Subject: VoteVets.org Update
From: "Ashwin Madia" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:46:20 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Hunter, 

Just wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the things that VoteVets.org has been working on this year. 

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Broad Support for Afghanistan Letter

Last week, VoteVets.org Action Fund sent a letter to President Obama - cosigned by 4,700 Americans, including 1,700 Veterans - calling on him to abide by our Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The SOFA sets a deadline of this year for U.S. troops to come home from Iraq. Read my piece in the Huffington Post about our petition and letter, and how the same applies to Afghanistan, here [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashwin-madia/time-for-troops-to-come-h_b_882005.html ]. 
 [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashwin-madia/time-for-troops-to-come-h_b_882005.html ] 

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VoteVets.org on MSNBC

Also in June, VoteVets.org Vice Chairman Richard Allen Smith appeared on MSNBC to discuss Afghanistan:  [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kAJ3iGET20 ]
 [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kAJ3iGET20 ] 

Following President Obama's recent speech on Afghanistan, I joined Ed Schultz on MSNBC to analyze the address:  [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZlHiTZWBEM ] 

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Responding to Delta Airlines

Earlier this summer, VoteVets.org called on Delta Airlines to stop charging returning troops for checking their bags, and to refund those already charged. Following this pressure, Delta announced a change in policy. Read about it here [ http://votevets.org/news/?id=0443 ]. 

 [ http://votevets.org/news/?id=0443 ] 

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Gearing Up for 2012

In preparation for 2012, VoteVets.org PAC has begun to cultivate its slate of supported candidates. Running for Texas Senate is (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez. In Pennsylvania, longtime VoteVets.org member and former Rep. Patrick Murphy is running for Attorney General. More veteran candidates coming soon! 

Also to gear up for 2012, VoteVets.org Action Fund is developing programming that will put organizing staff on the ground in Montana. Among other activities, we plan on bringing veterans together to ensure their issues are prominently featured in such a crucial state this election. 

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Veterans Stand Up for Social Security

Earlier this summer, VoteVets.org joined a coalition of organizations to release a major new report on Social Security and veterans. The findings showed that any cutbacks in Social Security will severely impact veterans and their families. Highlights from the reports can be found here [ http://votevets.org/news?id=0438 ].       

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