« Unwed Mothers V. The Traditional Family | Main | The Spirit of Christmas in a Soldier's Heart »
December 23, 2007
Candidate Gives Campaign Money to Needy Soldiers
San Francisco Chronical, "Now we've seen everything: politicians playing Santa Claus - with their own personal campaign war chests?
It's too early to say it's the start of a trend, but at least two California political candidates have pledged portions of all the campaign funds they raise for the 2008 election to charitable causes they support - a move that is of the "man bites dog" variety in the world of politics.
But it's one that could win them points, not only with the charity groups - but with voters, say some in political circles.
The groundbreaker in the arena has been Democrat Charlie Brown, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and a candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat near Roseville - one currently held by embattled GOP Rep. John Doolittle.
Saying he'd seen enough of homeless veterans and wounded Iraqi troops coming home to fight for medical services, Brown pledged in September to donate 5 percent of all his campaign donations to veterans' causes - and has challenged other politicians to do the same.
"Partisan politicians love to talk about supporting the troops during election year photo ops, but the truth is that the results simply don't match the rhetoric," Brown said when he introduced the program called "Promises Kept," which is detailed on his campaign Web site (charliebrownforcongress.org). "In combat, I learned quickly that it's not what you say, but what you do that saves lives.
"This war has taken a huge toll on our newest veterans, and there's a tsunami of need coming," he said. "Politics as usual won't solve the problem. Leadership by example is what's needed."
Posted by Post Scripts at December 23, 2007 11:33 AM
Comments
Jack - and Congressman Doolittle Co-Sponsored three bills in the last congress that fix critical flaws in the Veteran system.
1.) No longer denying enlistment bonuses to injured soldiers returning home before they served the two years to get the bonus.
2.) Paid for education for disabled veterans was extended...
3.) A bill preventing the arbitrary extension of someone's service committment once it is almost done. Jack - I am sure you remember Vietnam and how people would get extended just as they thought they were getting out...
Merry Christmas!!!
Posted by: Aaron Park at December 25, 2007 09:22 AM