Veterans Love Bernie Sanders: "No One Has Had Our Backs Like Bernie. No one!"

[sabrina 1]

Last edited Tue Sep 29, 2015, 06:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Bernie's Veterans Bills

No one has had our backs like Bernie. No one. When you look at the candidates for President and Commander-in-Chief, he is the only one who has consistently stood up and said, “If you can’t afford to take care of Veterans, then don’t go to war.”

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, he’s been our outspoken leader in the fight to improve what’s broken at the VA. In taking the time to meet us and our families and to hear our stories, there’s no question that Bernie genuinely appreciates the sacrifices we make. That’s why he fights so hard for us.

Bernie’s record speaks for itself. Like my grandma used to say, “The proof is in the pudding.” He is the only candidate who has continually spoken out about the ‘true costs of war.’ Unlike so many others, Bernie doesn’t just talk. He walks the walk. He gets shit done. While other politicians are out giving Veterans Day speeches and using us like props, Bernie is working hard to get us results and do what’s right.

.....

In addition to the CHOICE Act, Bernie has sponsored more veterans bills than any other legislator in the last three decades.

My note: See long list of Bernie's bills fighting for Veterans at the link

What Veterans Have to Say about Bernie





Lots more declarations at the link. Veterans from all our wars are campaigning hard for Bernie. No one knows the cost of war better than those who were sent to fight them. And they believe the even though Bernie voted against the wars some of them fought in, he, more than any other member of Congress, understands.


Many people don't know the work Bernie has done in Congress to help Veterans get the benefits they deserve, saying often that if you want to send them to War, you must take care of them when they come home.

And those are not just words in his case. His record is long on the fight for the rights of Veterans, not just campaign rhetoric and they know he is sincere.

Hiring Veterans. Bernie’s bill reauthorized provisions of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, including a two-year extension of the popular Veterans Retraining Assistance Program that allows veterans age 35-60 to gain additional training in high-demands fields.

Editing to add this:

VFW Presents Bernie Sanders with their 2015 Congressional Award

Longer version here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=QJR-u6nh7oc

Published on Mar 13, 2015
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) received the VFW Congressional Award in recognition of his outstanding service to our nation and for his support and dedication to service members, veterans and their families at the 2015 VFW Legislative Conference.

H/T to DUer Cheese Sandwich who provided the information on this in post #29 in this thread!

[daleanime]

1. Massive K&R.....

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabrina.

[sabrina 1]

4. You're welcome, Uncle Joe

[Uncle Joe]

7. Although I was never in a war, as a former Marine, I feel the same as these guys.

Peace to you, sabrina.

[sabrina 1]

10. I'm glad you were never in a war, Uncle Joe, but you are who Bernie talks about

when he says our 'veterans are willing to fight for this country' and the least we can do is to provide for THEM!

I'm so impressed with how aware veterans are of what it is all about, this 'militarization' of the country and that they are speaking out against it. This one eg, is so true:

[kenfrequed]

3. Kicking this with my twenty year old combat boots!

Yay Bernie!

[sabrina 1]

5. Those combat boots are working fine. Thanks for using them to kick for Bernie!

[MissDeeds]

6. Awesome!

Thanks so much for this, sabrina 1!

K&R

[historylovr]

8. K & R

[Sunlei]

9. What I like best about Senator Sanders is, he has always been a Man of Peace.

We wouldn't have needed a military much at all if Sanders was in the presidents chair a couple decades ago.

President Obama, IMO also is a man of peace, but not so much as Bernie.

[sabrina 1]

14. Yes, he has. He understands that our military is ONLY for defense and any other use of it

is just wrong. He knows the story, that there are people who see the power we have and see how profitable it can be for THEM and sadly they have had power to do just that for decades now.

We so need need someone like him in the WH and hundreds like him in Congress before we can begin the process of undoing the harm they have done.

[Sunlei]

59. Obama is undoing some of the harm we have caused to other countries but of course that

is 'damage' that will take decades to fix. Obama has also added better quality benefits for our military and our Veterans. He helped promote jobs for returning military.

Obama has done a lot to improve/upgrade the Veterans medical care system & care for older Vets. Vietnam vets and the agent orange health problems were ignored for decades. Less homeless Vets on the streets too. Obama has also improved and upgraded the USA Native American programs & policies. They have been ignored forever.

I hope the next president continues to work on, and keeps progress on everything above moving forward in the same positive direction.

[sabrina 1]

91. Bernie Sanders as President will be able to do even more than he has done over the course of his

career, and I'm sure he will use that power to do all he can for the Veterans he has tirelessly worked so hard for as long as he has been in office. Sadly many of his colleagues weren't so willing to join him and the few others who were doing the heavy lifting, still he did manage to get a lot done on their behalf despite the opposition and now the Vets are helping him in return.

One of the many reasons I support him in this election.

[haikugal]

11. Thanks Sabrina 1!!!

K&R!!!

Go Bernie Go!

[Dems to Win]

12. k and r

[WillyT]

13. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[sarge43]

15. One of the many reasons my husband and I are supporting him.

He's got our backs

[sabrina 1]

19. Thank you both for supporting him. He does have your backs and it's not just during campaign

season, or posing with soldiers for photo ops. I am so impressed with how veterans see through the phoniness even after all the propaganda the country has been subjected to.

He will be an excellent CIC, someone who cares about the troops, never sending them to needless, wars for profit!

[sarge43]

23. Of course we see through the crap; we lived through it.

Pay grade and IQ, not the same thing.

backatcha

[sabrina 1]

48. I never doubted that sarge! It's just good to see them speaking for themselves for a change. Mostly

we see Politicians doing it for them so I'm hoping they get the CIC they believe will make certain to LISTEN to them as he has in the past, rather than use them for political reasons and for unnecessary wars for profit.

Lots of rhetoric when it comes to Veterans especially during campaign season, then they are forgotten unless it's to cut benefits or deprive them of some right or another.

I have friends and family who are vets, so know what they go through.

Thanks for your comments in this thread.

[sarge43]

53. You're welcome, sabrina 1

I'm glad I can contribute. When we're on active duty, we have to keep our political opinions to ourselves. Vote, yes; bumper stickers, absolutely not. It's sometimes a hard habit to break. Further, griping's ok, but complaining, not so much.

What is starting to piss us off is we have fulfilled our part of the contract, why is the other signatory not fulfilling its agreements. In short, we kept our side of the agreement; why aren't you, Uncle? We don't like being lied to.

We also don't like what's being done to our civilian families, friends and communities.

[sabrina 1]

57. Yeah, that must be very hard to do sometimes. To keep quiet when you see things, most likely more

than we see, though we see enough. I'm glad to see that Vets are using their Constitutional right to use their speech, AFTER, as you say, keeping their part of the bargain. Because their voices and opinions matter a lot to Americans.

Its pretty rough to have to accept that the Govt in its current form, never intended to keep their side of the bargain. But that's our job now, to make sure we get people into office who take their oaths of office seriously.

I think we can do it, if we do it together!

[whatchamacallit]

16. The truth of this OP makes it practically crap-on proof

Only the most craven bots would attempt to sully it. Wonder how long before they try...

[sabrina 1]

21. After what we've seen over the past few months, put NOTHING no matter how low, past them.

I don't want to give them any ideas, but if I can think of how low they go, I'm sure they can go even lower.

All we can do is to keep increasing Bernie's already large numbers of supporters who are ready and waiting to take down the smear mongers, because Enough is Enough of that kind of politics, we want a far more decent country where low lifes such as those hired for the job of dirty trickster are OUT of our system of government, permanenty.

[Enthusiast]

17. Kicked and recommended to the Max!

Excellent post, sabrina!

[KoKo]

18. Recommend!

[cpompilo]

20. To my Facebook page with you! Thank you, sabrina 1! Required reading this is!

[sabrina 1]

26. You're welcome and thank you or helping get their message out re their chosen, next CIC!

[jwirr]

22. THIS is what I call an endorsement. Thank you all.

[sabrina 1]

24. Definitely, Vets have been excited about Bernie's run from early on, helping in any way they can

because as they say, 'he has had our backs for so long, now we will have his'.

[jwirr]

37. I consider it an honor whenever a vet endorses anyone.

These guys earned the right to speak out to us.

[Duckfan]

25. That speaks volumns when our Vet's back someone.

I just hope many more of our Vet's back Bernie and send a message that--as Bernie says, "If you can't afford to take care of Veterans, then don't go to war".

That phrase should resonate throughout the military.

[gregcrawford]

27. When a neighbor's son...

... who joined the Marines with my son was denied benefits to help him deal with Combat-induced PTSD, I called Bernie's office, and one of Bernie's staffers was on the phone with my neighbor's son the very next day. He got his benefits. I had the chance to thank Bernie personally for his efforts on one of his birthday cruises on the Lake Champlain ferry.

He's the nation's best bet for the nation's hardest job.

[sabrina 1]

49. What a great story, gregcrawford. I don't doubt that Bernie reached out to help a veteran

but it's always great to hear from people who experienced his efforts on behalf of veterans first hand. Lucky you for having the chance to thank him personally.

He's the nation's best bet for the nation's hardest job.

Obviously I couldn't agree more!

[gregcrawford]

60. The neighbor...

... is a die-hard Republican who didn't think Bernie would do anything. I took quiet satisfaction in proving him wrong. Neighbor was big enough to send Bernie a thank you letter.

[sabrina 1]

64. That's even better and I'm glad he got help for his son regardless.

But we are only human and nothing wrong with getting a little satisfaction when someone is proven wrong like that, especially when it's in a good way.

[gregcrawford]

65. The young fellow who was helped was supportive of Bernie...

... though I don't know if he still is. Unfortunately, my son went over to the Dark Side, married into a tribe of bigots on the Left Coast, and became a cop. Life is strange...

[sarge43]

68. Sanders: He suits up; he steps up. n/t

[PatrickforO]

81. There's tons of stories like this that are surfacing. Bernie actually cares about all of us.

He's my candidate - that's for sure!

[Old Crow]

28. Much respect for Bernie's position on veterans.

It is a welcome change from the shameful approach of most politicians: Use the military with enthusiasm, then provide nothing but lip service to those who've made the sacrifices.

[Cheese Sandwich]

29. VFW Presents Bernie Sanders with their 2015 Congressional Award

The VFW Congressional Award has been presented annually since 1964 to one sitting member of Congress for significant legislative contributions on behalf of those who have worn the uniform.

“With eight years on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee — two of them as chairman — it is no understatement to say that Senator Sanders has taken care of wounded, ill and injured veterans and their surviving family members,” said VFW National Commander John W. Stroud. “He has been a commanding voice against changing the COLA calculations for disabled veterans, for the proper care and treatment of women veterans, homeless veterans, for better employment opportunities and improved access to mental health programs, as well as increased congressional oversight of the VA claims processing transformation,” he said.


With minor edits from:
http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/Ending-Sequestration-Again-Tops-VFW-Legislative-Agenda/

A longer version is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=QJR-u6nh7oc

Published on Mar 13, 2015
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) received the VFW Congressional Award in recognition of his outstanding service to our nation and for his support and dedication to service members, veterans and their families at the 2015 VFW Legislative Conference.

= = = =

And thanks for this great thread sabrina1

[sabrina 1]

50. Thanks for posting that Cheese Sandwich. I would like to add it to the OP with credit to you of

course, if you are okay with that?

[Cheese Sandwich]

51. Use it but don't credit me!

I am simply a humble reblogger

[sabrina 1]

55. Lol, if it weren't for rebloggers, see the OP eg, how would we ever find all the good stuff?

Sharing what we find is how the word gets around. Rebloggers are the BEST!

We don't have a news media, so we need all the rebloggers we can get to let people know what is going on!

[beam me up scottie]

30. K & R!

I'd love to see how they'll try to turn this strength into a weakness.

[Old Crow]

33. I'm not sure I can stomach it.

I've seen more cynical manipulation and posturing over the past two months than I would've thought possible. Truly, it's been an education and not a pleasant one.

[beam me up scottie]

34. If 2008 is any indication they're just getting warmed up.

And I agree, it will be hard to stomach.

[sabrina 1]

44. We need to turn the tables on the professional smearmongers and rather than try to respond to their

lies and deceptions, go after them, as happened with Brock and his sleazy lies. We spend too much time trying to counter their lies, rather than taking the offensive, USING them and their Dirty Corporate Money since they're going to spend it anyhow, to DEMONSTRATE What Bernie has been saying throughout this campaign.

Just link to whatever their latest smears are all over Social Media, and take the OFFENSIVE against them, because they ARE destroying our Democracy and we should never, ever be on the defensive from such low lifes, they deserve nothing other than massive, public contempt as Brock deservedly got.

Expose them, use them pay no attention to their garbage and run them out of our electoral system until we can get the right kind of people into power again to make all this ILLEGAL as it should be.

Enough is enough!!

[beam me up scottie]

46. Well said!

After what Brock did to Anita Hill I understand why some Democrats would join forces with him, he's evil but effective.

Let them have him, Bernie would never use a hit man like that against his opponents.

[AtomicKitten]

31. He earned the veterans' vote. k&r

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

32. K & R big time!...

Sorry, I just can't comment much..
I'm a Veitnam vet. Thought we had it hard when we came back.
Ours is a fucking cakewalk compared with the guys that come back from the ME.

I was saved by the VA. Bypass surgery, strokes, heart attacks......
Nothing I have lived through compares with the lives of our vets today.

I sit at the VA hospital and talk with the guys in the line with me.
I come home from there crying and cursing war all the more.

What a waste of life. What a waste of money that could be used to better everyone in this country.
The MIC is draining our country of resources that would fix just about everything.

Time to cut and run. We are NOT THE world power anymore.

We go to war to keep the populace in fear and corporations in the very black of the ledger.

[sabrina 1]

40. Thank you for your comment, N_E_1 for Tennis

I too have been to the VA with friends who are/were vets and was shocked to see how they are treated many times. Like you I cried too, it breaks my heart and I believe Bernie truly feels that way also.

Two vets who were friends of our often gave musical concerts at the VA to try to cheer up those who were there. I went to a few of them to help out.

I would like to put your comment in the OP along with the other vets, if that's okay with you. Comments often get lost in the comment section and I think yours belongs with the others I posted, but only if it's okay with you.

and thank you for doing what was suggested by the Vets For Bernie 'if someone thanks you for your service tell them to find out about Bernie and support him because he supports us'.

[zentrum]

35. My dad is a Vet.

And he supports Bernie Sanders.

[sabrina 1]

42. I would like to say thank you to your dad because we so badly need Bernie to win this

election. He sounds like a wise man!

[zentrum]

67. Thanks. He's

…very politically active too.

[sabrina 1]

85. That's great to hear. Bernie has some really cool supporters!

[Rose77]

36. thanks you for posting

[JDPriestly]

38. K&R.

[TM99]

39. Sanders has been a true friend to veterans.

I am grateful for all he does for us and those that I have personally counseled through the VA's.

[sabrina 1]

41. Thanks for comment, TM99! I would like to include the comments from DUers who are vets posting in

this thread. But only if it's okay with you! We need to hear more from those who are often the most affected by the lying excuses made to get us into Wars For Profit.

And thanks for what you've done re counseling other vets!

[TM99]

43. You are welcome, and normally, I would love to say yes.

However, my own professional boundaries are such that I just never mix my counseling work with anything even a great cause such as this.

I hope you understand. Thanks.

[sabrina 1]

45. I do understand and admire your principled stand!

[me b zola]

47. K&R!

[chknltl]

52. In a Veterens Choice office now but...

....from what i am witnessing, V.C. is massively F.U.B.A.R.!
I will report on what i have witnessed so far later. I am in a V.C. administrator's office as i post this, on short break from fighting 2 differing V.C. snafus that have affected me personally. I do not blame Bernie for these issues but i am madder than hell at someone that's for sure!

[sabrina 1]

56. I'm sorry as we all are, for the neglect that we know has become a feature of

what was supposed to be a way to take care of Vets. Bernie has been fighting an uphill fight with Congress, few of whom were ever willing or interested in doing anything, as many of the Vets themselves have said, using them as props for photo ops, or sending them to fight wars for profit.

We, he, needs more Congressional Reps who DO care about Vets which is why it isn't only the WH race that is important, all the Congressional races are extremely important, maybe even more so than the WH race.

I've been to the VA with friends who were vets and left in tears many times at how they were treated.

And what about the American people, who will wave the flag and yellow ribbons, but do NOTHING to show that all that flag waving and 'support the troops' means anything?

One person can't do much on their own, but considering the odds against him through the years, Bernie has tried his best and done more than any other member of Congress to use what little power he had on their behalf.

I am so sorry to hear how frustrated you are. This needs to be a major issue constantly, not just during Political campaigns, until it is a priority for every Rep in Congress, or they will be shown the door!

[chknltl]

72. You are what is "right" with DU sabrina 1, thank you for that response.

I have been home for a couple hours now, spent all of it posting lengthy responses to my VA Doctor and his Nurse. I have been a patient with American Lake VAMC for over a decade. At any point during that time if asked, I would have only the most glowing of reports to give about all facets of that facility....until about July of this year that is. I'll not bore you with the details but my report to my Nurse said it best: "....from this veterans perspective, it appears like someone dropped a huge confusion bomb on the place!"

I dunno, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe sabotage from right-wingers/bought off politicians in Congress but I've no evidence of this. I can report that I am aware that there is a recent flood of dissatisfied Vets looking for help. My example of this: When I talked to a Veterans Choice administrator who was unable to help me I asked him for the number for a newly created service called Veterans Champions, (I'm told they were created to cut through the 'crapolla' we Vets are running into with Veterans Choice). The gentleman I was talking to at Vets Choice instead transferred me to Vets Champions....it rang...it rang...it rang...and then a message came on saying that all lines were filled but if I would leave my name and number at the beep someone would get back to me....then it beeped, then a voice with a new message came on saying: "Were sorry, the mailbox is full, please try back later"...then dial-tone. Nope, you can't make this stuff up! Never in all my dealings with the VA have I met with such outrageousness! (I confess to an earlier incident but if truth be told, in that particular case the blame WAS on me-not the VA).

OK, so my dog needs to take me for a walk and I need to double up on my meds....I am heading back to American Lake VAMC again tomorrow to schedule an ultrasound and I want to have my 'happy face' on for all the head-scratching my being there to schedule a simple appointment will cause! Thanks again for the kind words about my hero Bernie Sanders, you are fighting the good fight for him, for all of us and this vet appreciates your tireless efforts.

[sabrina 1]

79. I can imagine the stress and frustration you are experiencing. It truly is unconscionable and I wish

I knew of a way to help. My friend, a vet also, was how I came to see how dysfunctional the system is, and to be honest, if more civilian people were to see these things happen, I believe there would be far more pressure placed on those in charge.

My heart goes out to you and I will keep you in my thoughts tomorrow, hoping for the best and that you and the other vets find out what went wrong and hopefully, someone to fix it. No one needs this stress. If it would help for people to make calls etc, you know how DUers are more than willing to help.

Take care, and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

As for Bernie, I don't see anyone else who has shown so much care for Veterans or for this country so I do what I can to try help him win this race. Thanks for your kind words!

[They_Live]

54. K & R

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. Hopefully, during his adminstration, there will only be non-combat vets produced.

Keeping people out of war is the best thing he can do for our military.

[DianeK]

62. kick...

.

[RiverLover]

66. Rec this fantastic post!!

& kick!

Thank you!!!!

[Paka]

69. K&R

Bernie is just so there for all of us. He doesn't play favorites and how many times do we need to keep saying it, he can't be bought.

Great post!

[hootinholler]

70. This cold war vet is squarely behind Bernie n/t

[sabrina 1]

73. Thank you!

I can't think of a better CIC of the armed forces than someone who we know will fight to keep this country out of unnecessary wars, protecting the troops from war profiteers and use the military only in defense of this country.

[in_cog_ni_to]

71. Fantastic post! K&R! n/t

[Fairgo]

74. This means a great deal to me

I am always and completely against war, even when idiots create situations where it is the only option left. Conversely, those who are sent into these man-made hells on our behalf are owed a lifetime of fair, even preferential treatment. That is the social contract. We are shamed by our history of abrogation. And it is on the hands of everyone who did not go to war.

[artislife]

75. Defense contractor friendly v Fighting for Veterans.

Bernie! He has veterans backs!

[Duckhunter935]

76. Feel the bern

[chknltl]

77. KnR of course. nuff said

[kacekwl]

78. Good to see but

I'm still surprised to see how many vets still support Bush and republicans in general.

[PatrickforO]

80. Thank you! K & R!

We owe these veterans, because they went and bled for this country. Like Bernie says, 'if you won't take care of the veterans, then don't go to war!'

I didn't know he had a 'vets for Bernie' group!

[HDSam]

82. A retired Army Veteran

for Bernie here.

I truly believe he is one of the very few in public office that actually support Veterans not because it's popular or makes a good sound bite for the news or gets votes, but because it's simply the right thing to do.

[sabrina 1]

84. Welcome to DU HDSam. And thank you for your comment. I agree with you, I believe he really

cares about those who serve this country.

[SoapBox]

83. K & R

Wow...great post.

Go Bernie!

[Scuba]

86. This veteran agrees. Thanks sabrina.

[raouldukelives]

87. K&R nt

[NealK]

88. K&R

[Feeling the Bern]

89. Sanders/O'Malley 2016!!!

[sabrina 1]

92. Sounds good to me. Though I would love to see Barbara Lee get a position in Bernie's

administration as they both demonstrated so much courage when voting against the Bush gang at a time when it was pretty dangerous to do so. They have a lot in common on the issues and have worked together many times in Congress.

[bobthedrummer]

90. K&R#198 n/t

[RichVRichV]

93. This country spends too much on the MIC and too little on the VA.

Our priorities are screwed up.