Former Senator Larry Pressler, Republican of South Dakota. (photo: Jim Luce)
09 October 12
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a combat veteran of two tours in Vietnam with twenty-two years of
service as a Republican member of the U.S. House and Senate, I endorse
President Barack Obama for a second term as our Commander-in-Chief.
Candidates publicly praise our service members, veterans and their
families, but President Obama supports them in word and deed, anywhere
and every time.
As a Vietnam vet, one of the reasons I support
President Obama is because he has consistently shown he understands that
our commitment to our servicemen and women may begin when they put on
their uniform, but that it must never end.
This decision is not easy for any lifelong Republican.
In 2008 I voted for Barack Obama, the first time I ever voted for a
Democrat, because the Republican Party was drifting toward a dangerous
path that put extreme party ideology above national interest. Mitt
Romney heads a party remaining on that dangerous path, proving the
emptiness of their praise as they abandon our service members, veterans
and military families along the way.
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.
And along with high-profile Republican surrogates,
Romney and Ryan are pandering to election-year politics rather than
focusing on pending cuts to military spending. Strategy should drive our
military priorities, not party purity.
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.
President Obama ended one war, is ending another and
meeting our national security needs with support of our military
leaders. He's laid out a clear plan that would reduce the deficit and
prevent the mandatory military spending cuts that no one wants. But
today's Republican Party, including Ryan who voted for the deal that
would trigger the cuts, is willing to bring our country's defenses to
the fiscal cliff - just so a multimillionaire doesn't have to pay a
single extra penny in taxes. And the real lack of leadership? Failing to
own up to your role in racking up a record debt from two unpaid wars
and two massive unpaid for tax cuts. Mitt Romney leads the party that
fails this leadership test.
And as former member of the U.S. Senate Budget
Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the then
Commerce Committee, I came to know the federal budget in detail. I'm
disappointed that just as our troops are returning home after a decade
of war, 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. Again, they would short change our national
security and the education, health care and employment benefits our
veterans have earned and deserve just to cut taxes for the wealthiest
Americans.
Let's be clear, Romney and Ryan would be disastrous
for America's service members, veterans and military families. Public
praise rings hollow when you fail to mention an ongoing war in accepting
your party's nomination to be president, or veterans in a speech to the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, a so-called jobs plan or in a budget that
should be a blue print of our nation's values.
Meanwhile President Obama recognizes our sacred trust
with those who serve starts when they take their oath and never ends.
He's enacted tax credits to spur businesses to hire unemployed veterans
and wounded warriors. He implemented and improved the post-9/11 GI Bill,
the largest investment in veterans education since the original GI Bill
over sixty years ago. He's proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that would
put returning service members to work as police officers, firefighters
and first responders.
As part of his achievable plan to keep moving our
country forward, the President would use half the savings from ending
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to help pay down our debt and invest in
nation building here at home, putting Americans back to work -
including our veterans - fixing our roadways and runways, bridges and
schools.
And something that hits close to home, 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. As someone with service-related PTSD, I meet
with younger veterans weekly to help them through the treatment and
transition to a productive civilian life. It makes a difference for them
knowing their President has their back.
That's the difference in this election. In word and
deed anywhere and every time, President Obama never forgets that
standing by those who serve is the heart, soul and core value of this
country. As a life-long Republican, I stand by him as he stands by all
of us, putting national allegiance ahead of party affiliation. I endorse
President Obama for reelection in 2012.
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