Hostage escapes after 8 years in jungle of Columbia

Hostage escapes after 8 years in jungle
Story Highlights
Oscar Tulio Lizcano was kidnapped August 4, 2000 by Colombian leftist rebels

The ex-congressman fled about three days ago with help from one of his captors

The FARC holds an estimated 750 hostages in Colombia



BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- A former Colombian congressman who was held hostage in the jungle for more than eight years has escaped -- with the help of a former captor.

Oscar Tulio Lizcano, his hair disheveled, appeared too weak to stand for long when he met the news media Sunday, hours after stumbling onto a military patrol -- and freedom.

Lizcano suffered from hunger and disease in captivity and endured isolation in the company of leftist rebels who often would not let him talk, he and Colombian authorities said.

"Maybe my incoherence is for a lack of speaking," Lizcano told reporters. "I was unable to talk with the guerillas who guarded me."

Lizcano said he had little to read in the jungle except "The Odyssey" by Homer. He suffered from malaria and other illnesses and once ate nothing but hearts of palm for six or seven days, said Juan Manuel Santos, the Colombian defense minister.

"This is big news for the whole family," said Lizcano's sister, Amparo Lizcano. "We were waiting for the guerrillas to give our brother back alive before he died."
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/10/27/hostage.escape/index.html

2 dead in Arkansas campus shooting

2 dead in Arkansas campus shooting

Story Highlights
NEW: Police: Four suspects sought in campus shooting; two at large

Two students were killed, one was wounded, officials say

Shooting prompted a lockdown at University of Central Arkansas in Conway

UCA serves about 12,500 full-time students
CNN) -- Police are searching for two suspects in the fatal shooting of two University of Central Arkansas students Sunday night, while two other suspects are in custody, authorities said Monday.

The first suspect was apprehended in his car shortly after the shooting, and a second turned himself in, said University of Central Arkansas police Lt. Preston Grumbles.

The four suspects are not university students, he said.

The shooting, which happened outside a dorm, prompted a campus lockdown and the cancellation of Monday classes at the university, which serves about 12,500 full-time students in Conway, Arkansas.

"This is something you pray never happens," a visibly upset Tom Courtway, interim university president, said Monday. "Our campus is safe."

Police said students Ryan Henderson, 18, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Chavares Block, 19, of Dermott, Arkansas, were killed. Henderson died at the scene, and Block died at Conway Regional Medical Center.

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U.S. copter shot down in Afghanistan

U.S. copter shot down in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — Insurgents shot down a U.S. helicopter after exchanging fire with its crew in central Afghanistan on Monday.
By Fisnik Abrashi - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Oct 27, 2008 10:34:25 EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan — Insurgents shot down a U.S. helicopter after exchanging fire with its crew in central Afghanistan on Monday.

The helicopter was forced down in Wardak, one province west of Kabul, after insurgents hit it with gunfire Monday, said Lt. Cmdr. Walter Matthew, a U.S. military spokesman. The crew survived and has been extracted from the area, he said.

“The helicopter crew exchanged fire with the enemy before the damage brought the helicopter down,” Matthews said. Coalition troops secured the area and “are in the process of recovering” the helicopter, he said.
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8-year-old killed in gun show accident

8-year-old killed in gun show accident

WESTFIELD, Mass. – An 8-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while firing an Uzi submachine gun under adult supervision at a gun fair.

The boy lost control of the weapon while firing it Sunday at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club, police Lt. Lawrence Valliere said.

The boy, Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn., was with a certified instructor and "was shooting the weapon down range when the force of the weapon made it travel up and back toward his head, where he suffered the injury," a police statement said.

Christopher died at Baystate Medical Center.

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A boy's body found in missing Chevy Suburban

A boy's body found in missing Chevy Suburban
October 27, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Investigators were working today to identify the body of a child found in a car on Chicago's West Side, while family members of Oscar-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson assumed the worst--that this was her missing nephew--and organized a noon church vigil.

The body was found in the white Chevrolet Suburban that police were looking for in their search for 7-year-old Julian King.

The Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859 was found in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue around 8 a.m. after police received a call of a suspicious vehicle. The SUV was towed away for evidence processing. Neighbors disputed how long it had been there. A resident of the block, LaShaun Bouie, 36, said it must have appeared after 3 a.m. Monday morning. Rasheem Jackson, 21, who lives a block away, thinks he remembers seeing it as early as Saturday. Police received a call for a suspicious car at 7 a.m.

If the boy is identified as Julian King, it will confirm detectives' worst fears because a law enforcement source said bullet casings were found in the boy's room on Friday. But the source said they had not found other evidence of violence in the room.

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http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/a-boys-body-
found-in-vehicle-on-west-side.html
linked from RawStory

PTSD is a war within the body

Post-traumatic stress is a war within the body, for the military and for civilians
By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY
Post-traumatic stress disorder, once a poorly understood and little-known mental health problem, is turning up on the public's radar a lot more as growing numbers of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seek treatment for the illness.
About one out of seven service members have returned from deployments with symptoms of the disorder, according to a Rand Corp. study out in April. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported about a 70% jump in veterans seeking treatment for PTSD in the 12 months before June 2007 and an additional 50% rise in the next nine months.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-26-PTSD-main_N.htm?csp=34

PTSD:When ignorance is not bliss

When ignorance is not bliss
By Caterina Spinaris Tudor , Ph.D.
Published: 10/27/2008
Editor’s note: This story is being shared with us by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach. The non-profit organization and its newsletter, Correctional Oasis, are dedicated to the well being of correctional staff and their families.

Imagine this conversation.

Two correctional officers are chatting. One blurts out, “You wouldn’t believe what a wimp Pete turned out to be! He’s being treated for diabetes! I have no use for him anymore now that he’s on insulin!”

“I have no respect for him anymore either!” exclaims the other officer. “What a weakling! Why doesn’t he just get a grip? Dave is also a big loser. He was just diagnosed with skin cancer and high blood pressure. Can’t trust him with my back anymore!”

This exchange sounds totally ridiculous, doesn’t it? Now, replace the words “diabetes,” “skin cancer,” and “high blood pressure” with words such as “depression,” “panic attacks,” and “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.”

Do the put-downs of correctional employees struggling with psychological conditions sound more justifiable than of those struggling with physical illnesses?

Sadly, if you believe so, you’re not alone. More times than I can count I have been told by corrections staff that to them admission of psychological turmoil equals weakness.

Repeatedly I have also heard staff share how ashamed they feel for not being able to “get over it,” not being “strong enough to pull themselves up by their bootstraps” when it comes to battling with the darkness of depression or the torment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Many have added that they would lose their coworkers’ respect and perhaps even jeopardize their chances for promotion if it became known that they were experiencing psychological difficulties. Consequently several corrections staff who need help decline recommendations to start psychotherapy or to be evaluated by their physicians for psychotropic medications.

Instead, some choose to self-medicate with alcohol or even illegal drugs, preferring to risk their health, career and family rather than to seek appropriate treatment. In some tragic cases the reluctance to seek pharmaceutical or psychological help has cost lives. Other staff keep existing in a “blue”zone, with diminished quality of life and chronic under- functioning.
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http://www.corrections.com/news/article/19842

Australian Veterans linking together with PTSD

Soldiers echo calls for defence culture changes

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 27/10/2008
Reporter: John Stewart

Last week the Federal Government announced payments to families of four young soldiers who killed themselves after suffering bastardisation and bullying in the Defence Force. Soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after returning from overseas duty are also calling for a change in the way the military deals with soldiers suffering mental health problems.

Soldiers echo calls for defence culture changes
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http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2402797.htm

Orlando Sentinel editorial on new VA hospital

We think: Lawmakers need to follow through on new hospital for veterans
October 27, 2008
Because success has many fathers, as the saying goes, it's not surprising that almost every member of Congress who represents Central Florida is claiming credit for bringing a badly needed and long-awaited Veterans Affairs hospital to Orlando. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Friday for the $656 million medical center at Lake Nona.

This is one project lawmakers don't have to be embarrassed about. There are about 400,000 veterans in Central Florida. Orlando is the country's largest metropolitan region without a VA hospital. Area veterans and their leaders have spent years pushing for the facility. Some have died waiting.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed27308oct27,0,4794373.story

The only way the military will understand PTSD is if they live with it

The only way the military will understand PTSD is if they live with it. It's as simple as that.

Frank Wheeler showed all the signs of PTSD. Doctors in the military did not agree and when they did acknowledge it, one of them said it was no excuse for domestic violence. The problem is if they understood PTSD, they would also know that too often, domestic violence is the result of untreated PTSD.

Flashbacks are a big part of it. There have been wives who have been "punched out" while their husband was having a flashback and the wife yelled at them. It's very frustrating talking to someone who is not paying attention, especially when it happens to be your own husband. In a flashback, the veteran is not in the room with you. They are back to where their lives were in danger. When they react to you, they are reacting to someone who is a threat to them and not "you" their wife. If you know what PTSD, then you know you have to adapt how you deal with them, notice the signs of them in moments of flashbacks and calmly handle the situation.

Nightmares are another problem when it comes to PTSD. Again, they are not in the bed next to you. In their dreams, they are back in combat. You are not their wife at the moment you decide to shake them awake or yell at them because you are frustrated with one more night of broken sleep. You are their enemy. Wives have ended up with black eyes and broken noses because they were in striking distance. If wives know what PTSD is, they know not to wake them up from a nightmare the way they would automatically do without thinking.

Even in arguments, there are ways to reduce the aggravation of PTSD symptoms and reduce the "enemy factor" when things are getting out of hand. Yet if the wife does not fully understand PTSD, they do become a victim of domestic violence too much of the time.

They end up calling the police. The husband is arrested. Wives walk away. Why? Because still to this day, after all these years, too many spouses are without the knowledge of any of this. While the military has done a lot better job of treating PTSD, they have taken only baby steps to really address all that is involved in it. They need to get up to speed on this before more military families have to go through what the Wheeler family did.

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

Staff photo by Raul R. Rubiera
Frank Wheeler sits with his family: wife, Katie, and sons, Christopher Wheeler, 1, Curt Hodge, 9, left, Kai Hodge, 6, right, and Warren Hodge, 8, top.

PTSD diagnosis doesn’t always carry through


By Michael N. Graff
Staff writer
In his dreams, former Sgt. Frank Wheeler says he finds himself in the war in Iraq.

Maybe he’s back on that road near Fallujah, responding to an IED attack, peering into a truck only to see clear through the skull of an Iraqi interpreter.

Or maybe he’s responding to reports of sniper fire and sees his best friend shot in the back of the neck and paralyzed.

Or maybe he is near Forward Operating Base Loyalty, where he is leading his platoon in pursuit of enemy forces through a neighborhood and into small-arms fire.

For his actions in that battle, Wheeler earned the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. The Army called his leadership “in the keeping of the finest traditions of military heroism.”

But this week, six years after the start of what had been a promising military career, Wheeler is leaving the Army in disgrace — as a private with a less than honorable discharge.

Army officials say privacy laws prohibit them from discussing the reasons for Wheeler’s dismissal.

But his military records show a pattern of being absent without leave and a history of domestic abuse that got so bad that the Hoke County Department of Social Services found it necessary to remove his children from their home.

Wheeler doesn’t deny that he has had problems, but he blames most of them on post-traumatic stress disorder. He accuses the Army of unjustly punishing him and dropping its original diagnosis of PTSD only after he began to break rules and laws. Records show Wheeler’s diagnosis was changed five days after an arrest in March.

Army officials can’t respond to that charge for legal reasons. But Lt. Col. Brian Burlingame, the deputy commander for clinical services at Womack Army Medical Center, said a diagnosis has never been changed for any reason other than medical merit.

Because of the layers of uncertainty that accompany many PTSD cases, such as this one, it’s difficult to ascertain whether Wheeler is a mentally ill veteran who was unfairly treated, or whether he is a mentally stable veteran who brought his troubles on himself.

What is known is that since the start of the war on terror six years ago, the Army has vastly improved its services for identifying and treating PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

Still, gaps and inconsistencies in care exist, according to a recent national study. Mental illnesses are flush with gray areas, leaving open the possibility of differences of opinions by doctors.

Moreover, those illnesses are difficult to understand for people not living with them.

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http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=308567

Military families meet with Michelle Obama

Obama's point woman with military families: his wife, Michelle Obama
Craig Lassig / Associated Press
MICHELLE OBAMA: Like military spouses, she juggles multiple roles — wife, mother, working woman — she says.
The voting bloc, which traditionally goes Republican, could prove crucial in swing states like North Carolina.
By Dahleen Glanton
October 26, 2008
Reporting from Jacksonville, N.C. -- As a major component of his presidential bid, Democratic nominee Barack Obama has deployed his wife on a mission to win over military families, many of them traditional Republicans. She has targeted the group with whom she hopes to forge an alliance -- wives of servicemen.

In a series of round-table discussions and rallies in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and New Mexico -- all battleground states -- Michelle Obama has discussed how she, like military spouses, juggles work and family. On the campaign trail she describes herself in simple terms -- a mother, a lawyer and a wife who grew up in a blue-collar family in working-class Chicago. (Educated at Harvard, she earned more than $300,000 in 2005 as a hospital executive.)

Wives vent to her about the difficulty of raising children while their husbands are away. They share stories about the loneliness, financial challenges and fears that come with being a military spouse.

"We all have some fundamental things in common," Michelle Obama recently told a crowd of veterans and relatives of service members from Camp Lejeune, N.C., from which nearly 60,000 Marines are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. "We share a vision of a system that does more to support military families, both when your loved ones are deployed and long after they return.

"We've all been touched by this economic crisis that our nation is facing. . . . You feel it when you pay for groceries . . . and when you fill up your tank," she said.


But the military is not a voting bloc that John McCain, the Republican nominee, will give up without a fight. He has enlisted a former Navy buddy and fellow prisoner of war in Vietnam to appeal directly to veterans. McCain's wife, Cindy, also has spoken to military groups.

Military voters in 2004 favored President Bush over Democratic challenger John F. Kerry, 57% to 41%. A poll released this month by the Military Times showed active-duty service members supporting McCain over Obama, 68% to 23%. However, the Military Times pointed out that the respondents were subscribers who were older, held more senior ranks and were less ethnically diverse than the military as a whole.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-michelle26-2008oct26,0,6927360.story

On more huge point is that the bulk of military donations went to Obama and Paul. When it comes to voting with their wallets, they did not pick McCain. They understand that just because someone is a veteran, it does not mean they support veterans. They understand that while McCain has not served on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Obama has and since he added his weight to the issues for veterans, things have been changing for the better in the last couple of years. Before that, veterans were pretty much left out of the thought process of the congress. No matter what the Democrats tried to do to help veterans, they were blocked by people like McCain who said when it came to Jim Webb's GI Bill, it was "too generous" instead of wanting to do all that was possible for the sake of the veterans. McCain's record stinks when it comes to veterans and they understand this as well.

Finding Jesus on Facebook, and Checking Podcasts for a Pew That Fits

Finding Jesus on Facebook, and Checking Podcasts for a Pew That Fits
By APRIL DEMBOSKY
Some churches are branching out into sites like Facebook and MySpace and weaving multimedia elements into their services in an effort to attract younger worshipers.
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Neighbors save Bremerton mayor's home from fire

Neighbors save Bremerton mayor's home from fire

The Associated Press
BREMERTON, Wash. — The Bremerton Fire Dept. credits the quick actions of neighbors from preventing what it says could have been a serious fire from spreading at Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman's home.

Capt. Paul Golnik says the actions of John Didio and his 24-year-old son, Zachary, helped prevent Saturday's blaze from growing.

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Sorry Palin, Alaska's largest newspaper endorses Barack Obama

Oct 26, 5:13 PM EDT


Alaska's largest newspaper endorses Barack Obama


AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Watch Related Video

Obama: McCain Criticisms Reach 'whole New Level'


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.

The newspaper said Sunday the Democrat "brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

The Daily News said since the economic crisis has emerged, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has "stumbled and fumbled badly" in dealing with it.

"Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it," the paper said.

The Daily News said Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has shown the country why she is a success as governor. But the paper said few would argue that Palin is truly ready to step into the job of being president despite her passion, charisma and strong work ethic.

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Marine Reservist survived Iraq but not carjacking back home

Shooting victim served in Iraq

By Todd Ruger


Published: Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 10:11 p.m.
SARASOTA - Delvis Fernandez served eight months with the Marine Reserves in Iraq, often manning a 50-caliber gun on the lead car in dangerous supply convoys.


The 2005 Booker High School graduate returned home to Sarasota in April, where he rejoined his minor league football team and enrolled in classes to prepare for a career in the Sarasota Police Department.

But on his way home from class Friday afternoon, Fernandez, 21, was shot and killed in what police believe was a carjacking in the parking lot of a Newtown convenience store.

"It was in broad daylight for no apparent reason," said Orlando Pacheco, who roomed with Fernandez in Iraq. "We're just in shock right now. It was just like any other day."

Fernandez died at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Friday, the day before the final tryouts for the Sarasota Millionaires, a football team that he also used as a conduit to to volunteer in the community.

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Woman goes to auction, buys house back for owner. WOW

Foreclosure angel 2:21
A woman buys a stranger's foreclosed home... and gives it back to her. WFAA has the story.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/10/26/diaz.tx.foreclosure.angel.wfaa

Looks like CNN just had another person to add to their list of heroes!

Three people stabbed in Publix parking lot

3 people stabbed in Publix parking lot
Oct 26, 2008 16:00 -0400
Updated: 56 minutes ago
3 people stabbed in Publix parking lot
Susan Jacobson Sentinel Staff Writer
4:00 PM EDT, October 26, 2008
At least three people were stabbed today in the parking lot of a Rosemont Publix, Orlando police said.
Lamar Maurice Shannon was in custody this afternon on aggravated-battery charges. Shannon approached a vehicle with people he knew inside, and three of four were stabbed, police said. All injuries are said not to be life-threatening. The shopping center is at 5800 N. Orange Blossom Trail.
Check back for updates.

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS CONTACT THE POLICE AND HELP THEM OUT.

4 high school cheerleaders killed in Tennessee crash

4 high school cheerleaders killed in Tennessee crash
Story Highlights
Four cheerleaders were killed when SUV collides with oncoming car

Passenger in car was also killed; another passenger lost unborn child

Investigators say weather was a factor in accident
HUNTSVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A rural East Tennessee community was grieving Saturday after a fiery car crash killed five people, including four high school cheerleaders who died hours after they had been cheering on their football team.

A sport utility vehicle carrying the cheerleaders collided with an oncoming car late Friday night on a wet, foggy highway in Scott County, northwest of Knoxville, authorities said. A passenger in the other car also was killed and three more were injured, among them, a woman who lost her unborn child.

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http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/25/tennessee.crash.ap/index.html

Troops Teaching Afghan farmers modern techniques

Teaching Afghan farmers modern techniques

GHAZNI, Afghanistan

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 26, 2008 15:49:29 EDT
The $172,000, 53-acre Jungal Bagh demonstration farm north of town is a refreshingly green patch of land that soon will become a centerpiece of an effort to bring local farmers out of the dark ages.

The farm will have a power generation system, cool storage capability, a greenhouse, a cistern, an orchard, row crops and beehives, giving local farmers a place to learn new, more efficient and productive techniques. The Texas National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team is developing the project.

“We want to transfer technology and techniques to the local farmers,” said Maj. Conan Martin, the agribusiness team chief, who has a background in biology, chemistry and pharmaceuticals.

That will enable farmers, who make up at least 70 percent of the population, to move from subsistence farming to productive farming, Martin said.

go here for more and for video

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/army_afghan_demofarm_102608w/

Barbara West Orlando TV Anchor asked Biden if Obama is a Marxist. Shame on her!

So much for everyone working together. Barbara West did the opening remarks at the Orlando VA ground breaking ceremony I attended. I posted about how wonderful it was that people from all sides came together for the sake of the veterans. It really was great that everyone there was there for the greater good. Now, after this question from West, whatever she had to say for veterans, now seems like empty words.

West quoted Karl Marx

"You may recognize this famous quote," West said. "'From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs.' That's from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?"

This quote came after even Greenspan admitted that this is what has to be done to fix the economy of this nation. While McCain fails to understand that greed is not good and fails to understand what any economist is talking about, people like West use great words from a polarizing figure instead of a beloved figure like Christ who said basically the same thing. Gee, wonder why she did that?

This whole interview was not an interview a journalist would do but one a political attack queen would do. If she really cared about the veterans as she claimed the other day when she was standing in front of all gathered for the ceremony to begin construction on the VA hospital, she would have mentioned the fact that McCain has been voting against the veterans all these years. His record speaks for itself.

This is from the AFLCIO

McCAIN HAS NOT DELIVERED ON HIS PROMISES TO VETERANS

Union members respect Sen. John McCain’s service to our country. When will he start respecting ours? Although McCain talks about his support for veterans, he repeatedly votes against increased funding for veterans’ health care—and more. We call on John McCain to join us in supporting our veterans and working to turn around America.

McCAIN REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST VETERANS’ HEALTH BENEFITS

McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08)

McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)

Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)

McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)

Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)

McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)

McCain Voted in Support of Disabled Veterans Only 25 Percent of the Time from 2004-2005. While McCain claims he “has been a leading advocate” for veterans with disabilities, statistics show he supported the Disabled American Veterans’ interests only 25 percent of the time in 2004-2005. In 2006, that figure slipped to 20 percent of the time. (Project Vote Smart)

McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)

INCLUDING BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR GUARD AND RESERVISTS

McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03)

McCAIN ALSO VOTED TO OUTSOURCE JOBS AT MILITARY FACILITIES

McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)

He Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)

AND HE REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST FUNDING FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

2003: McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)

2001: McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)

2000: McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)

1999: McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)

1996: McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)

1995: McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)

1995: McCain Voted Against Closing Tax Loopholes to Increase Veterans Funding by $74 Million. McCain voted against eliminating tax breaks and closing tax loopholes to provide revenue to restore some of the proposed cuts in Veterans Affairs spending. (S.C.R. 13, Vote 226, 5/25/95)

1994: McCain Voted Against Funding the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of nine senators to vote against appropriating $90 billion in budget authority for the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments. (H.R. 4624, Vote 306, 9/27/94)


http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_vets.cfm

Central Florida veterans have been waiting too many years to have a hospital built here. Did West ever wonder how much faster they would have had one if McCain had really supported the veterans she claims to love? Did West ever ask McCain why he voted against all these bills for veterans or why he has received such low rankings from all the major service organizations? Has West even attempted to be a real journalist on McCain's record or on Obama's record, what he's done since he's been in the Senate or the fact that while McCain did not see fit to serve on the Veterans Affairs committee, Obama has?

West has just turned a wonderful day of unity for the sake of the veterans into something I will now remember as a bunch of empty words when it comes to the veterans who have been suffering. The same veterans I've been fighting for 26 years for. The same veterans who are turned away from VA hospitals, have had their claims denied yet served this nation and did all we asked of them. Too many have taken there own lives because people in the media failed them. They failed to report on the miserable records of politicians who voted against taking care of them. Now I put West into that category. Shame on her!!!

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos

Namguardianangel@aol.com

http://www.namguardianangel.org/

http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

Orlando TV Anchor conducts 'unprofessional interview' of Biden
David Edwards and Andrew McLemore
Published: Saturday October 25, 2008


"Are you joking?"

That was one of Sen. Joe Biden's responses during an interview with a Florida news station that the Obama campaign said was so "unprofessional" it canceled another planned interview with his wife, Jill Biden.

Barbara West conducted the interview for WFTV-Channel 9 and asked the Democratic vice presidential candidate if Sen. Barack Obama was a "Marxist," referenced a recent statement Obama made in Ohio to Joe the lumber about "spreading the wealth around," and was Biden "embarassed" about Obama's alleged ties to ACORN.

"You may recognize this famous quote," West said. "'From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs.' That's from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?"

Biden did not immediately take the question seriously.

"Are you joking? Is this a joke or is that a real question?" Biden said. "It's a ridiculous comparison with all due respect."

For her final question, West asked Biden what he would say to the people "who are concerned that Barack Obama will want to turn American into a socialist country, much like Sweden?"

WFTV news director Bob Jordan defended the interview as hard-hitting journalism and rebuked criticisms of West as mere complaints that she didn't ask "softball questions," The Orlando Sentinel reported.

"When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it," Jordan said. "They usually give you five minutes."

But the Obama campaign lambasted the station for its "100 percent false" statements that Obama worked for ACORN and for the "combative" nature of the interview.
click post title for the rest of this

By the way ACORN did what they were supposed to do when idiots decided to sign up fake applicants. They flagged the applications because they had to turn in all of them under the law. They also had to pay for them. ACORN was supported by McCain as well for the work they do, which for the most part has been fantastic for Democrats and Republicans and our Democracy. Does West know what a small percentage the fake applications are? Does she know this is not vote fraud because none of these fake names will show up to vote? Give me a break!!!