to the troops and to the wounded, the way the DOD treats them, the way the VA tortures them until their claim is approved. If they really supported the troops, they would be fighting for them, spending the time they take to reinforce their ideology to help them.

This stopped being about Republican or Democrat a long time ago. This is about continuing to do the wrong thing or beginning to do the right thing. This is about them, what they need, what they earned and what they deserve from us. We fail them when they serve and we fail them after. Can't this country get one thing right for their sake? The least we can do is hear them. We can't even do that right.

VoteVets.orgNov 29 2007
Contact: Moira Mack, moira@hildebrandtewes.com
Troops Blast Rep. Duncan Hunter for Debate Remarks

***Watch It***

In last night's Republican presidential debate U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter outlandishly claimed that most U.S. soldiers are conservatives.

Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org, an organization representing thousands of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, lashed out at the congressman for making false claims about the troops just to support his own political views.

"I was appalled by Rep. Hunter's attempt to score cheap political points by falsely labeling the views of the brave men and women in uniform. It is beyond disrespectful to me and smacks of desperation on the congressman's part," said Soltz. "The reality is that the troops and their families reflect the nation as a whole – and the majority of this country and our troops oppose Hunter and Bush's defeatist policies, and their obsession with keeping our troops in Iraq’s civil war. Last night Rep. Hunter proved himself to be out of touch with the military, and with the country."

ZOGBY POLL OF TROOPS - Nearly three in four troops (73%) say they are personally comfortable in the presence of gays and lesbians.

NEW YORK TIMES / CBS POLL OF TROOPS – Two-thirds of troops and their families think things are going badly in Iraq. This represents a dramatic increase from just a year prior.

MILITARY TIMES POLL OF TROOPS – Only a third of troops approve of the President's handling of the war in Iraq, which represents crumbling support from past polls. Nearly 75 percent say the military has been stretched too thin by President Bush. Those troops who think there can be a military success in Iraq has plunged by 30 percent.

ZOGBY POLL OF TROOPS – A Zogby International Poll found that 72 percent of troops on the ground in Iraq thought the US should get out within a year, in 2006.

VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary. It represents the Voice of America's 21 Century Patriots - those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. It primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf of troops, veterans and their families.
Paid for by VoteVets Action Fund, http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votevets.org%2F

Can you hear them now?

VOTE VETS VOW TO HOLD CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Vow Accountability for Failure to Override Bush Veto on Veterans Spending
By VoteVets.org Press Release
PUBLISHED: November 16, 2007

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS VOW ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FAILURE TO OVERRIDE BUSH VETO ON VETERANS SPENDING

WASHINGTON - The largest political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans today reacted angrily to news that the House of Representatives failed to get the 2/3 vote needed to override President Bush's veto of spending for military veterans.

"It is unconscionable, with estimates of problems veterans face getting worse every day that so many in Congress would fail to stand up to this President on behalf of our nation's veterans," said Jon Soltz, Iraq War veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org.
click post title for the rest