From the Bedford Times-Mail

Ackerson, Buyer spat about VA

By BOB BRIDGE bob@tmnews.com
July 31, 2008

BEDFORD — A small group of city officials, media representatives and Nels Ackerson supporters shared umbrellas Wednesday afternoon outside the Lawrence County Courthouse as the Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 4th District Congressional seat addressed issues associated with military veterans.

Speaking in front of the limestone monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers, Ackerson criticized GOP incumbent Steve Buyer for his failure to serve America’s veterans and offered a four-point pledge to treat veterans fairly if elected to Congress in November.

“I will keep our promises to protect veterans,” he said. “I will support the families of soldiers and veterans. I will fight to provide better job transition and assistance for returning veterans, and I will work to protect and honor the American flag.”

Ackerson’s words did not fall on deaf ears. While several citizens applauded his 15-minute address, Buyer’s camp quickly responded to the criticism via a press release.

Buyer spokesman Jon Clark described Ackerson’s claims as absurd.

“It is unfortunate that he is using veterans’ issues for political gain,” he said. “Mr. Buyer’s opponent has no record of service to veterans. Today, he rolled into town and attacked one of the nation’s leading advocates for the military, veterans, military families, and survivors.

“Congressman Buyer helped stop the Veterans Administration clinic from moving off the grounds of the Soldiers Home in Lafayette, and he is committed to working with the VA and Gov. Mitch Daniels to expand and improve the health care services being provided at the Soldiers Home.”

Clark said under Buyer’s chairmanship of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the VA’s budget increased by more than $8.3 billion, approximately a 10 percent increase. He claimed Buyer improved life insurance protections, transition services for service members, and access to health care services for rural veterans, among other benefit improvements.

Clark also noted Buyer recently voted in favor of a historic increase for veterans education benefits via the new GI bill.

Ackerson argued Buyer had not been a friend to veterans and his rhetoric didn’t match his actions. He said veteran organizations will confirm that reality.

“It’s time veterans in Indiana had an honest advocate,” he said. “I think people are tired of political leaders who say one thing when they’re at home and then vote a different way when they go to Washington. People want accountability. They’re tired of double talk.”

Ackerson claimed Buyer was appointed chairman of the VA committee only after he pledged to cut benefits.

“He repeatedly voted to limit benefits, even voting in the minority of his own party,” Ackerson said. “He denied service organizations from presenting their legislative agenda during House-Senate hearings, a move that was blasted by the American Legion and other service organizations.

“Under his oversight, the VA experienced repeated scandals, financial mismanagement, and unauthorized medical testing of Gulf War veterans.”

Ackerson reiterated his plea for a face-to-face discussion of the topic.

“We obviously disagree,” he said. “Let’s have a debate. Let’s have a clear airing of these views. Let’s see who is right, and who is wrong.

“We’ve been invited to six debates throughout this district, and we have accepted them all. He has not. I welcome a debate.”

Ackerson said party politics should not play into the issue of veteran affairs.

“Our men and women in service did not go to war to fight for us as Republicans or Democrats,” he explained. “They did so as Americans. I’m not speaking today as a Democrat, though I’m proud to be a Democrat. I’m speaking as an American with a personal pledge to the people I plan to represent.”

Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis, an independent, greeted Buyer when he came to Bedford to detail his energy plan. She also introduced Ackerson to Wednesday’s gathering.

“I want to welcome Nels Ackerson to our community,” she said. “It’s good for us to hear what all the candidates have to say.

“We have a lot of veterans in our community and a lot of folks who are currently serving in the military.”

Times-Mail Staff Writer Bob Bridge welcomes comments at 277-7282 or by e-mail at bob@tmnews.com.