Shhhh...Not All Vets Groups are Non-Partisan
Posted by: Angie Vogt | 06/19/2008 11:22 AM
One thing I've enjoyed about working with veterans organizations, as a military vet myself, is the sense of camaraderie and unity that comes from these groups. I've attended organizational meetings with groups like Operation Support Our Troops, the Veterans Legislative groups, Operation Military Family, the Military Officers Association and others.
Breaking into the VFW, however, has been a little disturbing. I contacted a member recently to talk about joining. I wasn't prepared for the reaction I got. He grumbled about the leadership being a closed door "good old boys" network that was "in the tank" for democrats. I said, "how can they be in the tank for democrats?" given that all these vets organizations are non-partisan. It's quite routine for non-profit groups to work with legislators and politicians all the time, or to host candidates and legislators at their conventions and meetings on a routine basis. However, they are not allowed to endorse or promote a candidate or political party.
In fact, I was surprised to learn that several Post Commanders were not attending the VFW convention which is happening as we speak. "They see it as a sham," I was told. I was unable to attend the convention, but a friend of mine called me this morning, ready to pack it in and come home early.
The opening ceremony was a waste. Apparently, there in attendance at the non-partisan convention was a known operative in the democratic party who is paid to follow Dino Rossi around and videotape his speeches, with the hopes of using his words in smear tactics against him. The cameraman is a young college aged man and not a VFW member, but is employed by the democrat party. I wonder why the VFW allowed for his participation?
He was there videotaping Dino as he addressed the crowd. Dino spoke after Governor Gregoire (which is appropriate). I wonder if he taped Mike Gregoire making rude gestures, talking and rolling his eyes. It was uncomfortable to say the least, according to my source.
Feels like a setup.
As an a member of two veterans organizations, I may hold off on joining the third. Or maybe I'll start my own...I'll call it VFVW...VETERANS WORKING FOR VETERANS in WASHINGTON!
Breaking into the VFW, however, has been a little disturbing. I contacted a member recently to talk about joining. I wasn't prepared for the reaction I got. He grumbled about the leadership being a closed door "good old boys" network that was "in the tank" for democrats. I said, "how can they be in the tank for democrats?" given that all these vets organizations are non-partisan. It's quite routine for non-profit groups to work with legislators and politicians all the time, or to host candidates and legislators at their conventions and meetings on a routine basis. However, they are not allowed to endorse or promote a candidate or political party.
In fact, I was surprised to learn that several Post Commanders were not attending the VFW convention which is happening as we speak. "They see it as a sham," I was told. I was unable to attend the convention, but a friend of mine called me this morning, ready to pack it in and come home early.
The opening ceremony was a waste. Apparently, there in attendance at the non-partisan convention was a known operative in the democratic party who is paid to follow Dino Rossi around and videotape his speeches, with the hopes of using his words in smear tactics against him. The cameraman is a young college aged man and not a VFW member, but is employed by the democrat party. I wonder why the VFW allowed for his participation?
He was there videotaping Dino as he addressed the crowd. Dino spoke after Governor Gregoire (which is appropriate). I wonder if he taped Mike Gregoire making rude gestures, talking and rolling his eyes. It was uncomfortable to say the least, according to my source.
Feels like a setup.
As an a member of two veterans organizations, I may hold off on joining the third. Or maybe I'll start my own...I'll call it VFVW...VETERANS WORKING FOR VETERANS in WASHINGTON!
It may be ill advised, but it is apparently not "fraudulent" and certainly not election fraud. Forbes has...
Angie,
When I worked on the Messmore for Congress campaign in 2006 I ran into allot of this, but it was not so much that the VFW was in the bag for the Democrats. It seemed more that they feared retaliation from the Democrats who (let's face it) run the state and local governmnets in Washington for the most part. They feared that if they even let Michael Messmore speak that the Democrats would level charges towards them that they had violated their non-partisanship and try to have their non-profit status removed. I did have some luck with one VFW that went very well and invited Michael back, but not much luck anywhere else.
To be honest I felt that the American Legion was far more left of center than the VFW (at least that was my experience).
I think that veterans are the same as any large segment of the US population, sharing many different political views. It is a broad generalization to state that they are "in the tank for democrats." In fact, most of the veterans that I have known are quite the opposite, and rather conservative by nature. It seems like a ridiculous notion that they should not be allowed to voice their political opinions either way about this country that they love. Isn't this one of the freedoms that they fought for?
I cannot speak of the political leanings of the groups you've experienced but as the earlier commenter noted, veterans hold various political beliefs just as anyone else. I am also a vet and my experience thus far in the Southwest is one of finding veterans groups like VFW and American Legion to be right-leaning in their political ideology. That being said, if your comment is correct that the VFW is in the "bag for Democrats" then it sounds extremely contradictory to note that in the 2006 Congressional elections, the VFW endorsed not the Democratic candidate and combat veteran pilot who had lost both legs in Iraq, Tammy Duckworth, but instead a Republican, Peter Roskam, who did not hold any military service at all. This hardly seems to jive with your bold assertion.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227471,00.html