Obama to expand size of military and veterans healthcare

During the campaign, there were a lot of false claims made about what Obama wanted to do. One of them was a claim made by the McCain supporters that Obama and the Democrats wanted to cut the military, but this was never true. While Obama does in fact want to cut the defense spending, he wants to do it by cutting out the waste in what the Department of Defense spends. He also wants to stop spending billions of dollars in Iraq when the Iraqi government has billions in reserves not being used for their own sake.

The other false claim told over and over again is that Obama would not take care of the veterans. The problem with this is that Obama has been on the Veterans Affairs Committee and has been focused on what the veterans need. The Democrats are not the enemy of veterans, but have been providing the hearings and changes for what the veterans need since they took control in 2006.

It's time for the military and veterans to set their minds at ease and stop believing in gossip. Learn the facts on line from Obama's site and know what he wants to do for them.



For Defense issues

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/defense/



For Veterans Issues


Barack Obama will restore our sacred trust with our nation's veterans:
Obama and Biden are committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve.
Help returning service members:
Obama and Biden will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA's broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans.
Improve mental health treatment:
Obama and Biden will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/

In this Section
A Sacred Trust
Help for Returning Service Members
Improved Mental Health Treatment

New attitude: Obama vows change, agency by agency
The Associated Press

Obama wants to increase the size of the Army, Marine Corps and special operations forces, efforts already under way. He has called for greater emphasis on counterinsurgency missions — a move the military recognized as critical in the early years of the Iraq war, and began to implement.

Lolita C. Baldor

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Obama wants to expand VA health care for veterans. Congress voted in 1996 to do that, but the agency has exercised its authority to suspend enrollments as needed. Obama has said that led to 1 million veterans being turned away, and he has promised to reverse the policy.

He also said he would improve screening and treatment for mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury; expand the number of housing vouchers and start a program to help veterans at risk of being homeless; add more rural veterans centers; create an electronic system to transfer medical records from the military; and improve preventative health options.

Kimberly Hefling
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Veterans noticed they were not important enough last night

Veterans have noticed they have not been important enough to make it into the debates. Between what has been going on with the re-deployments, stop-loss, extra stress on the National Guards and their families, VA healthcare, attempted suicides, suicides, PTSD, TBI and all the rest the troops and veterans have to deal with, you would think that they would be one of the most important issues the candidates talk about but they don't. It's really a shame they are not asked to prove their claims on veterans issues. You would think that the report card the IAVA put out would have at least been mentioned but it didn't come up. Somehow I have a feeling that if it did, the notion about McCain being best on anything would have disolved. The question is, is it the veterans they media doesn't want to focus on or is it McCain's record?

T. Tarantino, Washington, D.C.: The last question has come and gone, and not one about veterans issues. Despite the rhetoric that we hear in speeches and around bars, I’m afraid that the issues that are being faced by the men and women who put their lives on the line for the country are just not a priority for the American people, and only a priority for candidates when it can score them a few “cool” points. Barack Obama has talked in the past about these issues, but not lately. John McCain is the most famous veteran in America, yet he chooses to not talk at all about them. They better step up their game, because veterans pay attention, and they vote.

V. Laporte, Detroit: All of the issues I had hoped would be discussed tonight were not even mentioned; though I am not surprised. It is interesting to note the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s “Veteran Report Card”. Sen. Obama, garnering an unexemplary grade of “B”; still has some work to do in supporting legislation concerning veterans education and health care. Sen. McCain, in contrast to his military roots and proclaimed “affection” for veterans; garnered a failing grade of “D”. Regardless, I would have liked to hear more from Sen. McCain about his proposed privatization and deregulation of veterans healthcare.

A. Arcangel, New York City: A lot of the second half of the debate was dedicated to foreign policy yet there was no talk about veteran’s issues and issues that our troubled military face. We have pushed our military, both active duty and reserve components. Guys from my old unit have just completed their third tour in Iraq and are concerned about where we are headed next. I believe both candidates dropped the ball by not mentioning what they will to do “support the troops” both in uniform and those who have returned to civilian life.

C. Schapper, Washington, D.C.: I am still stuck on McCain saying earlier that the military is one of his top priorities; however, veterans have not been his top priority. You cannot have one without the other. How can he support the military going into the fight, but not coming out of it? His recent voting record on veterans issues can be found here.
I am glad Obama brought up the importance on diplomacy. One of the best ways to take care of our military is to do our best not to use it until all other avenues of approach have been exhausted.
click post title for more of what they had to say

Is McCain Hiding PTSD?

McCain delays releasing medical records again, raising suspicion
John Byrne
Published: Friday April 4, 2008


Declined to provide files three times to New York Times

A little noticed remark in the press is generating heat for McCain's presidential campaign.

On Wednesday, McCain's campaign told CNN that the Arizona senator's medical file would be produced May 15. Trouble is, they previously said they'd be released April 15, and they've refused to turn the records over to the New York Times on at least three occasions.

This has led some on the left to question, "What's he hiding?" -- as is the banner headline on the politics section of liberal blog, The Huffington Post.

"Mr. McCain has yet to make his full medical records or his physicians available to reporters," the Times veteran medical correspondent Dr. Lawrence Altman penned in March. "At least three times since March 2007, campaign officials have told The New York Times that they would provide the detailed information about his current state of health, but they have not done so. The campaign now says it expects to release the information in April."
click post title for the rest

While there is nothing to be ashamed of if he has PTSD, it is a question that needs to be answered, now more than ever as he tries to become the President. We've all seen enough of the side problems PTSD causes to know we have a right to worry. His anger issues, mood swings, memory loss are all issues that need to be addressed. Above all is the fact that experts say the rate of PTSD in people who have been tortured is 100%, assuming this is correct, the American people have a right to know if McCain is mentally disabled and at what level if he is to be even considered for the job of President. As President he will have to make very important decisions, deal with world leaders and have very clear thinking. While McCain's age is a concern, it is not the most pressing one.

McCain wants to run on being a POW Veteran and seems to believe this alone qualifies him to lead the nation as well as stand as Commander-in-Chief, however his voting record is something he is either apparently avoiding or forgetting about. His record on veterans issues as well as the care of the Armed Forces plainly sucks. It's one thing for the media to think he's charming, but I want the media to think more about his ability than his charm. They already showed how little they care about who leads this nation when they adopted Bush and pushed him on the public instead of asking and investigating answers.