OT: Georgia On My Mind (Max Cleland)

[fedupinBushcountry]

Beachmom this is for you.

Six years ago this week, I was campaigning across Georgia for re-election to the United States Senate. I loved being a U.S. Senator and serving the people of Georgia. As our country headed to war in Iraq, and continued to fight to find Osama Bin Laden, I believed that my service in Vietnam, my experience as a combat veteran, would be of added value to my home state, and to my country.

My opponent at the time, Saxby Chambliss, disagreed; running a television commercial against me that not only had Osama Bin Laden's face morphing into mine but also questioned my "courage to lead." I felt at the time that surely, my service and my sacrifice in Vietnam would be seen in a more positive light than that of Mr. Chambliss's, who was forced to miss the war with a bum knee.

Sadly, as my good friend John Kerry would learn two years later, the power of well-funded lies can be hard to overcome with the truth, and six years ago next Tuesday, Saxby Chambliss won.

It was a devastating loss to me personally, but rest assured my friends, I am doing well. I am hopeful for a resounding Democratic victory across the country next Tuesday and I am encouraged to see that Jim Martin is running a great race against Saxby Chambliss here in Georgia. Jim is gaining ground and if you can help him in any way, please do so.

I believe that justice can sometimes be delayed, but it can never be denied. I served my country to the best of my ability and I hope to serve it again. And like Jim Martin, I will serve with character, dignity and grace.

Something I can not say about the man I pray he replaces.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-cleland/georgia-on-my-mind_b_138496.html">link

We :loveya: Max.

[beachmom]

1. Thanks so much for posting, Fedup! I can tell you I already snagged

a vote for Martin, by telling a neighbor about what Chambliss did to Max Cleland. It says everything about the man's lack of character, and is a total turn off.

I can tell you Democrats here are still really mad about what went down in 2002, and will never forgive. One Dem friend of mine says he is going broke because of Chambliss. Why? Because every time he sees a smear ad by Chambliss on TV, he donates more money to Martin.

Crossing my fingers that we can oust this sleazy politician once for all, and bring a little bit of justice to a genuine hero, Max Cleland.

[beachmom]

2. Also, check this out. VoteVets are now running an ad in Georgia!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/27/12223/889/166/643597

[Luftmensch067]

3. Beautiful footage of JK and Max at Worcester event this last Saturday

here

This was a wonderful event, with JK speaking passionately about what must be done and what he has personally done to help vets and their families and Max giving a truly beautiful speech about his friend, John Kerry.

Personally, I had a great time at this. A nice woman pointed out several WWII vets in the audience and I managed to talk to four of them and take pictures, too! They were all in their mid to late eighties and fit as fiddles! Tough guys who didn't need to act tough and who respected their wives (one came with his wife and she was a delight, too, though MUCH younger -- only 77!) I also met this young guy who was in a wheelchair and wearing a jacket with some kind of military patch. I started talking to him and found out that he was not, as I'd assumed, a recent veteran, but an intern at the veterans center in Worcester (it was his boss' jacket!) He is going to college to become a counselor who helps vets find jobs. I thought that was so cool and told him that I think he'll find a lot of work in an Obama administration that TRULY stands with returning vets.

The crowd really loved JK's fiery speech and Max's excellent oratory (he is such a magnificent speaker!) and the Q&A was interesting, too. This was a very engaged and articulate crowd of people. I wish I could have talked to each and every one of them -- you could tell they all had amazing stories to tell. Also, we got to see the newly-returned Setti Warren, who was acknowledged and praised by JK as he stood in the watching crowd.

At the next stop on the veterans' bus tour which was supporting JK and Max through MA towns, we got to see JK and Max, veterans and supporters squeeze into a little restaurant in Attleboro. An added theme here was provided by some local politicians who were running for election/reelection. JK emphasized how much MA politicians at every level are interconnected, how they support each other in their mission to make this state a great place to live for all its citizens. The other pols had very nice things to say about JK. Max gave another great speech and an exuberant guy in the crowd (I think he was a firefighter) shouted out that we all loved and honored and thanked him to confirming cheers and applause.

The restaurant was small enough that I was able at the end of the event to make my way over to Max and tell him how much I admire him and what a great speaker I think he is -- and he kissed me on the cheek! Made my day. :-)

[Luftmensch067]

4. Also in Attleboro

JK gave the floor to James Crosby, an Iraq war veteran with an inspiring story, because he wanted to make sure people found out about Crosby's project, SAVE:

Crosby, who now lives in Dorchester's Columbia Point, has taken on a new mission. At the request of the state's Veterans Affairs Secretary Tom Kelly, Crosby is now leading a team of specialists that is being deployed across the state to reach out to vets in need of services. The Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment (SAVE) program focuses on suicide prevention, but is ready to help any veteran who needs to connect with the myriad programs that are now available.

Crosby's seven member advocacy team includes four veterans and the wife of a Marine Corps veteran who works with family members.

"What we're trying to do here is throw that net out there and get to know the services and the right people to get those benefits to the families that need it," says Crosby. "They should be getting the services they deserve and they shouldn't have to navigate the system alone at a time in their life when they need it the most."

The SAVE team now has a specialized van that can visit vets anywhere in the state and bring services directly to their door.

"The focus is on suicide prevention and we're all trained in that," says Crosby. "Our way of getting out there and preventing it is by getting them in contact with all their services and benefits. We can help resolve income issues, get them hooked up with the V.A. If all that extra help is in line, with that in place, we believe we're not going to see as many become suicidal."

The team, which was launched in early February, has already met with some success. Crosby recalls the case of a fellow Marine with severe Post Traumatic Street Disorder (PTSD), whose medications had run out and who was struggling to stay employed.

"We hooked him up with health care through the V.A., got him some emergency cash and chapter 115 benefits. We set him up with a career center, and paid for his first and last month's rent. All that got taken care of in one day."

more here, here, and there are two more here

[karynnj]

5. It was fun seeing the interaction between Kerry and Cleland

It was also cool seeing Setti and hearing that he was back home save - and that he and his wife asked Kerry to be Godfather to their baby.