Why do I keep hearing from military family members that the Dems

[The Hope Mobile]

have screwed over veterans benefits recently? Anybody hear anything about this??? Sounds like Limbaugh-speak to me but I really want to know where this is coming from.

[TahitiNut]

1. It's just the usual blame-shifting ... a habit of those who vote 'R.'

:shrug:

[SpiralHawk]

2. It's republicon chickehawk mindf*ck propaganda

Because if you examine the 8 agaonizing FAIL years of the Bush misAdministration, you will see that while they talked loudly of patriotism, they consistently screwed our active military personnel and our veterans.

But, as ususal, the chickenhawk homelander cabal is diabolically clever in misdirection...Thanks a pantload, Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh for your immoral part in this...

[SpiralHawk]

3. It's republicon chickehawk mindf*ck propaganda

Because if you examine the 8 agaonizing FAIL years of the Bush misAdministration, you will see that while they talked loudly of patriotism, they consistently screwed our active military personnel and our veterans.

But, as ususal, the chickenhawk homelander cabal is diabolically clever in misdirection...Thanks a pantload, Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh for your immoral part in this cruel and evil deception...

[MADem]

4. In what way? Who is saying this and what are they saying? nt

[The Hope Mobile]

7. Not funding benefits and programs for the vets basically. Holding

up bills that have any vet benefits in them. My cousin claims that he is trying to start a program for widows/families of fallen soldiers but "its being held up by the dems".

[rvablue]

8. Ask your cousin if he's done the paper and legal work to set up a non-profit.

Bet he hasn't.

[The Hope Mobile]

16. I will but I was really hoping to have some firm evidence in hand

before I start making thinly veiled accusations.

[rvablue]

22. It's not a "thinly veiled accusation," as you said. It's the first step in getting federal grant $$.

And if he hasn't set up 401(ce) or something equivalent to that, then he wouldn't be eligible for federal grant money.

It's basic. Not an accusation. And I bet if you just asked him the simple question, you'd find he hasn't even taken the first steps yet. It's just something to bitch about.

[MADem]

9. Ask him to point you to this legislation that he "created" and is being held up.

Then say "Yeah--I thought so."

[The Hope Mobile]

10. I don't think he's saying he created the legislation at all. I think he's saying

that funding for the program he's trying to start is being held up by some legislation that's currently in front of congress. I have serious doubts about all this but I've seen some reference to it on what appear to be very uninformed personal blogs as well. There was mention of the following bill as well.

http://mccotter.house.gov/HoR/MI11/Newsroom/Press+Releases/2007/05-16-2007+VETS+Act.htm


I responded to the blog saying that I was sure it was propaganda and horse manure and that she should take a break from Limbaugh.

In the meantime, this story seems to have some traction with the Rs and I was really hoping for proof positive that it was BS.

[MADem]

12. Still, tell him to point you to the legislation. And then say "Yeah, I thought so."

What a business boondoggle bill!!! Hire a vet, get a "one time tax credit" and then fire the bastard after the year is up!! Hire a crippled vet, get a bigger tax credit, and then fire his ass, too!

All you'd have to do is reserve one slot for a vet, and rotate 'em through! Yee, haw, gravy train.


WESTLAND - Representative Thaddeus G. McCotter (MI-11) introduced legislation, May 16, calling on Congress to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers an income tax credit for hiring U.S. Military veterans.


The VETS Act would provide a one-time credit to employers against income tax for hiring military service personnel who have been honorably discharged from military service. The credit would equal 40% of the veterans' first year wages, or up to 50% for disabled veterans.

If it takes a tax credit for your cheapass buddy to hire a vet, he's not very patriotic, now, is he?

[Captain Hilts]

5. It's just not true. It was GWB that instructed VA employees to only answer questions they were aske

and not to offer information generically.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. don't know any specifics, but I'll bet you pennies on the dollar

it ultimately is coming from Rove.

He does love to make shit up.

[democracy1st]

11. he just increased benefits to military familys lol

[The Hope Mobile]

17. Great! Do you have a better link? That one didn't get me to anything

about military benefits . . . or maybe I was looking in the wrong place?!? Thanks for the info!

[democracy1st]

21. Obama Increases Military Budget, Ignoring Frank's Criticisms link

Obama Increases Military Budget, Ignoring Frank's Criticisms
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/02/obama-increases-military-budget-ignoring-franks-criticisms


Media Reports Major Defense Budget Cuts As Obama Proposes Increase In Defense Budget
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/media-reports-major-defense-budget-cuts-as-obama-proposes-increase-in-defense-budget.php

[The Hope Mobile]

23. Ooops! Sorry. Looking for something on veteran's benefits.

I really appreciate your help though. Maybe I'm missing it while its staring me in the face!?!?

[democracy1st]

24. link

you should be able to find info here if i find the links i'll post

http://iava.org/

[The Hope Mobile]

25. You're awesome! Thanks! nt

[Still Sensible]

13. Despite continuous evidence to the contrary

during the goddamn Bush administration, be it:

the lack of body armor for troops,
the lack of armored vehicles,
the cuts in veteran's benefits,
the scandal at Walter Reed,
and on and on

The republicans have been able to convince the majority of military folks that democrats are bad for the military and the republicans are good. Despite the evidence, this has become so much the dogma of the service that many simply accept it as fact.

I was an Army brat. I believe the dogma got started during the Vietnam war and became cemented in the culture divide that came in its aftermath. In every way they could, the conservatives and republicans drove a wedge between democrats and military families. The war protests--where IMO much rage was misdirected at returning soldiers instead of a laser focus on the politicians and the top brass--fed the stereotype.

Sadly, it wasn't due to any great concern for the troops that the GOP was able to create the stereotype, but rather for the MIC, for which they were really working. Military families' acceptance of the dogma was a happy--to the MIC--by product.

I still have relatives and friends in the service and I can report that it seems to me the stereotypical thinking has evolved for the better in the last few years. Many in the service finally began to see through the Bush bullshit. I would be interested in seeing the Presidents approval ratings among those in the service and their families to see if my anecdotal observation is reflected.

Certainly the reception President Obama has been getting in military venues so far has been quite strong.

[The Hope Mobile]

18. Agreed! nt

[Ron Green]

14. Military families used to be a real cross-section of families.

Not so much now.

[The Hope Mobile]

20. Most of my family is not involved in the military but most of them are repubs.

So they happily jump on the talking points of the few who are.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. Uh-huh.

:eyes:

[The Hope Mobile]

19. ? nt

[tabasco]

26. Total horseshit.

Obama just increased the VA budget by more than in 30 YEARS.

Repukes are liars. Repukes voters are idiots who believe liars.

[The Hope Mobile]

28. OK. Can you show me where he did that? I'm with you and I

do believe that he cares a lot more about vets than the GOP ever did . . . however, it would be great to have something solid to show them.

[tabasco]

32. Ya' know, there's this thing called the internet these days.

Failing to do a 10-second google check = remain willfully ignorant.

http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nffeb09/nf022609-8.htm

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2009/05/07/prnewswire200905071743PR_NEWS_USPR_____DC13561.html

The federal budget is not a big secret that takes intense research. This is easily-obtained information.

[The Hope Mobile]

35. I did look extensively for the last two days. I appreciate your help.

After I wrote that I did find one good link. Yours are a bonus. Thanks!

[tabasco]

37. Dude, this was the President's first budget, accompanied by a major speech

and tons of news coverage.

I find it very hard to believe that you looked extensively over two days.

Look at the links that come up when you google "Obama VA budget."

http://www.google.com/webhp#hl=en&q=obama+va+budget&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=obama+va+budget&fp=Li-R6mbKWrc

HUNDREDS OF LINKS FROM ALL THE MAJOR NEWS SOURCES, MANY INCLUDING THE FULL TEXT OF OBAMA'S SPEECH.

So WTF is your malfunction?

[The Hope Mobile]

38. I did. Thanks though. nt

[The Hope Mobile]

39. I looked under "Obama Veteran benefits". I saw his speech

and I've seen lots of other speeches. What's said in speeches doesn't always materialize as we've all seen so many times. There was actually a point when they talked about decreasing funding for benefits but thankfully backed down. What I asked for was concrete evidence of things that have actually been done to improve the lives of veterans. Attacking me, though it probably has more to do with your day than me, isn't constructive. Thanks!:hi:

[Horse with no Name]

27. Propaganda. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

29. Isn't Rush on the Armed Forces Radio?

He has probably spewed that lie to the soldiers for years and they believe it.

[The Hope Mobile]

30. My thoughts exactly. nt

[Elwood P Dowd]

31. Obama's VA budget increase is the largest in 30 years!

http://iava.org/blog/president-obama%E2%80%99s-2010-spending-plan-initiates-transformation-va-services

President Obama’s 2010 Spending Plan Initiates Transformation for VA Services
Posted by David Abizaid on May 7

Today the VA announced President Obama’s VA budget for 2010, the largest percentage increase in VA funding requested by a president in over 30 years. The budget will increase 15.5 percent from 2009 to the tune of $112.8 billion in 2010.

The budget request, part of the President’s 2010 spending plan, is meant as a guide for congress and provides a blueprint that will direct congressional funding for all federal agencies, including the VA.

The request includes an 11.1 percent increase in Veteran health care funding, and is designed to begin the long process of modernizing the VA. Secretary of the VA Eric Shinseki spoke to the importance of the new budget, saying, “Our 2010 budget represents the President’s vision for how VA will transform into a 21st Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-driven, and forward-looking. This transformation is demanded by new times, new technologies, new demographic realities, and new commitments to today’s Veterans.”

<snip>

[JuniperLea]

33. Tricky stuff... The R's keep putting this stuff in with things they know...

D's will not go for. It's the same old trick... like Cheney dropping a story in a newspaper, then using it as a point of reference. Same old dirty tricks.

[w8liftinglady]

34. It could be this...from VA Watchdog

although I WILL say VA watchdog is one of the few protesting this



http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nffeb09/nf021209-4.htm
FILNER AND AKAKA TO INTRODUCE ADVANCE FUNDING

BILLS FOR VA HEALTHCARE -- Pundit on budget

gimmick: "Great! Now the VA will know a year

in advance how little they are going to get."



more at site

[The Hope Mobile]

36. Thanks! nt

[earthworship]

40. sending people to war

ain't too military friendly if you ask me