The main reason to vote against Saxby has nothing to do with Veterans.......Saxby voted, with Bush, against SCHIP which was to have funded healthcare for poor children in Georgia by raising taxes on cigarettes.
ATLANTA --- Democratic challenger Jim Martin on Tuesday tried to show veterans why they shouldn't vote to re-elect Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Mr. Martin showcased the endorsement of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., who joined him at a news conference at a veterans memorial in Atlanta and a fundraising luncheon. Mr. Webb, the secretary of the Navy under President Reagan, surprised Washington insiders in 2006 when he decided to run as a Democrat and make opposition to the war in Iraq his main issue, using his war record in Vietnam to bolster his credibility.
Mr. Martin said he welcomed political advice and support from Mr. Webb, who was an underdog challenger like Mr. Martin.
"I'm just honored to have a great United States senator, whose campaign I've basically been trying to model my campaign after," Mr. Martin said.
Georgia has many large clusters of veterans living near its 13 bases, such as Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Fort Benning.
Mr. Webb said he had been friends with Democrat Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran and a former head of the Veterans Administration, who Mr. Chambliss defeated six years ago. He said that Mr. Martin has the credentials to fill Mr. Cleland's role.
"He's not going to have to go to committee meetings to understand what it means to serve in the military," Mr. Webb said of Mr. Martin. "He's going to bring his military service to the committee hearings."
Asked to react to attacks Mr. Chambliss launched against Mr. Cleland's voting record during the 2002 campaign, Mr. Webb merely repeated his faith in Mr. Martin.
Last month, Mr. Chambliss held a news conference at a veteran's lodge in North Atlanta, where he received the endorsement of several prominent veterans. One, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tim Kinnan, said Mr. Martin's war record as a lawyer would be less decisive than what Mr. Chambliss has done in Congress.
"Just because (Martin) was a judge-advocate general during the Vietnam War -- that's good; he volunteered; he served; that's a wonderful thing -- but that doesn't make up for the difference between his accomplishments and Saxby's lifetime of accomplishments on behalf of veterans," Mr. Kinnan said.
At that event, Mr. Chambliss noted that even though he hadn't served in the military, running against Mr. Martin wasn't daunting because all of his opponents have been veterans. He argued that his commitment has equaled their service.
"There's been no stronger advocate for veterans in Washington than me all the 14 years I've been there," he said.
Comments
The main reason to vote against Saxby has nothing to do with Veterans.......Saxby voted, with Bush, against SCHIP which was to have funded healthcare for poor children in Georgia by raising taxes on cigarettes.
Saxby voted to cut spending on VA hospitals at a time of war. What do you expect from a draft dodger who failed to serve his country when he was need. Yes, his 4F Knee did not keep him from paying college baseball, jogging, or playing golf just kept him from doing his duty.
retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tim Kinnan, is a PAID LOBBYIST for Lockheed, 1 of Saxby's Patrons. Those Lobbyist are sure loyal to anyone who sells their vote, even a coward like Saxby. FIRE SAXBY HERE, FIRE SAXBY NOW, PAY LESS.
"Saxby's lifetime of accomplishments on behalf of veterans." This is a joke right? Chicken Hawk Chambliss is against funding healthcare for ALL Veterans. Something Veteran Martin will restore when elected.
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