Republican Senator, Vietnam Veteran Endorses President Obama

[wan]

As a combat veteran of two tours in Vietnam with twenty-two years of service as a Republican member of the U.S. House and Senate, I endorse President Barack Obama for a second term as our Commander-in-Chief. Candidates publicly praise our service members, veterans and their families, but President Obama supports them in word and deed, anywhere and every time.

As a Vietnam vet, one of the reasons I support President Obama is because he has consistently shown he understands that our commitment to our servicemen and women may begin when they put on their uniform, but that it must never end.

This decision is not easy for any lifelong Republican. In 2008 I voted for Barack Obama, the first time I ever voted for a Democrat, because the Republican Party was drifting toward a dangerous path that put extreme party ideology above national interest. Mitt Romney heads a party remaining on that dangerous path, proving the emptiness of their praise as they abandon our service members, veterans and military families along the way.

What really set me off was Romney's reference to 47% of Americans to be written off -- including any veteran collecting disability like myself, as a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) veteran.

Behind closed doors with his donors, Romney made clear he'd write off half of America -- including service members and veterans -- because, as he said "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility for their lives." But there's no greater personal responsibility than to wear your country's uniform and defend the rights we all enjoy as Americans. We don't sow division between "us" versus "them." The Commander-in-Chief sets the bar for all to follow and fight for the entire country. Mitt Romney fails that test. As a veteran I feel written off. Just as revealing is what Romney actually says publicly. As a former Foreign Service Officer, I find it offensive that Romney, Congressman Paul Ryan and their Republican Party are politicizing the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other brave Americans who lost their lives in Libya. Being Commander-in-Chief requires a resolve and steadiness that's immune to politics and fear mongering. Mitt Romney fails that test.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-pressler/larry-pressler-obama_b_1948415.html

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

...no.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

...no.

[5280]

I respect his service to this fine country, but his endorsement is wrong.

[wan]

I respect his service to this fine country, but his endorsement is wrong.

Stop the jealousy

[Middle-aged Europe]

Who cares, where's that Colin Powell endorsement?

[5280]

I respect his service to this fine country, but his endorsement is wrong.

Stop the jealousy

What do I have to be jealous about?  I'm just saying he's making a wrong choice.

[J. J.]

Former senator, and Obama appointee endorses Obama.  He was named to a commission.

[Biden 2024]

I respect his service to this fine country, but his endorsement is wrong.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Middle-aged Europe]

According to his Wikipedia entry, Pressler had already voted for Obama in 2008.

RINO

[DrScholl]

I'm sure if it was a Democrat endorsing Romney, the response would be very different.

[5280]

I'm sure if it was a Democrat endorsing Romney, the response would be very different.

If the Democrat endorsed Romney, but was being sarcastic about it then it's irrelevant (Nicki Minaj).

[Indy Texas]

Pressler was one of the stranger '08 Obama endorsements. I could understand William Weld, Colin Powell, Arne Carlson, Lincoln Chafee. But Pressler was basically a run-of-the-mill conservative (and not the brainy, intellectual kind like all the Reagan Justice Department people who crossed over).

[Chaddyr23]

My favorite thing about Senator Pressler is that he was the only one to not fall for the FBI undercover sting of the AbScam fiasco. In fact he reported it to the FBI soon after. That's what integrity looks like. All the while men on both sides of the isle fell for the sting op.

[minionofmidas]

My favorite thing about Senator Pressler is that he was the only one to not fall for the FBI undercover sting of the AbScam fiasco. In fact he reported it to the FBI soon after. That's what integrity looks like.

Or perhaps what intelligence looks like.

Larry Pressler effectively made the internet possible... he and Al Gore before him... and got booted by the people of South Dakota for thanks. (As in, the long time he spent on that when he could have instead done his job of providing pork for Dakota actually was a campaign issue.)