Colbert Report

Colbert: U.S. Troops Don't Sacrifice Enough Already

David Taintor | November 18, 2011, 10:37AM

Stephen Colbert

No one appreciates American veterans' sacrifice more than Stephen Colbert. But why should Colbert keep honoring the troops if they're not still sacrificing when they come home?

That was the subject of Colbert's "The Word" segment on Thursday. Leaders of the House and Senate veterans' affairs committees sent a letter to the deficit super committee, voicing support for capping veterans' affairs funding.

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American Jobs Act

Democrats Tee Up Another Vote On Obama Jobs Bill Provision -- With A Twist

Brian Beutler | November 4, 2011, 12:11PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Democrats are teeing up yet another vote next week on a provision of President Obama's jobs bill. This time with a twist -- they're not going to ask that it be paid for with a surtax on millionaires.

They're calling this one the "Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011." A version of it passed the House on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis last month. It would offer a tax credit to companies that hire out of work veterans and increase an existing credit that already goes to companies that hire veterans with service-related disabilities. Dems propose to cover the $1.6 billion cost of the bill by delaying fee reductions that are scheduled to apply to mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Veterans

White House: 'We Can't Wait' To Put Vets Back To Work

Susan Crabtree | October 25, 2011, 12:33PM

A soldier helps guard the Rumelia Oil Field in southern Iraq on April 2, 2003.

As part of its new "We Can't Wait" for Congress theme, the White House has announced an initiative to help veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars get back to work.

The latest effort, part of a comprehensive plan to transition veterans from the battlefield to the workplace, challenges community health centers around the country to hire 8,000 veterans over the next three years.

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Military service

Pew Study: Only A Third Of Veterans Who Joined After 9/11 Say Iraq And Afghanistan Were Worth Fighting

Kyle Leighton | October 5, 2011, 12:17PM

A soldier helps guard the Rumelia Oil Field in southern Iraq on April 2, 2003.

In a wide-ranging study surveying US veterans, the Pew Research Center documented the attitudes of service members who were involved in the conflicts associated with the War On Terror over the last ten years and those who served before it.

The study unpacked data on veterans' perception of their missions abroad and their effectiveness, as well as their lives since returning to the US. The overarching perception seems to contain a disconnect between service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who served in previous wars: those from the post-9/11 era are more likely to report difficulty in re-entry to civilian life.

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Barack Obama

Obama's Job Package To Top $350B

Susan Crabtree | September 8, 2011, 5:37PM

President Barack Obama

Details and excerpts of President Obama's plan to spur job creation and economic growth began to leak out Thursday evening ahead of Obama's joint address to Congress scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

"The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities," Obama plans to say, according to brief excerpts of the speech. "The question tonight is whether we'll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy; whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning."

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Veterans

Judge Allows Army Veteran To Sue Donald Rumsfeld

Megan Reback | August 4, 2011, 12:11PM

A federal judge is allowing a suit brought by a U.S. citizen against former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld to proceed. The accuser is a military veteran who claims he was imprisoned unjustly and tortured by the U.S. Army at Camp Cropper, a military facility near Baghdad. Camp Cropper is known for holding "high-value" detainees.

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Social Security

Obama: No Social Security Guarantee In August If GOP Doesn't Back Down (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | July 12, 2011, 1:09PM

For the first time in public, President Obama has warned that crucial benefits for retirees, veterans, and disabled people might not go out early next month if Republicans don't relent in the debt limit fight.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Battle Over The Budget At The White House]

"This is not just a matter of Social Security checks," Obama told CBS News in an interview that will air Tuesday night. "These are veteran's checks, these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million checks that go out each month. I can not guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it."

If you were wondering when President Obama would clarify the stakes and increase the pressure on Republicans to drop their ideological rigidity, consider it upped.

When asked about Obama's comments during his Tuesday briefing with reporters, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has talked about this issue before and described the kinds of decisions of which government services to pay for as being "kind of a Sophie's choice decision."

"We no longer have authority to borrow money, if we do not raise the debt ceiling," he said. "That fact is one of the reasons we must take action. If we lose authority to borrow money...that would entail a kind of Sophie's choice decision and that will entail deciding what bills you can pay."

Watch the video below the fold:

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Allen West

Allen West Violates U.S. Flag Code, Goes Diving With American Flag

Jon Terbush | June 14, 2011, 12:16PM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

In honoring the American flag, Rep. Allen West (R-FL) may have accidentally desecrated it -- while taking pictures of himself doing so.

On Sunday, West took a diving trip off the coast of Deerfield Beach with a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. As part of that dive, West, a veteran himself, planted an American flag on an artificial reef, and then posed for a photo op.

But as the New Times pointed out, in doing so, West actually violated a federal statute stating that the flag should never touch water.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Drops Proposal To Cut Veterans' Benefits

Eric Kleefeld | February 4, 2011, 5:16PM

Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the Tea Party star and possible presidential candidate who bypassed the GOP leadership and offered her own budget plan, has now dropped a very controversial part of her plan to deal with the deficits: Cuts to veterans' benefits.

In a statement posted on her Web site, Bachmann writes:

"One point on my discussion list was a $4.5 billion proposal that would affect payments made to our veterans. That discussion point has received a lot of attention and I have decided to remove it from consideration. The problem of government spending must be solved, but not on the backs of our nation's war heroes. I have always been a proud supporter of the United States military and I continue to stand with our veterans. In the months ahead I look forward to working with our Veterans Service Organizations to ensure that we fulfill our commitments to those who sacrificed so much in their brave service for our country."

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MT-SEN

Tester Attacks GOP Opponent For Bachmann Connection

Eric Kleefeld | February 2, 2011, 4:34PM

Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) & Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN)

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is already taking the gloves off against his soon-to-be Republican opponent, Rep. Denny Rehberg, pointing out that Rehberg will reportedly be launching his campaign at a state GOP dinner this weekend featuring...Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann!

In an appearance on ABC's Top Line Web program, Tester tied Rehberg to Bachmann's recent budget proposal, which calls for freezes and cuts in veterans' benefits.

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Debt Ceiling

Toomey Pushes 'Pay China First' Plan

Brian Beutler | February 2, 2011, 11:17AM

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is trying to attach a controversial debt-limit provision to an unrelated aviation bill, now on the Senate floor.

As described here, the measure would manage the fallout of a default on the national debt by prioritizing Treasury payments to investors -- foreign countries, financial institutions -- over other obligations like Social Security beneficiaries and veterans benefits, among others.

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Michele Bachmann

Veterans Of Foreign Wars Slams Bachmann's Proposed Benefit Cuts

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2011, 4:38PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) budget proposal to impose freezes and cuts on veterans' benefits is now picking up the scathing objections of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Some key quotes from the organization's press release:

"No way, no how, will we let this proposal get any traction in Congress," said Richard L. Eubank, the national commander of the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.

...

"I want the congresswoman to join us in a tour of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and Poly Trauma Center the next time she's in her home district to witness firsthand the great work the VA does every day to heal their wounds and ease their pain. Then I want her to look those disabled veterans in the eye and tell them their service and sacrifice is too expensive for the nation to bear.

"The day this nation can't afford to take care of her veterans is the day this nation should quit creating them," said Eubank.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann's Budget Takes On...Veterans' Benefits?

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2011, 11:06AM

Michele Bachmann

It turns out that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who has gone over the heads of the GOP leadership in a whole host of ways -- notably her recent State of the Union rebuttal address -- has also touched a serious third rail with her own budget proposal: Freezes and cuts to veterans' benefits.

The Army Times reports:

Tea party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has unveiled a plan for cutting $400 billion in federal spending that includes freezing Veterans Affairs Department health care spending and cutting veterans' disability benefits.

Her proposed VA budget cuts would account for $4.5 billion of the savings included in the plan, posted on her official House of Representatives website.

...

In a statement, Bachmann said her plan is intended for discussion purposes as an example of ways to cut federal spending to make it unnecessary to increase the current $14.3 trillion limit on the amount the U.S. government can borrow.

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Stephen Colbert

Colbert On Obama's Veterans Day Abroad: What Do You Have Against Veterans? (VIDEO)

David Taintor | November 16, 2010, 1:01PM

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert last night called into question President Barack Obama's patriotism, disappointed that he spent Veterans Day in South Korea -- with active-duty American troops, no less.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Airs Ad Touting Support From Vets After Johnson Gaffe

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 11:40AM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Impeccable timing: The Russ Feingold campaign will today begin airing the below ad touting his support from veterans.

Why's the timing impeccable?

Because just yesterday, his Republican opponent, Ron Johnson got tripped up when asked to describe his view of the government's role in helping homeless veterans.

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WI-SEN

Ron Johnson On Homeless Vets: This Election Isn't About Details [VIDEO]

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 9:34AM

Wisconsin's Republican Senate hopeful Ron Johnson got tripped up on a point of policy during a recent interview: Asked what the Department of Veteran's Affairs' responsibility is to homeless veterans, Johnson declared that his election fight against Sen. Russ Feingold is not "about details."

"Certainly the people that step up to the plate to answer that call -- they are a top priority in terms of spending. So we do need a strong VA system. We need to support those folks as long as they need support," Johnson said.

The moderator pressed Johnson -- a government skeptic -- to explain exactly how the government should respond to the issue of homeless vets. "Are there specific things that you think need to happen within that galaxy of services, perhaps, that the VA has some responsibility for or other organizations that would help homeless veterans?"

Johnson responded, flummoxed.

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Veterans

Melancon Wins Endorsement From Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2010, 1:43PM

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW PAC) has endorsed Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) in his bid to unseat Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).

"This endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security and defense, and military personnel issues," the endorsement letter reads.

The PAC has been rebuked in recent days by its parent organization for endorsing liberal candidates including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL).

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NV-SEN

Reid Ad: Angle Wants To Privatize The V.A., 'End Our Promise To Veterans' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 21, 2010, 12:48PM

Ad from Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), "Broken Promise"

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has a new ad against his Republican opponent Sharron Angle. The ad departs from other Reid ads that hammered Angle as "extreme" for wanting to privatize Social Security and Medicare -- now they've upped the ante, and are attacking her for wanting to privatize the Department of Veterans Affairs!

"From World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, the V.A. has meant guaranteed care for those who serve," the announcer says. "But now, in another extreme proposal, Sharron Angle says privatize it -- end the V.A. as we know it.

"When she was asked whether veterans' benefits like prescriptions and doctor visits would be covered if she had her way,," the announcer said, followed by audio of Angle on talk radio this past May: "No, not if you're working toward a privatized system."

"End our promise to veterans?" the announcer says "Sharron Angle -- dangerous ideas that put veterans at risk."

The TPM Poll Average currently puts Reid ahead by 47.2%-44.9%.

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Veterans

Vet Group Calls On Obama To Fire Alan Simpson

Brian Beutler | September 2, 2010, 12:36PM

President Obama meets with the leaders of his bipartisan debt commission, Democrat Erskine Bowles, on left, and former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson, on right.

In a letter to President Obama, Vote Vets chairman John Soltz demands that Alan Simpson lose his job as co-chair of the White House's fiscal commission. Key quote:

"[O]n Tuesday, Senator Simpson actually put veteran's benefits on the chopping block...blaming disabled veterans for the country's fiscal situation. And for us, that is the final straw," Soltz wrote. "We ask that you remove him from his current position so that the commission can continue its work in a way that will give the military community--and all Americans--confidence in the conclusions it reaches."

This week, citing a program that covers veterans exposed to Agent Orange for diabetes testing and treatment, Simpson said, "The irony (is) that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters this week that Simpson will stay on the commission.

You can read the entire letter below the fold.

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Alan Simpson

Simpson: Veterans 'Not Helping Us' Save Country From Debt

Brian Beutler | September 1, 2010, 9:22AM

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility co-chairman Alan Simpson

If Social Security is "a cow with 310 million tits" then what's the proper metaphor for veteran's benefits? We don't know. But Alan Simpson seems to think they're too expensive. Or too overused. Or something. Anyway, it's bad.

"The irony (is) that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess," said Alan Simpson, co-chair of the White House's fiscal commission, according to the Associated Press.

Simpson was referring specifically to the disability benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs dispenses to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

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Medical marijuana

Veterans Administration: Patients Who Use Medical Marijuana Won't Face Penalties

Megan Carpentier | July 27, 2010, 4:32PM

Tthe Under Secretary of Health at the Veterans Administration issued a little-noticed directive to VA medical facilities recently, informing facilities that patients who legally use medical marijuana may not be denied access to health services because of their outside prescription. It is the first time the VA has issued such a directive, and comes as the Administration has been quietly relaxing the Bush Administration's efforts to prosecute medical marijuana growers, dispensaries and users who qualify under state laws.

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Barack Obama

Obama Awards Two Purple Hearts To Soldiers During Walter Reed Visit

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 6:24PM

President Obama pays his respects to fallen American soldiers.

President Obama spent nearly two hours this afternoon meeting privately with soldiers and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

While there, he awarded two Purple Hearts, the White House said.

No press was allowed to witness the visit, but an administration staffer told the pool which accompanies the president when he leaves the White House that Obama "visited with 19 soldiers, three families of soldiers in the ICU, as well as hospital staff."

VA-GOV

McCain To Campaign For Bob McDonnell In Virginia

Christina Bellantoni | October 16, 2009, 11:05AM

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), VA-Gov candidate Bob McDonnell

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is getting back on the campaign trail tomorrow to try and help former Virginia attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) win over veterans with less than three weeks until the governor's race.

McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran, will join McDonnell for a rally at a VFW post in Virginia Beach.

The 2008 presidential nominee was a huge campaign get before he ran for president, but has avoided the trail this year.

The 10 a.m. Veterans for McDonnell rally will be held at VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach.

McDonnell, who served in the Army on both active duty and reserve in the 1980s and 1990s, represented Virginia Beach when he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.