Boston Globe about the BandOf Brothers event in NewYork

[Mass]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/02/09/band_of_democrats_touts_military_values/

Band of Democrats touts military values
40 veterans launch bid to serve nation again -- in Congress

By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | February 9, 2006

WASHINGTON -- With flags flying and the Capitol as a backdrop, 40 veterans of wars from Vietnam to Iraq vowed yesterday to promote military values within the Democratic Party and promised ''vigorous oversight" of US foreign policy if voters elect them to the US House of Representatives this fall.


In an event reminiscent of the famous ''Contract with America" group portrait of Republicans in 1994, the self-proclaimed ''Fighting Dems" touted their 400 years of collective service to counter the GOP's argument that Democrats are weak on national defense -- and to establish their credibility in attacking President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war.
...
Several candidates complained that they have received only lukewarm support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party's apparatus to recruit and promote promising House candidates. The veterans said the DCCC has embraced only those candidates taking on obviously vulnerable incumbents. They complained that the national party isn't capitalizing on their military credentials.

''We've organized ourselves," said Eric Massa, a Gulf War veteran running in upstate New York. ''There is no national party here today."
...
Last night, the group planned to hold a fund-raiser in Washington with Kerry and former 2004 presidential candidate Wesley K. Clark, the retired Army general and former NATO commander.

The National Republican Campaign Committee dismissed yesterday's events as theatrics and said they underscored how desperate Democrats are to convince voters they can protect the natio

[ProSense]

1. The RNC is always

dismissing something they find relevant enough to comment on.

[ginnyinWI]

4. true enough!

Cspan had a discussion this morning on how Repubs are accusing Democrats of being angry. I suppose this is an extension of us being the party of "no". That one didn't catch on too well, did it?

I say, of course we're angry, and so is most of the country right now! If they accuse us of being angry, we should say that anyone who isn't angry isn't paying attention.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. And than they turn around

and have Bush speak in front of hand picked crowds hiding with the military. :eyes:

[beachmom]

2. Just found this comment on dKos about last night

It's in the dKos diary from yesterday about the Band of Brothers day event, but then someone commented at the end of the thread about the fundraiser:

Back From The Fundraiser (4.00 / 7)

That followed the Mall event.

The speakers were General Wes Clark, Senator John Kerry, and Representative Jane Harmon.

General Clark got things going. He reported that the assembled veterans served on every military based that he had ever set foot in and that Democrats were going to take them back, one base at a time.

Senator Kerry followed with a call to arms. Senator Kerry expressed remorse that the Republicans got away with "swift boating" Senator Cleland and him. He said it would never happen again. Senator Kerry also said that more Democratic veterans in Congress would mean that the issues of veterans' benefits, military equipment, VA hospitals, and foreign policy would be addressed with the needs of the military in mind.

Representative Harmon said that Democrats could and would do more to enhance national security. She then got called to the House floor for a vote and sadly had to rush out.

I had the opportunity to speak with Senator Kerry (thanking him for the filibuster of Judge Alito) and with some of the Congressional candidates--all of whom made a fine impression. Bob Winter, in particular, was a very upbeat and thoughtful candidate (ho is facing Tom Tancredo) and Al Weed also was in good form (facing Virgil Goode who dealt with one of the folks that spent a lot of money on Duke Cunningham).


by eafredel on Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 06:32:09 PM PDT

[jenndar]

3. Sounds like it was a great event,

and that JK did a great job :)

[ginnyinWI]

5. I hope Cspan was there

If anyone sees this on their schedule, please post!

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Yep!

I wish CSPAN was there too. How great! I'm sure it was an exciting event.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Of course

Because only republicans can use military records for their gain. :eyes: Losers.

[rox63]

9. As a this post in GD:P reminds us

We can't forget about the Band of Sisters either. :D

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2447658#2447948

[sandnsea]

10. Fighting wars is just theatrics

According to Republicans who have never even served.

And what's the deal with Massa's comments, some of those vets were specifically chosen by the DCCC and have pissed off the local grassroots. They're going to have to make some compromises to be successful as a group.