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September 9, 2008

9:54 p.m.: Obama campaign speaks to veterans

By Barrett Newkirk

ANDERSON — People from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign toured Indiana on Tuesday to tout the candidate’s stance on veterans issues.

Bill Dooling, a retired lieutenant who served during the Vietnam War, stopped in Anderson to speak in support of Obama between similar events in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. About three dozen people saw Dooling speak in the gymnasium of United Auto Workers 663 Union Hall, 2840 S. Madison Ave.

Dooling, who is a veterans affairs adviser for the Illinois senator, said he first became a backer of Obama when he heard Obama speak at the 2004 Democratic convention. He compared the moment to meeting Bobby Kennedy roughly 40 years ago, and went on to compare Obama’s leadership skills to those of Alexander the Great, whom Dooling has read about.

“He would make a decision and he would lead,” Dooling said of Alexander, who ruled the kingdom of Macedon and conquered the Persian Empire in the 4th century B.C. “Barack has those same traits.”

Sen. John McCain, however, has used his background as a veteran and POW to unjustly gain the support of many veterans, Dooling said, and McCain’s voting record shows that he doesn’t support veterans issues.

“I think he’s been somewhat AWOL on the issues, and a soldier who goes AWOL puts himself over everything else,” Dooling said.

Steve Fesler, 63, agreed that McCain was not the best candidate for veterans. A veteran himself, Felser told Dooling that he has trouble convincing his friends that Obama is the better candidate.

“You can’t believe all the campaign speeches people make,” Fesler said.

Rep. Scott Reske, D-Pendleton, said during his introduction of Dooling that veterans issues have become an increasing concern at the state level because for the last eight years the Bush administration has not met its responsibilities. Reske, who chairs the state Veteran Affairs Commission, is also supporting Obama.

“The difference between the two candidates has come out when Obama was for the new G.I. Bill and McCain opposed it,” Reske said.

Bill Dooling is a retired lieutenant who served in Vietnam. He is a retired teacher and union organizer and a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army Security Agency. Since 2004, he has served on the Democratic National Committee’s Veterans and Military Families Council.

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Zachary Gillam, 16, and George Stokes, 19, go after a rebound as they play in a pickup game of basketball at Pulaski Park Monday afternoon. Late last fall repairs were made to the courts with new posts, backboards and rims along with resealing and painting the courts. With the warm February weather players have been getting out to check out the refurbished courts.

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