thedrifter
08-10-07, 02:59 PM
4 presidential candidates to address VFW
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Aug 10, 2007 10:12:03 EDT
Four presidential candidates — two Democrats and two Republicans — will appear at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City, VFW officials announced Thursday.
Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, are scheduled to speak Aug. 20, the second day of the 108th national convention. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., will speak Aug. 21.
All of the major candidates were invited.
In a statement, VFW commander in chief Gary Kurpius said the audience will include combat veterans of every war since World War II.
Kurpius, an Army combat veteran who served in Vietnam, said the VFW expects a lot from the candidates.
“We want to know how, if elected to our nation’s highest office, they will prosecute the war on terrorism,” Kurpius said. “We want to know how they will protect America, what their positions are on national security, military readiness and homeland security, and how they will enhance military and veteran health care programs, increase benefits and expand quality-of-life initiatives.”
There is a lot at stake for the candidates. About 10,000 delegates will attend the weeklong convention.
“If you include spouses and adult-age children, the nation’s veteran family approaches 75 million Americans,” Kurpius said. “A quarter of the entire population of the United States is a voting bloc that absolutely cannot be ignored by any politician at any level.”
In addition to hearing from the four candidates, delegates will approve a new list of organization priorities and will elect a new national commander.
Ellie
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Aug 10, 2007 10:12:03 EDT
Four presidential candidates — two Democrats and two Republicans — will appear at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City, VFW officials announced Thursday.
Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, are scheduled to speak Aug. 20, the second day of the 108th national convention. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., will speak Aug. 21.
All of the major candidates were invited.
In a statement, VFW commander in chief Gary Kurpius said the audience will include combat veterans of every war since World War II.
Kurpius, an Army combat veteran who served in Vietnam, said the VFW expects a lot from the candidates.
“We want to know how, if elected to our nation’s highest office, they will prosecute the war on terrorism,” Kurpius said. “We want to know how they will protect America, what their positions are on national security, military readiness and homeland security, and how they will enhance military and veteran health care programs, increase benefits and expand quality-of-life initiatives.”
There is a lot at stake for the candidates. About 10,000 delegates will attend the weeklong convention.
“If you include spouses and adult-age children, the nation’s veteran family approaches 75 million Americans,” Kurpius said. “A quarter of the entire population of the United States is a voting bloc that absolutely cannot be ignored by any politician at any level.”
In addition to hearing from the four candidates, delegates will approve a new list of organization priorities and will elect a new national commander.
Ellie