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Obama Tells Veterans: 'I Will Not Let You Down'
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ShareMay 26, 2008 5:40 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: At a town hall with veterans to commemorate Memorial Day in Las Cruces, N.M., Sen. Barack Obama promised veterans that he will not let them down, and spoke about veterans' sacrifices and the need for proper veterans’ benefits.
Outside of the town hall a small group of supporters of Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, had gathered with signs reading, "McCain: good for veterans because he is a veteran."
Still, Obama did not mention McCain's name once during prepared remarks or during the town hall.
"One of the best ways that we can honor our fallen soldiers is to honor those who came back, who survived," Obama told the crowd. "And so, to all the veterans who are here, I am grateful to your service and as president of the United States I will not let you down."
Obama used his grandparents' story of World War II to demonstrate his understanding of veterans issues, but at the same time he reminded the crowd that he, unlike McCain, never served in the military.
"My grandfather marched in Patton’s Army, but I cannot know what it is to walk into battle like so many of you," he said. "My grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line, but I cannot know what it is for a family to sacrifice like so many of yours have.
"These are things I cannot know. But there are also some things that I do know," he said, refering to patriotism and pride in America’s soldiers.
Obama said one of the gifts his grandfather gave him were his dog tags from the war.
"He actually didn’t talk much about his service, you know, there was a real sense of obviously great pride and I remember one of the gifts that he gave me when I was still a teenager was his dog tags that he had still kept, but he didn’t like talking about those stories," Obama said. "But, you know, although my grandfather never talked about it much, you know, he sure was proud of it."
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, campaigning with Obama for the day, used his introduction of the Illinois senator to remind the crowd that Obama supported Sen. Jim Webb’s GI bill for veterans, which the Senate passed on Thursday.
Obama spoke about his support of the bill, which McCain opposed, during the town hall meeting.
"We should make sure that today’s veterans get the same benefit that my grandfather got when he came back from World War II," he said. "It was a good investment not only for him, but it was a good investment for the country, built our middle class. So we're gonna make sure that that get's passed. Because we gotta have outstanding educational opportunities for our veterans when they come home."
On Saturday night, when he was returning from Puerto Rico, Obama told reporters he is not ceding credibility on veterans issues to McCain just because he has not served in the military.
"I will cede to no one the ability to talk about veterans’ issues," he said. "John McCain will have to decide whether he thinks that the current level of benefits is sufficient. If he does, then that’s a substantive debate that we’ll have in November."
Later today, Obama and Richardson will lay a wreath at Veteran's Memorial Park in Las Cruces to commemorate the day.
May 26, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (233)
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Withdrawing from the presidential race would be a good start.
Posted by: smartprimate | May 26, 2008 5:48:14 PM
It is time to end the McCain-Bush War.
Posted by: john | May 26, 2008 5:55:02 PM
You tell 'em, Obama! McCain's argument is false, any way. You don't have to have done the job to be able to manage or lead those that do.
McCain's going to need a lot more than JUST military to catch up with Obama's strengths.
Obama '08!
Posted by: Hopeful | May 26, 2008 6:03:49 PM
Well I can say this much now about Obama he has such a wonderful pastor and we can all recall his words got dam America and his wife who made that other wonderfull statement, they are so brave for making those comments and he deserves to win for that matter and his wife for being so patriot we owe it to them Obama's remember they will be the first blacks in the White house and so let Obmama win this nomination because he is black
Posted by: gg | May 26, 2008 6:12:25 PM
Barak Obama opposed military construction for new bases in the u.s
The dems last year blackmailed our soldiers. They said if the republicans didn't allow a hate crime bill against gays they would block funding for construction of bases in the u.s.
Nancy Boyda voted against new funding for a base in kansas. Obama supported blocking funding for these new bases.
These were soldiers who just came back from iraq and the dems were against them sleeping in a better facility.
The dems are against the troops.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:15:59 PM
Obama is against allowing veterans to have their benefits transferred to other family members if they are killed in action.
The NY Times is silent on this.
This is a major reason why McCain is against the Webb Bill.
The Webb Bill doesn't allow you to transfer benefits to family members.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:17:18 PM
Obama is for the DC gun ban. Obama called the DC gun ban constitutional then in the debate said he hadn't seen the specifics. Our nation is about to elect a marxist.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:18:22 PM
David: You have gotten your facts wrong....mccain is against the GI bill because it allows soldiers to get a full scholarship after serving only three years....mccain hates this.....what's wrong with the DC gun ban? Any sane person would be against it!
Posted by: ted | May 26, 2008 6:22:00 PM
David: The ban is constitutional.....get over it!
Posted by: ted | May 26, 2008 6:23:29 PM
hope: What strengths would that be? Your buying into an empty suit with Obama.
Posted by: rdotx | May 26, 2008 6:23:30 PM
Obama is against allowing construction of barriers on the border. Obama wants to stop construction of barriers on the border. McCain is for allowing construction to continue.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:23:40 PM
Obama wants to repeal Defense of Marraige Act. He is the most liberal candidate to ever run for president.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:24:04 PM
david: He was picked the most liberal senator by one of the most conservative magazines in the country.....gosh your naive!
Posted by: ted | May 26, 2008 6:26:02 PM
I was a Hillary fanatic, but after listening to Obama very often and what Hillary said on Friday about RFK assassination, I realize I picked the wrong candidate. In the General Election I will be happy to vote for Obama. Many of my female friends regret that we had voted for Hillary. We are now Obama fan 100%.
Obama '08!
Posted by: marie pierre | May 26, 2008 6:27:03 PM
To Ted:
Jim Webb's bill doesn't allow benefits of soldiers who are killed in action to be transferred to other family members.
McCain wants the benefits of soldiers who are killed in action to be able to be transferred to other family members.
Jim Webb's bill is flawed those benefits should be able to be transferred. McCain wants them transferred.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:27:07 PM
What has Bush done in the last years for Veterans/ Remember all the promises he made during the 2000 and 2004 campaigns?
Posted by: Roy | May 26, 2008 6:27:10 PM
Veterans all over the country were speaking out today on how bad Obama would be for the U.S.A. It's time that people stand up for what is right!
Posted by: Gerry | May 26, 2008 6:27:30 PM
Obama for years voted for funding for the war.
Then when it came time to run for president he voted against funding. He voted against new MRAP vehicles to fund the troops.
Obama voted against new construction of military bases in the u.s because the republicans wouldn't allow a hate crimes bill for gay rights. Obama voted against new military facilities where soldiers returning from war could sleep better.
Posted by: david | May 26, 2008 6:28:31 PM
david: Funny.....Mccain is so concerned about this issue that he couldn't seem to tear himself away from a fundraiser in CA to talk about it in the senate....
Posted by: ted | May 26, 2008 6:28:58 PM
Any and ALL candidates will spew their rhetoric and promise the world .. and fall flat on their faces (ie Dem Congress)! Don't fall for it Vets - you know the only party that actually cares for those who serve!! Republicans!
Posted by: MJ | May 26, 2008 6:29:34 PM
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