Vets for Freedom ad: Acknowledge our victory!
posted at 2:25 pm on August 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Vets for Freedom has a new ad released that demands acknowledgment from Democratic Party officials that the surge succeeded in stabilizing Iraq. VFF makes the lack of recognition personal in this spot, with Iraq War veterans making the point that they comprised the surge, and that they deserve the recognition that comes with victory:
Vets for Freedom Chairman Pete Hegseth, a decorated former Army infantry platoon leader in Baghdad, said in a statement: “Vets for Freedom will not stand by and let the incredible progress of our troops go unnoticed by the American public and lawmakers from either side of the aisle.
Hegseth is at the convention to tell lawmakers, delegates and the press about his observation during a recent return to Iraq.
“It is essential that our top legislators — regardless of party — understand the importance of victory in Iraq, the consequences of defeat and the success of the surge,” Hegseth said. “Sen. Obama has said that he would still oppose the surge if given another opportunity and has pointed to every outside factor but the surge to explain improvements in Iraq. We hope he will listen to the veterans who have served there and support this important resolution for the sake of the troops.”
VFF focuses on one particular Democrat in their pursuit of recognition: Barack Obama. Even the New York Times reports that the surge “clearly” has succeeded; why can’t Obama? Just as clearly, any acknowledgment that the surge succeeded would serve as an admission that Obama got it wrong in January 2007 and continued getting it wrong ever since.
In other words, political considerations outweigh the truth for Barack Obama, and outweigh the right these veterans have to the recognition not just of their service, but of their victory.
You can add your voice to the Vets for Freedom effort to have the people who would command our military acknowledge the fruits of their efforts by calling or writing Obama and other Democrats.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Nice ad, my wife is part of the surge.
Barry looks less than thrilled anytime he has to acknowledge the dutiful people carry more power than the beautiful people.
sven10077 on August 26, 2008 at 2:28 PM
I believe the proper term here is… HELL YES!!
Sock it to ‘em guys!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 2:28 PM
VFF is not going to get much out of BHO, Pelosi, Reid.. etc.
They won’t aknowledge anything “good”.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Lame.
philnewkirk on August 26, 2008 at 2:29 PM
He wants WHO to honor our troops and acknowledge their courage and their good work?
That’s not part of the Democratic platform. Only anti-Americanism is acknowledged.
tre on August 26, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Thanks to your Wife!
And BHO won’t say a word as it is the ditiful ones who still have a voice.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 2:30 PM
God bless our troops! My heroes!
infidel on August 26, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Obama-sama or the folks in the video?
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 2:30 PM
B.O. would suffer a philosophical hemorrhage by the sheer force of will he would have to impose on himself to admit that the surge is working.
pilamaye on August 26, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Defeatist.
infidel on August 26, 2008 at 2:31 PM
K.
philnewkirk on August 26, 2008 at 2:33 PM
What a winning team…
God Bless our great military, and much credit must be given to General Petraeus.
byteshredder on August 26, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Nice outfit,
emperor..Obama…Think_b4_speaking on August 26, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Off to google to figure out how to donate to these guys
funky chicken on August 26, 2008 at 2:34 PM
As a vet with an active duty spouse, I have a tremendous respect for our nation’s military. I have also come to realize that there are those people, the ones that I served to protect, who will never give the military the due respect it deserves. Obama is one of those people. I wish I could say it bothers me, but it’s counter-productive to fret about something we cannot change.
I wish the VFF luck with this, but I’m not holding my breath.
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Nothing is good in America except Democrat politicians.
Everyone else is either evil Republican enemies or hopeless, sob-story “victims”.
Vets are either victims or baby killers.
And Democrat pols are worthless a-holes, the whole lot of them.
Each and ever Democrat politician deserved to be dragged out of the Capitol by their heels, heads bouncing down the Capitol steps, onto the Capitol lawn where they should have been mercilessly horsehipped, prior to being hurled screaming and bleeding into the Potomac, for how they willfully attempted to lose this war and how they chose to undermine the Commander-in-Chief and the US military in the midst of a war, all for cheap, tawdry, cynical political gain.
The Democrat Party is populated by absolute sewage and they should be treated as such.
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Anna, those whom have never served and “hate” those who have served or are currently in the military, will never understand. They think that the military is a cushy job with all these benefits and that they don’t do anything, as you and I both know is not true and we (or most of the military in general) work their buns off.
I don’t try to explain the military to those who won’t understand, not that they can’t.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 2:37 PM
And this continues to demonstrate the greatness that is America.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 26, 2008 at 2:39 PM
https://secure.donationreport.com/donation.html?key=TPMTNORNECSO
funky chicken on August 26, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Hey Barry: YES WE DID!
joepub on August 26, 2008 at 2:43 PM
https://secure.donationreport.com/donation.html?key=TPMTNORNECSO
Funky here you go.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 2:43 PM
New Flash:
The DNC want to see America fail in Iraq. They only want military success when their party can claim the credit.
RobCon on August 26, 2008 at 2:44 PM
I thank God for our troops and their perseverance in the face of the these fools. Good job, well done!
Pat in NC on August 26, 2008 at 2:47 PM
lame as in lame commercial?
or as in Lame, I don’t care if the Surged work or no..
DaveC on August 26, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Likely both.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 2:48 PM
I think it was the second.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 2:49 PM
“The DNC want to see America fail in Iraq. They only want military success when their party can claim the credit.”
Deep down, the DNC does not see a need for a military.
The only enemies this country faces, according to the DNC, are domestic.
The worst of which is the GOP.
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 2:50 PM
I can hear the response now.
“Our troops are amazing people, and have done what they were told to do. The problem is what they were told to do was wrong to begin with”
How many times are we going to go around this freakin’ mulberry bush?
bridgetown on August 26, 2008 at 2:50 PM
The target isn’t Obama (who is a lost cause) but American voters, lots of whom aren’t.
funky chicken on August 26, 2008 at 2:51 PM
:salute:
trailortrash on August 26, 2008 at 2:52 PM
I’ve never been in the Military (though my Dad and other family members have served) so I can’t speak from my own personal experience, but I can say that I deeply respect, appreciate and admire all veterans and those currently serving. God bless them…they are America’s real “celebrities” and heroes! And while this wonderful ad may not resonate with Obama’s unjustifiably large ego and petulant narcissism, it will resonate with everyday Americans who love their country and understand the sacrifices made on their behalf by the Armed Services. It’s also good for them to know that our service men and women recognize the phoniness of some of our political class. And it’s high time acknowledge our soldiers’ invaluable contributions to turning Iraq around by putting real faces and words on the television screen.
Dariaanne on August 26, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Cushy job my left buttcheek! I’ve been married nearly 5 years, with 2 and a half of that separated from my husband. We haven’t lived together at all this year. We’re sacrificing our life together to defend these ungrateful wretches. Sigh. I know, it will always fall on deaf ears.
Is civics (and civic pride) even taught in school anymore?
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 2:55 PM
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Well said NoDonkey!
winemkr on August 26, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Sounded kind of alphie-like as does the reluctance to clarify.
a capella on August 26, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Still, call me “Ye of Little Faith.” I’ll admit it if I turn out to be wrong, though. In fact, I’d love to be wrong on this.
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 2:57 PM
a capella beat me to it. Still waiting for a response here, Phil! Don’t got all day!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Obama acknowledge America’s victory? Nope. Can’t.
Because victory for America is defeat for Obama.
/Not questioning his patriotism, just questioning his judgment. And intelligence, for that matter.
Gilda on August 26, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Claims of victory ring hollow as long as so many American troops continue to remain stuck in
LodiIraq.A true recognition of victory, the only meaningful recognition of victory, would be for the troops to be brought home.
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I guess we didn’t win WWII since we still have troops in Japan and Germany.
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I just got off the phone with Hussein Obama’s office, and the woman who answered tried to give me the “he doesn’t believe the surge is working and will prolong the…”
I cut her off and told her the surge is working, and he should support SR 636.
Today, and every day, I’m proud to be an American protected by a great military whose sacrifices have changed the world for the better.
madmonkphotog on August 26, 2008 at 3:03 PM
O! can’t admit that he was wrong on the surge. It might lead to some foks questioning his judgement; which is all he’s got given his slim resume.
Beside’s, the messiah only speakeths da TROOF; regardless of the subject.
Just ask Herr Olbermann and Chris Tingle…
RocketmanBob on August 26, 2008 at 3:05 PM
That’s bull, MB4. Just because we’ve still got soldiers out there doesn’t mean they’re not due.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Obama will never use the “S” word!
theeyeman3410 on August 26, 2008 at 3:08 PM
YOU GO VFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE LOVE OUR TROOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to all for protecting us and for making the surge such a HUGE success!
Dems=defeat
freeus on August 26, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Anna, I’ve always heard it said that the warrior on the battle field is fighting only half the battle. The one left home is fighting the other half, arguable, the harder half.
I’m not a vet. When I was young enough to enlist I still had asthma too badly.
I’ll say a prayer for you and your husband.
tre on August 26, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Anna on August 26, 2008
Anna, your sacrifice is appreciated by more Americans than you will know. The America lovers who respect our military and pray for them constantly outnumber the America haters by a huge margin. It’s just that we offer our love and respect silently and through contributions to veterans causes like wounded warriors, etc. (far too many to list or remember). Remember, good people don’t make headlines, but they make the world what God intended it to be.
SKYFOX on August 26, 2008 at 3:13 PM
I thank you, but send a prayer to the troops overseas. My husband is deployed to a desk right now in another state. So while I know my life is hard, it’s harder for those with spouses over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, I don’t know personally any spouse that would rather have our troops cut and run – they’d rather us continue the course with honor.
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Applying that logic would mean that since we are still in Korea… well you finish it MB4. You’re pretty good at hollowness.
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Sent a chill up my spine. I hope today’s vets know how proud Vietnam vets are of them.
Star20 on August 26, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Ouch… this hits home rather personally, given my best friend is currently in Korea.
Still don’t want to revise your statements MB4?
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Harry Reid, in his position as Washington Spokesperson for Al Qaeda is contractually prohibited from acknowledging any success of the U.S. armed forces. Obama spent too much time focusing on organizing the Chicago neighborhoods that are still in the same shi&^y condition they were in before he came along to have any sense of a reasoned worldview.
Great ad, btw!
grdred944 on August 26, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Harry Reid, in his position as
WashingtonSpokesperson for Al Qaeda in WashingtonFixed
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 3:26 PM
I trust Sen. Graham about as far as I could throw him, but this resolution idea is brilliant. This puts that humanoid Obama on the spot– and it will be all downhill for him from there, whether he votes yes for the resolution or not.
Well done, Lindsay.
leftnomore on August 26, 2008 at 3:27 PM
civic in school… HAHAHHAH!
Need I go on?
And yeah I know.. cushy job… LOL they have no clue!
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 3:30 PM
I am listening to Pete right now on XM radio on the the POTUS 08 channel from the DNC Convention. I didn’t know he lost 37 men out of his unit.
He is there to try and get the Dems to acknowledge that the surge worked. He is being very nice.
Just A Grunt on August 26, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Exactly.
And in addition to “Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It”, those who see the events of our time, and don’t recognize them for what they are: “Success” “The surge worked” “There was a ‘military solution’ because it allowed a political solution to come about BECAUSE of the surge” “It was our troops, not Iran that is responsible for the reduced violence in Iraq” and so on …
Not only will the democrats not repeat the success of the surge, but you can guarantee that they will do worse if they are elected, because they can’t or won’t publicly say the obvious. Because that would neccesiate them admitting that they were wrong, and their hated George W Bush (and ‘betray us’ Petraus, and McCain) were right.
wise_man on August 26, 2008 at 3:35 PM
According to Obama, we shouldn’t be discussing things that went on in the 60s. So I guess we shouldn’t be discussing things that went on in the 70s 80s 90s and 2000 to 2008 either. Anything that has already occured is out of bounds. Anything Obama says is immediately irrevelant to the discussion at hand. There is only one thing that is important, and that is TEH FUTURE!
/Chope
BohicaTwentyTwo on August 26, 2008 at 3:41 PM
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I’ll go one further.
Revolution – loss – Still state militias in “war zone”
Civil War – loss – Still Union occupation forces in South
WWI WWII – losses – Still US troops in Europe/Japan
I’ll give him Korea because it is only a ceasefire
Vietnam – Win – The troops came home
Gulf War – Loss – troops still in Kuwait and Iraq have been in Mid East since the war
Somalia – Win – we brought them home
Balkans – Loss – yep still there
The libatards don’t have a clue. Listen to the comments in the MM gets attacked video. We are running FEMA camps where the military’s own media reports we are raping Iraqi children. Where do they get this stufff.
cobrakai99 on August 26, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Curse you Bohica!! Red soda burns coming out through the nose…
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 3:45 PM
If he was lectured about the surge not working, it sounds like madmonkphotog got an activist call answerer at Barry’s office. After being put on hold for close to 10 minutes I got to speak to a more politically savvy one who said she “didn’t know if Senator Obama would be supporting Senate Resolution 636″. It was also VERY clear that she had received many calls about this and was familiar with the situation. Tee hee
While I was at it I ranted a little bit about how horrible I thought it was that Barry is trying to shut down free speech (she seemed familiar with that complaint also).
Call…. CALL. And email/post the video as much as you can!!
Nik on August 26, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Obama’s inability to acknowledge that the surge worked displays a major character flaw.
TooTall on August 26, 2008 at 3:49 PM
LOL
Hey, at least they closed Fort McClellan LOL
funky chicken on August 26, 2008 at 3:53 PM
I like how you put it… “recognition of victory”. By virtue of your statement, troops coming home follows victory. Since the surge has been a success, we may have a true victory soon and expedite bringing folks more safely and successfully while having achieved the overall mission of a security nation both home and in Iraq.
Glad you’re on board with the idea of actually accomplishing our goals instead of running from them like Obama. ;-)
Damiano on August 26, 2008 at 3:54 PM
There goes some of that pesky absolute moral authority again.
morganfrost on August 26, 2008 at 3:54 PM
“bringing folks more safely and successfully while having achieved the overall mission of a security nation both home and in Iraq.”
The definition of “victory” for the Democrat Party was a scattershot retreat, underfire, leaving equipment and our casualties behind for the terrorists to loot and to torture.
But hey, what’s that compared with “a Democrat majority for a generation.”? Remember the POS on the left, crowing about that?
They’re not getting their “victory” and you know, deep down inside, they’re sorry about it.
Barack Obama is sorry about it, make no mistake about it.
NoDonkey on August 26, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Spoken like a true “conservative” supporter of Obama.
baldilocks on August 26, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Sent a chill up my spine. I hope today’s vets know how proud Vietnam vets are of them.
Star20 on August 26, 2008 at 3:17 PM
You are right about that, this ole VietNam Vet makes a point to go over and shake hands an say ‘Hello’ to any troops I see when I get to go to Walmart in the big city.
Da_Hutt on August 26, 2008 at 4:11 PM
No, it’s more important to ‘celebrate diversity’ and teach that all cultures are equal. Try and instill a sense of civics and pride in your Grandkids and their teachers do their damndest to suppress it.
GeneSmith on August 26, 2008 at 4:12 PM
“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.”
Semper Fi!
Necromancer on August 26, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Grue in the Attic….you crack me up, eatin’ so much.
;)
bridgetown on August 26, 2008 at 4:23 PM
I hear what you say, but don’t think what your husband is doing is any less important. My own husband was stationed in California for a year, when this whole Iraq war deal began…..Every member serves honorably and for the good of all.
I know you know this. I’m just sayin’. Prayers for you and yours, too! So there!
:)
bridgetown on August 26, 2008 at 4:26 PM
I gotta keep the energy up to keep up with the shenanigans. :D
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on August 26, 2008 at 4:47 PM
“Sen. Obama has said that he would still oppose the surge if given another opportunity and has pointed to every outside factor but the surge to explain improvements in Iraq…”
Translation: “I am St. Obama, I am the One, Therefore I am never wrong.”
VFF, what great bunch of people. Those who’ve acyually BEEN there. The libs always point to one or two anti-military vets and say “See? This man has BEEN there!” But not when they’re pro-military.
Great books by VFF members:
“Hard Corps” by Marco Martinez
“Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell
“House to House” by David Bellavia
Tony737 on August 26, 2008 at 5:00 PM
It’s my sense, that the Empty Suit, and his Fellow Travelers, are too small to ever acknowledge Success.
“Success” is a word they choke on…It’s antithetical to their narrative of failure, hopelessness, and desperation.
Sad, really.
franksalterego on August 26, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Democrats don’t believe there is anything worth fighting for. They avoid conflict at any cost by appeasement, non-stop verbal diplomacy and then ultimately retreat with their tail between their legs.
Obama is the Democratic champion and should be announced as “Sissy the Superhero”. Then he could wear that “S” proudly on his chest.
Obama would never make it through basic training. He would soil himself the first time a Drill Instructor yelled at him.
God bless our Veterans and the active Military, a group that will be taken for granted, forever.
evenkeel on August 26, 2008 at 5:15 PM
I love that. Just wanted to repeat it.
bridgetown on August 26, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Well no shit.
philnewkirk on August 26, 2008 at 7:03 PM
America’s armed forces won the war in Iraq in a matter of weeks. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (SECDEF) squandered that victory. Once GWB realized that mistake he appointed a new secretary and replaced the military leadership in Iraq. That led to the surge. Our military once again performed above and beyond to defeat the enemy. Thank God for the brave men and women who defend America. BHO may never admit the surge worked but the American people know the truth. John McCain our next president knows the truth. Our fighting forces know the truth.
Thank you military. We are safer at home because you are at the tip of the spear.
kanda on August 26, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Nice ad, my wife is part of the surge.
Barry looks less than thrilled anytime he has to acknowledge the dutiful people carry more power than the beautiful people.
sven10077 on August 26, 2008 at 2:28 PM
I love that. Just wanted to repeat it.
bridgetown on August 26, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Here, here. :)
I agree with that, too.
Gil on August 26, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I don’t really see how our nation is more secure with so much of our Army stuck in Iraq and our borders basically wide open.
And what are our goals? Islamic nation building? Well Iraq was and is and will be Islamic and once they get us out, which Maliki obviously wants, do you think they will be an ally of his fellow Shiites in Iran or an ally to us infidels?
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:25 PM
You really must work on your reading comprehension Mr. *eats*.
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Your math rings hollow.
The vast majority of our troops in SKOR were brought home after an even sort of victory was declared there. We have more troops now in Iraq than we did 2 years ago.
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Why would I want to do that Mr. *eats*?
What’s with this schlemiel *eats* anyway?
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:36 PM
George W. Bush squandered it by his decision to stay and “Islamic nation build”.
The very same George W. Bush who once, in a more enlightened moment, said –
“Maybe I’m missing something here. I mean, we’re going to have kind of a nation-building corps from America? Absolutely not. Our military’s meant to fight and win war. That’s what it’s meant to do. And when it gets overextended, morale drops. But I’m going to be judicious as to how to use the military. It needs to be in our vital interest, the mission needs to be clear, and the exit strategy obvious.”
MB4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:41 PM
I love it when libs say “true victory would be…” followed their calls for surrender and defeat.
The Surge is and continues to be a successful military campaign. That just annoys the hell out of libs. As MB$ has shown, they’ll use any sort of circle jerk logic to avoid the truth.
“American success?!?!?! LA LA LA LA! I can’t hear you!”
twoarmman on August 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
I don’t know about in school but I know my family taught it to me through sheer example alone. My admiration for other family members who served pretty much came naturally. No one specifically encouraged it, it just came and I joined the Navy after high school. Granted, I’m not a combat vet as I only served 1 enlistment back in the 90’s so I honestly don’t feel like my service measures up to those who serve today in Iraq and Afghanistan but I try to help and have donated to VfF to help get their important message out. I might even donate again. What they have to say simply has to be heard.
Yakko77 on August 26, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I am not a liberal so that shoots your argument down right there. Maliki wants us out and now mostly Shiite controlled Iraq is an natural ally to fellow Shiite Iran, not to us infidels. The “Surge”, hallowed be it’s name, is a success similar to, “the operation was a success, but the patient died”. Some of you people can’t see past the nose on your face.
MB4 on August 27, 2008 at 1:20 AM
Comment pages: