mikeandronda
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- May 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,888
National Chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign<br />Presidential Candidate<br />Chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia <br />Longest serving Senate leader in U.S. history.<br />Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Twice decorated for his heroic achievement on the battlefield, Senator Dole's decorations include two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. <br /><br />His World War II wounds left him without the use of his right arm.<br /><br /> ""One day he's saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads, throwing away his medals or his ribbons. The next day he's standing there, I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.' Maybe he should apologize to all the other 2.5 million veterans who served. He wasn't the only one in Vietnam,'' -- Robert J. Dole <br /><br /><br />MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT GENERAL PAT BRADY <br />issued the following statement:<br /><br />During John Kerrys time in the Senate he has managed to vote for lower intelligence budgets, lower funding for veterans medical benefits, against higher pay for military families and both for and against the $87 billion dollar package that would provide body armor and increased benefits to the brave men and women serving overseas. Kerry has not yet provided a straight answer to the men, women and families of Operation Iraqi Freedom as to why he did not vote to fund them after sending them into harms way. One of those women in harms way was my daughter who served during the war in Iraq. I find his conduct on troop support irresponsible --even frightening. The senate record Kerry has provided shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the War on Terror, a lack of troop support, and a big reason why no Democrats are discussing it during their convention this week. <br /><br />As a combat veteran I know from experience the importance of supporting our troops. John Kerry was right when he said a vote against funding our troops would be irresponsible but he was wrong to vote against it based on political winds. President Bush has a proven record of support our troops and the 25 million veterans that proudly served our nation. He has earned and holds the highest respect of my daughter and her comrades. <br /><br />And from Lt. Colonel Joe Repya:<br /><br />As a veteran, I am particularly concerned with the way Kerrys views have shifted with the political winds on the serious issue of Iraq and the War on Terror. First, Kerry voted for the War in Iraq, then voted against the funds needed to support our troops in harms way. Having once called such a vote irresponsible, Kerry now says he is proud of what he did. He cant have it both ways, and Minnesotans will not put their trust in someone like John Kerry who puts political opportunism over leadership. I am constantly amazed by the continued efforts to remake the image of John Kerry, especially given Sen. Kerrys record of indecision and vacillation on issues of national security."