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Veterans Group Seeks Voter Unity
By Thomas D. Segel
August 15, 2002

There are few elections in the United States where the military or veteran vote is of much concern to politicians.

There is in excess of 26 million veterans in this country, plus about 2 million military retirees and maybe an equal number of active duty and reserve forces. However, they are spread so far across the national landscape and are so diverse in thinking they have little impact on any specific race. Veterans also generate little in the way of official support for their concerns. This is because, on the national scene, only big money or big votes are worthy of official attention.

A relatively new organization called the Veterans Voting Bloc plans to end this political neglect and complacency by taking very aggressive and positive action. Though the organization is only a few thousand members strong, it has established a noticeable presence throughout the country. Already VVB is attracting candidates interested in supporting its issues.

The Veterans Voting Bloc has concern about the forgotten promises of earned health care for active duty and retired military. Also, there are a variety of unresolved veteran's health care issues. The ongoing battle of dollar-per-dollar offset between retired pay and VA disability compensation is another issue that must be resolved.

The group is also seeking elimination of two inequitable provisions of the Uniformed Former Spouses Protection Act. Additionally, they want a revision of the Feres Doctrine, which protects government medical personnel from litigation, even when they are guilty of negligence or medical malpractice.

The VVB asks candidates to sign a pledge of support for these issues. In turn, those candidates earn the organizations support and promise of votes, regardless of party affiliation.

To strengthen the VVB position even more, National Director Philip E. Jones of San Antonio, Texas has developed a unification proposal, which has been sent to all military and veteran organizations throughout the United States.

"It is my proposal", he says", that all veteran's organizations, which are allowed by their charters, should unify under one banner known as The Veterans Voting Bloc Coalition. This coalition's purpose will be to consolidate our political power in the form of a massive voting bloc which will be able to oust national politicians who have not or will not vote for significant veterans' issues."

Serving as coordinator for the new coalition, Jones has asked each organization to appoint a committee to investigate the voting records of incumbent members of Congress relating to the main concerns of veterans, active duty and retired military and their spouses.

Fifteen congressional candidates have already pledged to sponsor, co-sponsor and vote for legislation to correct the organization's primary issues. They are the beginning of those candidates, which the coalition will support. Each participating organization will make recommendations, based on their independent analysis of additional candidates, which will be identified for support. A majority vote of all participating organization will determine the final list of candidates who will earn the Veterans Voting Bloc Coalition recommendation.

In those cases where incumbent members of Congress have not signed the pledge to support VVB issues, the member's voting record will be examined. If they have voted for the health care and concurrent receipt bills, the coalition would recommend voting for them. If they have not supported those bills, the recommendation will be to vote for the challenger, on the assumption that person could not do worse.

Jones realizes there are organizations, which only want to be involved in veteran issues such as VA hospitals and long term care. There are others who are only concerned with those bills, which will have impact on our active duty forces. The retired community has another set of concerns. Finally the VVB is aware there are those who will never shed the oppressive yoke of partisan politics because they naively believe only their Party has the answers.

Even with all those barriers, Jones sees things moving forward. "We have a good plan and it is working. It is making people nervous because they consider us a threat to their Party. Well, we are a threat. Both parties have bad apples which must be weeded out", he says.

The Veterans Voting Bloc Coalition plans to announce the national list of candidates on October 1, by press release and on its Web Site http://www.unitedvets.tripod.com. The list will include both the candidates who have the Coalition endorsement and those who have been placed on the "Do Not Vote For This Candidate" list.