For the first time in the 112-year history of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the White House is not sending a representative to the group for its annual convention.
Republican presidential hopefuls Gov. Rick Perry and Mitt Romney will be in San Antonio this week for the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention, but for the first time in its 112-year history, no one from the White House has committed to making an appearance.
Officials with the nation’s largest combat veterans association said they have about 8,000 registrants, many of whom are battling airport cancellations from Hurricane Irene to make it to the downtown Convention Center for Monday’s kickoff.
That’s when Perry is scheduled to take the stage. By custom, he was invited as governor of the host state. Conference leaders said they have asked him to appear as state governor — not as a presidential candidate — because his invitation went out before he announced he was seeking the GOP nomination.
“No matter what, we take heat for it,” said VFW spokesman Jerry Newberry. “When President Clinton spoke one year, we caught heat from members. When President Bush did, we took heat. Same with President Obama. But we’re a diverse organization, and we don’t care what party (speakers) come from.”
Adding to the frustration is not having Obama or any of his representatives accept the group’s invitation. The organization is noted for its advocacy of veterans’ rights, especially health care and military benefits, both of which are on the chopping block in talks about reducing the federal budget.
“When the President is unable to attend, it has always been customary for the White House to choose a high-level administration official as an alternative speaker,” wrote Richard Eubank, the group’s national commander, in a statement.
“It is an insult of the highest magnitude that for the first time in the history of the VFW, the White House has apparently decided that this great and iconic organization of combat veterans and all of its members are not worthy of its notice by not at least offering a first-tier speaker from the administration.”
Obama is sending a message to America’s veterans. He knows he has almost no support in that group nor from the VFW. The more ominous sign for veterans is where Obama is headed on the issues of veterans’ rights, benefits and the future of the military. Obama understands where is base is and it is not among the veterans.
Obama also understands something else. Absent a miracle for him, he is a one term President.
The good news for the VFW is that when they have their convention in 2013, we will have a real American President who will come and speak to them!
