Former VA chief campaigns for Tester
2006-10-17
Source: Billings Gazette
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rss feedOn themes of corrupted government in Washington, D.C., a country off course in the world, and inadequate protection and benefits for military personnel and veterans, a former U.S. senator and Vietnam veteran Monday touted Montana Democrat Jon Tester for the Senate.
Max Cleland, who served as administrator of the Veterans Administration under President Carter and one term in the U.S. Senate from his home state of Georgia, gave a vigorous endorsement to Tester in his race to unseat Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who seeks a fourth term.
He was highly critical of the failure of Burns and the Bush administration to fully fund the health care needs for veterans and the physical and mental health needs of service men and women returning from the Iraq war.
He said National Guard and Army Reserve members "deserve the same benefits as active-duty forces. It is time we took care of our own."
In an animated speech to about 100 Tester supporters gathered at the Student Union Ballroom at Montana State University-Billings, Cleland said the U.S. cannot "play the Lone Ranger for the world."
He was highly critical of the repeated use of National Guard and Army Reserve units in the war in Iraq.
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