Former Republican Senator & Vietnam Veteran Larry Pressler Endorses President Obama

[TroyD]

Last edited Tue Oct 9, 2012, 05:32 AM - Edit history (1)

10/08/2012

Larry Pressler

Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota

As 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.

More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-pressler/larry-pressler-obama_b_1948415.html

[mnhtnbb]

1. Terrific. Shared to fb page.

Putting national allegiance ahead of party affiliation. How refreshing for a Republican!

[progressoid]

2. I just spent a few days in South Dakota. Interesting thing I noticed...

There were lots of yard signs for local, state, and house of rep candidates. But I never saw a single yard sign for president. I did see one Obama bumper sticker. That's it. One bumper sticker.

Weird.

I'm going back in a few days. I'll see if anything has changed.

[TroyD]

3. Regarding Vietnam, I'd like to ask Ex. Sen. Pressler

If one of the things that offends him about Romney is Mitt's hypocrisy and draft dodging concerning his military service.

[Cha]

13. Yes, mitt romney draft dodger to

mitt war Monger.

[SpankMe]

4. There was an avalanche of high profile Repub's going for Obama in '08.

I'm glad to see there are still a few taking that leap in '12, too.

Keep 'em coming!!

[NightOwwl]

5. I don't often share on fb

but for this I made an exception.

[Tippy]

6. Dam would like to share but hate to link to HPost

[MADem]

9. Link to DU instead. That removes the sin, somewhat. nt

[TroyD]

40. Or if you can prefer you can link to his interview at Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/08/ex_gop_senator_larry_pressler_veterans_very_offended_by_romney/

[yends21012]

7. ...put extreme party ideology above national interest...

This phrase describes pretty much all behavior of the RW and is a key point in making sure that not only does Rmoney not get elected, but also that all of those that believe they are as 'entitled' as he is to not be elected.

[viguy007]

8. There once was a time when we had sane republicans

Thank you Larry

[WI_DEM]

10. Obama should cut an ad with 'sane' republicans endorsing him

it would appeal to 'indies'.

[BrainMann1]

20. I think he has.

[Panasonic]

27. Charlie Crist has endorsed him.

And was a speaker at the DNC convention.

Said the party left him.

He's right.

[GallopingGhost]

11. I love this letter.

As the mother of a child who is considering military service, I do NOT want someone like Mitt Romney in office. He has shown, with his stupid and careless remarks and attitude, that he is completely unfit to make any decisions of a military nature.

[VirginiaTarheel]

12. Put this dude in an Ad

Why don't Dems like to run ads featuring Republicans supporting Dems? Cross party support ads are very effective with swing and independent voters.

[Cha]

14. Thank you, Larry Pressler!

[Drunken Irishman]

15. God bless our Vietnam Vets!

[elbloggoZY27]

18. Just a Thanks

As a Vietnam Veteran I thank you.

[RVN VET]

16. Wow! Pressler was the only honest politician in the Abscam mess

As I recall, he told the undercover FBI people who were pretending to be, I think, Arab's looking to buy influence in Washington, to go to hell. He's on tape somewhere telling them that they were asking him to violate his oath of office as well as the law.

Good for him. My respect for him has now grown even more.

[elbloggoZY27]

17. Vietnam Vet

I am a Vietnam Veteran and Federal Employee and will be voting for President Obama.

The Republican Party has failed the Veterans and Citizens of the United States.

Recently I read a very distressing article In the New York Times that the GOP is doing nothing for the Cities of the United States & today I read a story the Detroit MI is so dangerous that the police are warning people not to come to Detroit.


I find this hugely ugly and unacceptable.


Thanks Larry Pressler.

PS The Rommney/Ryan duo are not qualified to run for office.

[Aldo Leopold]

19. Thank you, good sir!

[DFW]

21. Holy Badlands, Batman, I've met this guy a number of times

Haven't seen him recently, but I always used to think he was too nice a guy to be a Republican.

Nice to know I wasn't totally off base! He used to come to parties in DC where my little music duet used to be hired to play background music.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Fact: Republicans praise troops, shaft veterans. Democrats praise troops, support veterans. nt

[kathman-duzi]

23. Shame this didn't come out on the floor a few years ago, it might have had a vast impact.

Easy to say once someone isn't running for office. Appreciated just the same though thank you for your service and continued help with your disability!

[politicasista]

25. +100 n/t

Last edited Mon Oct 8, 2012, 08:00 PM - Edit history (1)

[hrmjustin]

28. good man.

[Skittles]

29. that is an honorable man

he could have and should have come around sooner but better late than never I guess

[Wellstone ruled]

31. Thanks Larry,

got to be tough for you living in the Reddest part of Sodak. Going to really piss off all of your hunting buddies north of you eh. That took some brass pal.

[Tx4obama]

33. K & R n/t

[jenmito]

34. K&R! n/t

[CarmanK]

36. Need these types of endorsements: NO EASY DAY abt binLaden, author dismisses imp of Politics.

Those SEALS did a great job on the mission to kill binLaden, but according to NO EASY DAY there is no appreciation for the political risks that Obama took to make that mission happen.
Carter-lost bec of Iran Hostage rescue fail, Kennedy was embarrassed by Bay of Pigs. Bush would not make a decision bec it would not benefit him and he couldn't risk failure, so binLaden search was degraded. Obama set the stand and he supported the SEALS. He also gave the order to rescue the capt of the ship held ransom by the pirates. He trusted the military to do its job and he risked every thing to let him do it. Then this guy writes a book, praising the military and all his efforts, but dismisses the imp of politics in the mission. He equates R & D policies. He has no idea what he is fighting for or that the REPUBS are down grading our democracy to an oligarchy. The military famously support repubs who are strong on defense, but did nothing to appreciate what risks Obama took as a DEM politician.

[deafskeptic]

37. Man!

I wish more Republicans were like this guy.

[TroyD]

38. Detailed Bio Here (Senator for South Dakota, 1979-1997)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Pressler

[TroyD]

39. Interview with Pressler at Salon.com:

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/08/ex_gop_senator_larry_pressler_veterans_very_offended_by_romney/

[Not Sure]

41. Sent to my dad

a Vietnam vet who thinks Romney is on his side.

[TroyD]

42. Does your Dad know that Romney was in France during Vietnam?

Yet protested in favor of others being sent over?

[Not Sure]

46. It's hard to get through to him when

he's covering his ears and screaming, "la la la la I'm not listening!" Democrats are commies to him. Unions are anti-American. It's difficult to talk to him about this subject.

[davidpdx]

43. Troy nice post

Despite the crap some people on here give you, I know you are on our side. I appreciate it.

[TroyD]

44. Thanks : )

I think it's just a minority of people here who attack other posters. I think it comes out of misplaced fear.

Even though he is far from perfect for his role in the Bush Administration, I am hoping that Colin Powell endorses Obama this month. It could help send a message to moderates and independents like it did in 2008.

[pittipat]

45. Former SD resident

As a former resident of SD and now living in Florida. I know what a strong conservative he always was. He lost to Senator Johnson years ago. I was a very strong supporter of Johnson and I can't believe how far Pressler has come.