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Posted by John Hale, our great new coordinator for Vetrans for Kerry:
Mary,
No need to combat this or anything else.
To combat means for us to go on the defensive.
We really want to stay on the OFFENSIVE.
However, it's GREAT to share and exchange information like this, for again it gives us a picture of THE ENEMY.
OK- You picked apart some of what the person had to say, but let's consider if they made some valid points for Veteran for Kerry to work on.
Now if they did, we don't want them to know they did, so I won't discuss.
Anyway, there is a certain knowledge of the inner workings of the Pentagon here, believe me I know spending four years there and losing my mind.
Read the bottom line, the person writing this starts by flattering Dean, but ends on not such a flattering note.
Now, I know it's a bit of an attack on Senators (Kerry), but fret not.
No other candidate, even Bush, can hold a candle to John Kerry in earning the Veteran Vote, as long as we can effectively articulate that he's earned their TRUST and VOTE.
The hurdle we have to over come is not what this person says about Senator Kerry or those Democrats who supported going into Iraq, I'm a former Republican who was strongly against us going into Iraq, but jumped on board just like Kerry when the Bush's decision became inevitable. Why?
Of course not to support Bush or the warhawks in his Administration. There are no hawks in the Democratic Party that I'm aware of.
It was to Support the Troops. Given his part in Vietnam Veterans Against the War in the early 70s, John Kerry more than anyother candidate knows how it feels to be a trooper caught in the middle of a "political" war run by politicians. He would be the last person to send our sons and daughters into harms way without forethought.
I strongly believe Kerry did what he could to prevent sending troops into harms way, but that continuing to oppose the war would not be beneficial to the troops sent to fight it - I know for my son is one of them.
Lastly, this person sarcastically mentions "Joe Sixpack -- the guy who swings elections without an intelligent definition as to who exactly is being talked about. In fact, one has to read through the vague induendos to understand what this person's trying to say.
Anyway, if I understand Joe Sixpack as is meant, the average Joe on the street and soccor moms, this person couldn't be further from WRONG!
Joe Six Pack doesn't swing elections, as evident by the last fiasco in Florida, seasoned citizens (seniors) swing elections.
OK - I say that as a 52 year old.
Think on it. That's also why the Veteran vote is sooooooooo important if mobilized effectively.
Seniors make up the largest percentage of voters in America, despite their numbers decreasing via attrition. Baby boomers are quickly catching up as they age, then they will be the Senior group of voters that takes over. At that time Veteran status may not be that important.
For now it is. Why? Mark my words a majority of todays Seniors are WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War Veterans and their families.
Yes, there are various interest groups, Labor, the Gay & Lesbian Community, Ethnic Minorities, Women, and so on. However what interest group crosses all these groups? VETERANS!
Last point: It is said that Veterans tend to be conservative and vote for Republicans.
I challenge that stereotype. How? Those Veterans, including Military Retirees, who've served in the Officer Corp tend in large part to fit that mode, they come from middle class background, that's why I'm a former Republican eventhough I come from the working class. Their parents and friends were most likely Republicans.
HOWEVER, the enlisted force which I use to be, comes primarily from the working class (poor working folks) looking to make something better of themselves and get off the streets. Their families were most likely to be Democrats, if they voted at all.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the majority of Veterans in the world today were enlisted troops more prone to be Democrats if motivated effectively.
So this persons analysius using Joe Sixpack as the tide that binds is weak. Veterans who are black, white, men, women, poor, well off (none are rich), gay, lesbian (though they can't say they are on active duty), hispanic, oriental, old and young so on and so on and so forth.
They are the tide that binds. OK- it may be argued that there aren't that many Veterans to make a difference.
WRONG - there are as of the U.S. Census of 2000 - over 26.5 million of us. Not to mention our families, friends, and neighbors.
Despite our government being run by non-Veterans, and that's out own fault for not stepping up to the plate and grooming political candidates who are Veterans, there's very few people who don't know a Veteran.
Now some may think that those on the far left of the political spectrum don't know nor want to know Veterans and that's a bunch of ___________.
Ultra liberals in general care just as much about those young men and women as anyone else in general in this country. They just don't want them or their in that situation - the military, and there's nothing wrong with that.
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