VoteVets.org: News

Jon Soltz on MSNBC for Memorial Day

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:55:00 -0500

Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org appears on MSNBC to discuss veterans jobs on Memorial Day.

Republicans Put Oil Money Above Troops' Lives

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:19:00 -0500

For the military, then, finding renewable sources of energy -- especially those which don't require fuel to be transported, like solar power -- is a matter of saving the lives of Americans.

Is the President About to Announce a Quicker End to Afghan War?

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:07:00 -0500

What I am hearing from them about the state of things in Afghanistan, and reading the tea leaves, it seems that President Obama may be on the verge of announcing a major change in mission in Afghanistan -- one which largely pulls back our troops from previous plans for the summer, and puts us on an expedited path towards ending the war.

Vote Vets organization hammers Coffman through social media for Obama apology

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:31:00 -0500

And since audio from earlier this week about U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, saying that President Barack Obama "in his heart, he's not American"went viral, the liberal VoteVets.org has hammered the two-term Republican congressman for his apology statement.

Hawaii: VoteVets on Air for Tulsi Gabbard

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:33:00 -0500

The ad features several Iraq War veterans describing Gabbard's biography, which includes military service and public office.

VoteVets Airing Gabbard Ads in Hawaii

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:54:00 -0500

The latest campaign ad to hit the air in Hawaii is a message of support for Tulsi Gabbard from VoteVets.org.According to Roll Call, VoteVets is "the largest progressive organization of veterans in the country," and it shelled out $75,000 to air the ad for 10 days.

When the 1 Percent Fails to Contribute Its Fair Share, Veterans Pay Dearly

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:22:00 -0500

The America that allows huge corporations to cut jobs here at home and get large tax breaks in the process is not the America I fought for. What has happened to basic fairness in our economy when so many troops come back from their service, unable to find a decent job, yet still pay more in taxes than the likes of billionaires or huge corporations like GE?

Obama Right, GOP Horribly Wrong on bin Laden Ad

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:41:00 -0500

At the end of the day, though, it's a completely fair point for the president to raise -- that President Obama orchestrated the killing of bin Laden, as promised, and didn't lose one American life in the operations. If Republicans want to have a debate over it, that's their decision. But it's a losing one.

Money from outside groups floods Missouri in bid to unseat McCaskill

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:35:00 -0500

McCaskill, viewed as one of the more vulnerable Senate Democrats this year, is not without resources. She has raised $2.3 million since January and has $6 million in the bank. The veterans advocacy group VoteVets also recently spent nearly $200,000 to air a pro-McCaskill ad in Kansas City and St. Louis. And she is among the wealthiest members of the Senate.

VoteVets.org on Dylan Ratigan

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:38:00 -0500

Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org, appears on MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan show to talk about the latest pictures coming out of Afghanistan, of troops holding body parts of insurgents, and the future of the war.

Joe Walsh Challenged Duckworth To A Debate At The Same Time That She Was Serving Army Duty

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:46:00 -0500

Walsh posted an announcement on his campaign website which stated that the congressman would be hosting a town hall on Sunday, and that he "has invited his opponent Tammy Duckworth to join him ...

Veterans Group Questions Voter Fraud Legislation Sponsored by Schoeller

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:58:00 -0500

A national veterans group is questioning a proposed piece of Missouri legislation aimed to curb voter fraud in the future, saying the new law, if approved, would make it tougher for active duty military to cast a ballot in an election.

Shane Schoeller, Missouri Legislator, Says Voter ID Bill Wouldn't Disenfranchise Troops

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:04:00 -0500

The editorial has sparked sharp criticism from Democrats and a national veterans political group. "We wholeheartedly oppose your legislation (House Bill 2109) that would restrict the voting rights of troops who are deployed or stationed overseas, by limiting their ability to vote via absentee ballot," Jon Soltz, the chairman of VoteVets.org, wrote to Schoeller. "We feel that the idea that you would deliberately inhibit our service members from exercising the very freedoms they fight for is offensive, un-American, and wrong."

Bloomberg Blasts NRA Over 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:52:00 -0500

"There is no shoot first law for our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. We cannot just shoot somebody because they have a hijab on in Iraq and kill them and say we're scared. Everybody in Iraq has a weapon and all U.S. forces are always scared," Soltz said. "This is a legal protection in these states that is actually afforded to Mr. Zimmerman that is not afforded to our troops in combat. Unless I'm wrong I didn't think Florida was a war zone."

Rules of Engagement: In Fallujah...and in Florida

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:15:00 -0500

At the center of the Florida case is one of these newly-passed laws that seem to give the attacker the benefit of the doubt if he or she feels threatened. "...it sounds to me that if Trayvon had been an Iraqi soldier, and George Zimmerman had been a U.S. Soldier, there would have been an immediate investigation, and most likely a manslaughter charge, and victim's family financially compensated for wrongful death," Soltz writes.

George Zimmerman Had More Legal Authority To Shoot And Kill Than Our Troops Do At War

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:55:00 -0500

The Trayvon Martin case has gripped the nation, and forced the country to re-examine our gun laws. But the horrible affair has struck me in another way, because of my two tours in Iraq. One fact stands out in my mind: The "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida, which may let George Zimmerman off the hook for the killing of Martin, gives more leeway to shooters than our own military gives to soldiers in war.

Swiftboating Tammy Duckworth -- Joe Walsh Digs a Deeper Hole

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:45:00 -0500

Last week, Congressman Joe Walsh denigrated the years of service his opponent, Tammy Duckworth, has given this nation. It was a new low for the guy who is a dead-beat dad. In an interview with Politico, Rep. Walsh said of Duckworth, "What else has she done? Female, wounded veteran ... ehhh.... She is nothing more than a handpicked Washington bureaucrat. David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel just picked her up and dropped her into this district."

Missouri Veterans: "Claire McCaskill Has Our Backs"

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:54:00 -0500

VoteVets.org released a new ad showcasing Sen. Claire McCaskill's strong support for veterans. The ad features Missouri Iraq War Veterans Jack Rodgers and Colin Clark highlighting McCaskill's efforts to fight cuts to the Truman Veteran's Hospital and support for the new GI Bill.

VoteVets asks Walsh to apologize

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:30:00 -0500

VoteVets.org, the largest group of progressive veterans, is asking Rep. Joe Walsh for an apology following his comments to POLITICO about Tammy Duckworth's military service.

Washington Post on Our McCaskill Ad

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:47:00 -0500

VoteVets.org is putting $200,000 behind an ad supporting embattled Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), the left-leaning group's first ad of the 2012 cycle. In the ad veterans thank McCaskill, a top Republican target, for fighting cuts to veterans' services and for the new G.I. Bill. The ad will air in the St. Louis and Kansas City market.

Claire McCaskill Gets Veterans' Group Support In New Ad

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:26:00 -0500

Vote Vets, a progressive veterans' group, released a new ad on Thursday morning supporting Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in her reelection campaign. The ad features two Missouri veterans, both of whom served in Iraq, praising McCaskill for her defense of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in the state and her support for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. "She knows it's un-American to turn our backs on those who've served," says one.

First in Score - VoteVets Giving McCaskill Air Cover

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:54:00 -0500

The national veterans' group VoteVets.org - which has over 100,000 veteran, military family and civilian supporters - will announce a two-week ad buy in Missouri today to praise vulnerable Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. The ad features two photogenic Iraq War veterans from the Show-Me state saying they have directly benefitted from her push for the new GI bill and her votes for VA funding. This is the first ad of the year for VoteVets, which spent $15 million last cycle. This initial buy is $200,000 in the Kansas City and St. Louis markets

McCaskill Gets a Hand From Veterans' Group

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:29:00 -0500

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is getting some help on television from the national veterans' group VoteVets.org, which is taking to the airwaves with a six-figure ad buy touting the senator's support for veterans' issues.

Progressive Veterans Group Launches Pro-McCaskill Ad

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:13:00 -0500

The progressive group VoteVets is launching an ad campaign in Missouri for Sen. Claire McCaskill, touting her work on the GI Bill. The ad features two Iraq war veterans who have benefited from the bill. McCaskill knows "it's un-American to turn our backs on those who served," one veteran says. The ad buy is for $200,000 in the Kansas City and St. Louis media markets and will run for two weeks, a source tells TPM.

The Maddow Blog Hightlights our New Ad

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:16:00 -0500

And in Missouri, where Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) is facing a tough re-election fight, VoteVets.org is launching a six-figure ad buy, touting the senator's support for veterans' issues.