Clark To Bush: "Don't Do It"

[NV1962]

Taken straight from a press release, but I think it's a point where Wes Clark can hit big against B* and the "national insecurity syndrome" that seems to persist in the electoral run-up:

• Press Room
  For Immediate Release
  Date: January 2, 2004
  

  Clark To Bush: "Don't Do It"
  Outrage At Rollback Of Vet Benefits

  
  Little Rock - General Wes Clark is outraged that the Bush Administration is considering dramatically increasing the fees military retirees pay for prescription drugs.
  
  "I have a three word message for Mr. Bush: Don't do it." Clark said. "It's just wrong. How could Bush consider cutting retiree benefits now while our servicemen and women are risking their necks in Iraq? They deserve a pat-on-the-back not a fee increase."
  
  "Our country and our military deserve a higher standard of leadership," Clark continued. "When I commanded troops, I felt that my most solemn responsibility was to take care of their well-being, including ensuring that they got good health care. As commander in chief, I will make sure no service member and no veteran is ever left behind again."
  
  General Clark's plan will fully fund Veterans' health care. This Administration's budget is already $2 billion short of giving our veterans the health care they need. Now, according to The Virginian-Pilot, the Administration might triple prescription fees.

It think that's a theme that bears repeating: thanks to his own malignant bidding, B* is vulnerable on the national security front.

[bhunt70]

1. Hell yeah, tell it like it is.

GO Clark!

[Faygo Kid]

2. Chutzpah - Bush is incredible

No one - and certainly not the supine media - holds him and his administration responsible for their incredible anti-veteran actions. All he has to do is serve a fake turkey in Iraq at Karl Rove's bidding, and the nation goes ga ga over their glorious heroic leader. Hope this gets some traction. I doubt it.

[baggypants]

3. Right On!!!

That was part of the deal when we veterns signed up for the military....don't be changing the rules after we fulfilled our part of the bargain!!

[Capn Sunshine]

4. Tell it , General!

partisanship aside for a moment, the shamefull treatment of our enlisted personnel active and retired must be broadcast far and wide

Many don't realize the extremely high casualty rate of GulfWar 1, higher than any other armed conflict. Many of those poor soldiers can't even get the government to acknowlege they are sick: over 75% of applicants for benefits based on Gulf War syndrome are routinely denied.

Further, the wounded are the true invisibles in the current Iraq quagmire. Many are warehoused stateside and waits of six months for seeing a doctor are not uncommon.

The American public needs to see the true cost of *'s military backed avarice.

[citizen snips]

5. Go General.

Keep on telling it as it is.

[SCB]

6. The state of our military

Clark is correctly hitting Bush on what will be one of the Chimp's worse legacies: The damage, perhaps fatal, to the all-volunteer armed forces. With "stop-loss" orders to active duty and especially national guard units now serving indefinitely in Iraq we have now a de facto return to the draft. We these units are eventually allowed to return home I expect a mass exodus of experienced soldiers that will be difficult if not impossible to replace with volunteers.

Clark was one of those officers credited with rebuilding our armed forces after Viet Nam. This puts him in the strongest position of any candidate to take it to Bush with how the Iraq misadventure has damaged our military and reduce our level or national security

[Jack_Dawson]

7. Clark talking military has a certain credibility

doesn't it? I hope more military families rethink the Kool-Aid Bush has been giving them and open their eyes to a man who really has their best interests at heart.