Do Veterans Look At Obama With Great Expectations?
By Thomas D. Segel
November 22, 2008
You see it in news publications and hear it on the electronic media..."Great Expectations". This is the mantra heard again and again about the upcoming Obama presidency. "A new day has dawned in America", "Yes, we can!"
For those of you who may have forgotten your high school literature, "Great Expectations is the classic Charles Dickens novel about Pip, an orphan boy from humble beginnings, who fights his way upward into the ranks of high society. Many are the star struck journalists who have placed this label on our President-Elect.
But, how do the veteran and retired military community view the person who will soon make his address 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? Though veterans have served in all branches of the military and are a combination of all political parties, most are very conservative in their views. They abhor the liberal left of politics. They are angry and disappointed with the Republicans who let ego, elitism, power and immorality end their majority position in Congress and cause the loss of the White House. They really hate the far left agenda.
Leo Robert is a retired Marine Sergeant Major. Writing from his home in State College, PA he says, "You will continue to see folks crying about Obama, but until the GOP takes control and starts showing leadership, he will be the winner. I think the GOP did this to themselves. They just didn't learn. Many have told me that maybe Obama will wake up America, but right now, this is what we deserve."
Noel Pritzi works with the disabled military retiree organization. He retired from the Army and is himself disabled. Noel admits to voting for McCain, but says that with Democrats controlling both houses of Congress and the Oval Office we need to "...support the President and his cabinet. After January 20, we will begin to see changes...or the same old problems. We can see the troops will be out of Iraq in 2011, which is a good sign. At no time should we bail out the Big Three, nor should we bail out the next problem, credit card debt. I was raised to buy only what I needed and save the rest."
Many veterans see the new administration chalking up failure after failure and trying to pass off everything as being caused or created by Bush and Company.
Tony Nathe is a veteran who understands what is happening in Washington...and what should be happening. He says, "if both parties would focus on the future of our country instead of the future of their elections we would be much better off. However, I don't think that is going to happen. The good side is the DNC now has total control. Veterans and we military retirees should take NO MORE EXCUSES after January 20, 2009. They will no longer be able to blame anyone but themselves."
Colonel George R. Givens, US Army Retired, writes from Paige, Texas. He believes, "We should respect the man and the office he holds until he shows that he is not worthy of that respect. Even then, we should talk about the man, not the office. Just because he will be the President that does not mean we have to agree with every proposal he comes up with. It is our right and duty to fight him tooth and nail if he proposes something that is not good for our country or attacks our individual rights...when he starts with his socialistic, gun-grabbing programs, as many of us suspect he will...then Katy-Bar-The-Door. The gloves come off!!"
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