Bush Promises Military More Money

Veterans Praise Candidate At National Convention

MILWAUKEE, Posted 10:15 p.m. EDT August 21, 2000 -- George W. Bush's promises of more money and higher morale for the military won praise from Wisconsin veterans attending the national Veterans of Foreign Wars convention Monday.

Even more than increased spending for the military, reforming veterans' health care and providing better coverage for prescription drugs were popular messages in the speech by the Texas governor and Republican presidential nominee.

Bush said that, if elected, he will have the Department of Veteran's Affairs act as an advocate for veterans, not an adversary, and reduce bureaucratic barriers to benefits.

Presidents and congressmen alike could learn a lot from Wisconsin's "organized" administration of veterans' affairs, as well as its low-rate home mortgage programs and education funding for ex-servicemen, said Tom Tradewell, a Wisconsin delegate and former state VFW commander.

"Wisconsin has a large number of veterans, and a proud veterans heritage. Just about all our governors have backed Veteran's Affairs," Tradewell said.

About 600 of the convention's 20,000 delegates are from Wisconsin.

Tradewell said more than campaign promises, the best thing the next president could do for vets would be to select a strong advocate to head the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

Tradewell said he expects even more promises from Vice President Al Gore, scheduled to address the convention Tuesday.

"Gore is a veteran himself, and a member of the VFW. There's no doubt he has veterans on his mind," Tradewell said.

The VFW does not endorse presidential candidates, but will hold get out to vote campaigns, said VFW Commander in Chief John W. Smart.

Kenosha VFW Cmdr. Julius Mianecki agreed with Bush's notion that health care is an urgent priority for vets.

"You're talking to a group of individuals who are up in age- they need the medical benefits," said Mianecki, a Korean war vet.

Jack Radke, a World War II veteran from New Berlin, said Bush's speech was uplifting.

"He stuck up for veterans here and for the security of the country," Radke said.

Bush also said American forces will pull out of international commitments without a focused American role.

"A generation shaped by Vietnam should remember the lessons of Vietnam," he said. "The cause must be just, the goal must be clear and the victory must be overwhelming."

But Madison delegate Le Roy Holzwarth said he was not impressed by Bush, and delegates sitting near him from Nebraska and South Carolina weren't either.

"He has an air about him that he's better than you and me," Holzwarth said.

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Copyright 2001 by NewsNet5. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.