Veterans of Foreign Wars' endorse Chambliss

The Veterans of Foreign Wars has endorsed Republican Rep. Saxby Chambliss for the U.S. Senate over incumbent Democrat Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in a Vietnam grenade explosion and led the Veterans Administration under President Carter. <br> <br> VFW officials said Wednesday that Chambliss is more conservative and a stronger supporter of the military than Cleland, who also won the Silver Star for gallantry in Vietnam for helping wounded comrades during a 1968 rocket attack. <br> <br> Chambliss, who received student deferments in college and was rejected for military service in 1969 because of a bad knee, won the support of the 25,000-member state branch of the VFW earlier this summer. <br> <br> The state group does not endorse candidates, but some members lobbied the national VFW political action committee to back the congressman from Moultrie. <br> <br> ``Chambliss was more supportive of our legislative agenda,&#39;&#39; said Richard Branson, a Vietnam veteran from Stockbridge who serves as adjutant/quartermaster of the Georgia VFW. ``Some of the best friends veterans have in Washington have never worn a military uniform.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Cleland&#39;s campaign downplayed the endorsement, which came about four weeks before the Nov. 5 election. <br> <br> ``Most veterans support Sen. Cleland and we expect them to express that on election day,&#39;&#39; Cleland campaign spokesman Jamal Simmons said. He said Cleland does not belong to the VFW, which has 1.8 million members but is a member of the 3-million strong American Legion, which does not endorse candidates. <br> <br> As VA administrator, Cleland incurred the VFW&#39;s wrath in 1979 over budget cuts that affected veterans&#39; hospitals. At its annual convention that year, the VFW called on Cleland to become a more aggressive veterans&#39; advocate or resign. <br> <br> Democrats now control the Senate by a single vote and conservative veterans hope to tip the balance in the GOP&#39;s favor. <br> <br> ``This is about whether the liberal Democrats or the Republicans will be in control of the Senate,&#39;&#39; said retired Vice Adm. John Scott Redd of Marietta. <br> <br> But retired Capt. Don Chapman, who flew 199 combat missions in Vietnam, said it ``chaps my lips&#39;&#39; that veterans are not uniting behind a fellow soldier. <br> <br> ``No one has been a better friend to the military or to veterans than Max,&#39;&#39; Chapman said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/189043