NH VFW for Bradley & Sununu – another Carol Shea-Porter support avenue debunked

I was not aware of this situation – that while the National VFW endorsed CSP, those that know her better, the New Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars, pretty much reject her out of hand. I received an email from one who knows more and wants to set the record straight!

And, being the ‘Grok that we are, are happy to oblige! After all, we’re not so happy with her either for lying to a Gold Star Mother [you betchem! - Skip, the Blue Star Dad]

From: calo120@aol.com
To: letters@fosters.com
Sent: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 6:47 pm
Subject: VFW PAC endorsement error

Carol Shea-Porter has been telling everyone that she has been endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee. As last year’s State Commander, it was part of my duties to let the National PAC know which candidates that our state would want to endorse. In June of this year, I received a letter from the National PAC stating that if we did not respond by a certain date, the were going to endorse Senator John Sununu, and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter. We typed a letter stating that we agreed with the endorsement Senator Sununu, but most emphatically did not agree with the endorsement of Carol Shea-Porter. This letter was signed by myself as State Commander, the State Adjutant, and the State Senior-Vice Commander, now the State Commander. It was then faxed to the National PAC office in Washington D.C.

Somehow it never arrived at its final destination. We did not find this out until late September, and we immediately sent another copy of the letter, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the mistake had already been made, and the wrong candidate had been endorsed for Congress. We also sent a letter asking that PAC instead endorse Jeb Bradley for Congress. I want it made clear, that we the State of New Hampshire, VFW leadership had no intention of having the PAC endorse anyone other than Jeb Bradley for Congress, and Senator Sununu for the U.S. Senate.

                                                                       John J. Calo
                                                                       Past Department Commander
                                                                       Veterans of Foreign Wars,
                                                                       Department of New Hampshire
                                                                       Rochester N.H. 603-534-3073

Seems clear to me: the NH VFW for Jeb Bradley and John Sununu!

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Randy

Amen. I’m a member at the same VFW Post as John, and I’ve never known him to be anything but a forthright, upstanding, brave man of integrity and honor. For the VFW PAC to even suggest that this woman is worthy of endorsement is insulting, and I in turn let the national VFW know I’m none too happy with the “choice” foisted upon us. Shame on VFW PAC.
Bill Duncan

It’s fine if John Calo wants to campaign for his friend, Jeb, but he does not represent anyone, especially not the New Hampshire VFW, of which I am a proud member. I’m sure plenty of VFW members do support Jeb but I personally know of many who support Carol Shea-Porter as well.
John has been peddling this dog-ate-my-homework excuse to anyone who will listen, but he must know that state level VFW politics don’t determine in the end what the VFW-PAC decides. They do their own homework, attending committee hearings, watching the members and how they vote – they know just what they’re doing when they make an endorsement.
And, of course, the VFW-PAC is in good company. The DAV gives Carol Shea-Porter a 100%, while it gave Jeb a 0% in 2004 and 2005. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gives her an A+ rating. The Veterans and Military Families Project has endorsed her. And a large number of New Hampshire vets support her.
John can do his best to imply that he and a few friends represent New Hampshire veterans, but the VFW-PAC and the rest the voters know that Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter is a strong supporter of the military, veterans and national defense.
AL Baldasaro

Fellow VFW member, we will have to agree to disagree on this one and I am sure many other VFW members disagree with your comments, especially the ones who put trust in the Commander when they voted for him.
I Support our VFW Commander who is second to none on his loyalty and his dedication to all NH VFW’s.
I did call the VFW PAC in Washington after I received my magazine, talked with one of our VFW PAC members and I did talk to our State Commander concerning this blunder.
Everything he stated in his letter is true and all you have to do is call the VFW PAC Chairman in Washington who just took of the position a few months ago.
Now, let me give you a little insight on the respect that Carol She-Porter has for our Veterans.
One of her Staffers contacted our Londonderry American Legion, Post 27 and asked if Carol Shea-Porter can visit on Sunday during the Patriots game and Commander Sievert said yes.
On Sunday she pulled up to our American Legion, stayed in the car while one of her Staffers came in looking for the Commander who was not there, so the bar tender told her to see me, since I am the Junior Vice Commander of the post.
She came over to me and I asked if it was alright if Carol Shea-Porter came in to meet and talk with Veterans and I told her that it was okay with us since we do have Democrat Veterans who might want to meet her.
The Staffer who knew who I am and we met many times, stated that she was going outside and bring her in, I then asked her if she was a member of any American Legion and she showed me her card. I then said, okay, you can sign her in.
We were waiting for her to enter and 10 minutes later the Staffer came back in and stated that Carol Shea-Porter had another appointment and could not stay.
Why would her Staffers contact the Commander and request for a visit?
Why did her Staffer call the Legion and say Carol Shea-Porter will be there about 2:30 PM?
Why did she sit in her car in our parking lot for 10-15 minutes and then decide to leave?
She lied on the radio when she said that the Commander contacted her and we all know that not to be true.
If it was for me being at the post and Carol Shea-Porter knows that I am a Jeb Bradley supporter, she still should have respected our Veterans and came in to meet and greet our Veterans.
Is she only looking to meet her Democrat Veterans, so there will not be any tough questions on her record?
Many of us that were at the post took it as a slap in the face to our post and she should off never have her staffer contact our Commander to visit if she did not want to walk in.
Shame on you Carol Shea-Porter and you owe our post an apology, at least to the Veterans there waiting for you who are Democrat/Independents.
AL Baldasaro
US Marine, Retired
John J Calo

Thank you Mr Baldasaro. I have tried to explain the situation to the best of my ability, but I have hit a brick wall everywhere I go. I do not believe that Carol Shea-porter is the best person to be representing the veterans of this state in Congress. She lives in Rochester, and I do not ever remember her visiting either the VFW, or the American Legion post at any time. I would have liked to see the error corrected, but apparently we were too late for that to happen. I just hope this error does not hurt the Bradley campaign. Thank you John Calo
John J Calo

Thank you Mr Baldasaro. I have tried to explain the situation to the best of my ability, but I have hit a brick wall everywhere I go. I do not believe that Carol Shea-porter is the best person to be representing the veterans of this state in Congress. She lives in Rochester, and I do not ever remember her visiting either the VFW, or the American Legion post at any time. I would have liked to see the error corrected, but apparently we were too late for that to happen. I just hope this error does not hurt the Bradley campaign. Thank you John Calo