Tommy Sowers. (Photo/Sowers campaign)
(Cape Girardeau, Mo.) President Barack Obama spoke to the nation Tuesday night to address the withdraw of combat forces from Iraq nearly eight years after they first landed there.
In the speech, the President addressed the issue of veterans, saying as a nation, we should “honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor.”
Obama said, “As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us.” He called that a “sacred trust.”
“That is why we have already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We are treating the signature wounds of today’s wars post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we are funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education,” said the President.
He moved toward the economy, saying, “today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.”
Tommy Sowers, who served two tours as a Green Beret in Iraq and is running for Congress in the eighth district, said “it’s an important moment to stop and thank the veterans that served, as well as take stock of where America stands.”
“We honor our veterans by welcoming them home with educational and job opportunities. Yet today, Iraq and Afghanistan vets face unemployment levels 50% above the national average. We’ve got to have jobs available for our vets when they return home,” said Sowers.
To do that, he said, he will “start by pushing Congress to renegotiate the trade deals that Jo Ann Emerson voted for that subsequently shipped our jobs to China and south of the border.” As well, Sowers said, “We need to invest in 21st century infrastructure across Southeast Missouri to create the right environment for job creation.”
“Our vets also deserve high-quality healthcare,” said Sowers. “I learned how to lead by example in the military and once elected, I’ll stay on VA health care and not take the Cadillac health care program members of Congress give themselves. This will ensure that I always know firsthand how our vets are being treated.”
Sowers notes, “we still have a long way to go, and 50,000 troops will stay in Iraq along with over 100,000 contractors.”
On Facebook, his opponent, incumbent Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson said, “[I] appreciate the President acknowledging tonight the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women and their families in Iraq, but there are many still in harm’s way. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
Emerson said, apparently referring to Sowers, said, “It is truly unfortunate that some running for office decided to politicize for personal gain even this important day.”
email: eli [at] politicmo.com | phone: 417.597.3873 | twitter: @eyokley 
