Presidential campaigns enlist Colorado veterans' support

Both presidential campaigns trotted out Colorado military veterans on Monday: McCain's camp to unveil a new state veterans campaign group, Obama's to answer a recent negative television ad by McCain.

In Denver, CO-5 Democratic candidate and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack and Colorado Veterans' Alliance President Rick Duncan joined other veterans in blasting presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Less than an hour later, in Colorado Springs, the McCain camp unveiled Colorado Veterans for John McCain, a campaign constituency group headed by, among others, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown (R-Colo.)

While the McCain press event was scheduled about a week in advance, according to a McCain spokesperson, the Obama press conference was convened after the McCain campaign released a television ad last Friday criticizing Obama's Mideast foreign policy experience and votes on troop funding.

The Colorado Veterans for John McCain announcement featured veterans from all four branches of the military, as well as local politicians including Colorado Springs Mayor/retired Army Capt. Lionel Rivera and state Rep./retired Air Force Col. Kent Lambert (R-Colorado Springs).

"I know firsthand the type of man John McCain is - either in the horror of a North Vietnamese prison camp or the arena of American politics," said Mike McGrath, a retired Navy Captain and former POW who co-chairs the group, in a statement. "He has always put country first. He has lived his life to serve a cause greater than himself. His relentless self-sacrifice and courage, both moral and physical, are the backbone of why so many veterans and their families are supporting John in his campaign for president.

"I was honored to call him brother in Vietnam and the nation and I will be honored to call him Mr. President," McGrath said in the statement.

But at the Obama press event, held in front of the Colorado State Capitol, several veterans said McCain wouldn't do as much as Obama to help veterans and get U.S. forces out of Iraq.

Bidlack, a former Air Force weapons system officer who also taught political science at the Air Force Academy, said McCain "has dishonored himself" with his latest attack ad.

"When push came to shove, Sen. McCain did not vote to send the people, the troops overseas - my former students at the Academy - the equipment they needed," Bidlack said. "Taking care of veterans is a lot more than a bumper sticker, and a lot more than empty words."

"I think it's time to set the record straight and to let everybody know that veterans are overwhelmingly supporting Sen. Obama," said former Army Ranger Jason Crow. "We think that Sen. Obama has the right plan for veterans and for national security."