Great article about VoteVets.org founder Jon Soltz

By: beachmom
Published On: 8/30/2007 5:42:47 PM

The Los Angeles Times has just put up a fantastic article about former Army Captain Jon Soltz whose organization VoteVets.org played a pivotal role in many 2006 Congressional elections, including Virginia.  It details what VoteVets has done but also goes into Soltz's experiences in Iraq, the disillusionment he felt about it afterwards, and a chance meeting with the then presidential nominee John Kerry who talked him into getting involved in politics.  I was honored to be able to see Captain Soltz at YearlyKos (in addition to General Wesley Clark and many other vets involved with progressive politics).  I think they will once again play a big role in the 2008 election (presidential and congressional) while continuing to have the backs of Democrats who want to end the war in Iraq.  Check out excerpts from the article below:
VoteVets' breakthrough was a 30-second TV commercial, made for just $15,000 with help from leading Democratic ad consultants, that linked several GOP lawmakers to inadequate body armor.

Soltz sent two vets to an Arizona gun range to illustrate the differences between the old armor many troops were given and newer vests that could stop rounds from an assault rifle.

As the camera rolled, one of Soltz's comrades fired an AK-47 at two mannequins wearing the vests. He then pulled each open to reveal the difference: four holes in the abdomen of the mannequin wearing the old body armor; none in the one with the new vest.

"Sen. George Allen voted against giving our troops this," Iraq veteran Peter Granato said, holding up the new vest in the ad that ran in Virginia. "Now it's time for us to vote against him."

Needless to say, there are a few whiny quotes from Dick Wadhams, Allen's former campaign manger, complaining about the ads, but with total control of the government by Republicans who can they blame but themselves for not providing adequate equipment?  There was also this story, which I found very moving.  It was after Soltz had finished his year in Iraq, and I'll let the LA Times take it from there:

Soltz returned to Germany that September, shaken and exhausted. When he visited a comrade whose arm had been shattered by a roadside bomb, Soltz broke down. "I looked at this kid and thought, 'I hope this is all worth it,' " he said.

Back home in Pittsburgh that winter, Soltz decided to transfer to the Army Reserve and to work on a master's degree in international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.  An encounter with a famous veteran from another era set him on a new course.

In the spring of 2004, Sen. John F. Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat, made a presidential campaign stop in Pittsburgh. Soltz went, curious about one of the generation's most famous opponents of the Vietnam War. He introduced himself, and the two men spoke briefly. Afterward, Kerry called Soltz at home.

"He said, 'I just want you to know that when I came home from Vietnam, I was angry like you, and that's OK,' " Soltz recalled. "Nobody in my life understood what was going on in my head at the time. Not my friends, not my family. But when someone like that says, 'I was like you, I understand your anger and your pain, do something with that,' that is speaking a language you can understand."

Soltz volunteered for the Kerry campaign, organizing outreach to veterans in Pennsylvania. Afterward, he helped raise money for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for Congress.

That really got to me, I admit.  Regardless of your feelings about the 2004 campaign, I think we can all agree that getting Jon Soltz on our side was a really, really good thing, and made a difference in getting Jim Webb into the Senate in 2006.  I hope we see just as much success with Captain Soltz's help in 2008.

Comments



Speaking of which, Soltz has a new post up on HuffPo: (beachmom - 8/30/2007 5:57:10 PM)
http://www.huffingto...

I love the military. I loved every moment that I served my country. And though I've disagreed very strongly with the civilian leadership there during most of this administration, I hold the Pentagon in high regard and most of the people who work there.

So it hurts me to see three stories come out today, in quick succession, that weave together a picture of my military and Defense Department in a complete meltdown because of this president's failed policy in Iraq.

Check out the whole post at the link.



VoteVets is a great organization (vadem - 8/30/2007 8:51:05 PM)
Jon has played a tremendous role as a spokesperson for the troops and against the Bush doctrine.  He's one of many great, patriotic and talented veterans who comprise this team.  Of course, Wes Clark is among the leadership of this organization, and General Batiste joined the group when he retired early so he could speak out.  Brandon Friedman, another VoteVet member has a brand new book out that is highly recommended, titled "The War I Always Wanted:  The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War".  I have a copy and am anxious to read it.  I've just finished the 'advance readers copy' of Wes Clark's new book, due out on September 4, titled "A Time to Lead:  For Duty, Honor and Country.  If you don't know much about the life of this man and what his leadership experiences and philosophy is, this book is a treat. 

Support the efforts of VoteVets by checking them out at www.votevets.org.  Their work is deserving of your time.



Thanks for all that info. Brandon is also "The Angry Rakkasan" (beachmom - 8/30/2007 9:09:06 PM)
on DailyKos, and one of my favorite diarists over there.  I also met him later on at an Irish pub when I was in Chicago for YearlyKos, and he's a really nice guy in addition to being a great writer.  I'll have to check out that book.