2008 hopefuls decry shoddy care for vets

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Democratic presidential candidates promised Wednesday to provide better health care for military veterans, saying troops returning from Iraq have received shoddy care under the Bush administration.

Democrat Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) said he's tired of officials who talk about supporting the troops, but don't provide adequate health care.

"They don't do anything except slap a yellow ribbon on the back of their SUV," the Illinois senator said during a parade of Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls appearing before the nation's largest firefighters union.

"When our veterans come home, I don't want them forgotten in run-down buildings," Obama said to loud applause from the International Association of Fire Fighters.

The union counts about 1,000 members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, with many more who have returned from the war and continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserves. Revelations of poor outpatient care at Walter Reed Medical Center clearly has touched a nerve, judging by their applause for promises of change.

John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said Walter Reed is a symptom of problems throughout the Veterans Administration that he would address. He said he would make sure that veterans get the health care they are entitled to, including early screening for mental illness.

"We have got to stand by the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, including many heroes in this room," Edwards said.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, broadened her message to include health care for firefighters and police officers, as well as veterans, saying they'd become "invisible" to the government.

"How about taking care of the people who have taken care of us across the country," the New York senator said.

Republican candidates Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, and Rep. Duncan Hunter (news, bio, voting record) of California did not mention Walter Reed. But Gilmore promised, "We're going to follow a policy under my administration that's going to be supportive of the troops."

Obama was applauded when he said the war needs to end, but the audience was silent when Gilmore said he opposes Democratic efforts to cut off funding for President Bush's troop increase to try to help stabilize Baghdad.

"I support that surge," Gilmore said, but not a single firefighter clapped.

The union invited candidates from both parties to address its presidential forum — unusual for labor events that tend to by dominated by Democrats.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the leader in polls of Republican voters, has been feuding with firefighters over his policies in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and did not attend the forum.

Others who were scheduled to address the forum were Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record), R-Neb., Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), D-Conn., Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.

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On the Net:

International Association of Fire Fighters: http://www.iaff.org

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_firefighters_forum [link]