• Almost a TRILLION dollars of U.S. taxpayers’ funds have been spent or approved for spending on war-related expenses through September 2010.
• In 2009 the monthly spending in Iraq averaged $7.3 billion as of Oct 2009
• The Congressional Research Service asserts that the cost of deploying one U.S. soldier for one year in Iraq is $390,000
• Fifty-six percent of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, even though African Americans make up about 12.9% of the general population and Hispanics about 15%.
• 1.5 million veterans are considered at-risk to be homeless and below poverty level
• The US Interagency Council on Homelessness reports 75% of our veterans say they experience problems with alcohol, drugs or mental health issues.

• Blackburn voted “NO” on HR 3159 which set a mandatory troop rest period between deployments to Iraq
• Blackburn voted “NO” on  HR 2642, the GI Bill expansion
• Blackburn voted “NO” on HR 2206, the survivors and dependents education assistance program

1. Improved collaboration and cooperation between the Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs to improve veteran awareness and understanding of benefit eligibility and use.
2. Reduce backlog of veteran disability claims and fund disbursements
3. Improve screening, diagnosis, treatment and care of traumatic injuries, both physical and emotional as well as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
4. Fully Implement and enforce 21st century GI Bill, allow educational benefit transferability
5. Improve the workforce readiness and hiring of veterans through targeted tax incentives and wage subsidies
6. Improve marketing, educating and counseling to veterans for home loan eligibility and loan debt/default forgiveness
7. Address and attack serious veteran homelessness issue
8. Establish a specific fund through the Department of Veteran Affairs to finance the retro-fitting of homes for disabled veterans
9. Make permanent and improve oversight in line with Inspector General’s finding of VA hospitals (regarding complaints of lax medical procedures, sterilization of medical instruments in wake of most recent outbreak of illnesses)
10. Support the Military Officer’s Association of America’s call on Pentagon to review and repeal recent decision to limit military spouse’s eligibility for participation in the successful ‘My Career Advancement Account Program’

• Bob Tuke: Tuke was an active duty Marine officer from 1969-1973 and served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry in combat, among other decorations.  He is a director of the Tennessee State Veterans Homes Board.  He also is a member of the Nashville Marine Corps Coordinating Council.  Tuke served as Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party in 2005-2006. Tuke resides in Davidson County.
• Jim Jones: Jones is a Vietnam Veteran in Williamson County. “Greg has convinced me on the several occasions I have had to visit with him that he would represent veterans, military and military family rights,” said Jones. “Our current representative, Marsha Blackburn, recently voted against the GI Bill that would have greatly helped current military and veterans. We need someone who will truly represent our district…we need Greg Rabidoux.” (Jim Jones also endorsed Greg Rabidoux in video format. That video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsYzhsYGANo)
• Jesse Lee: Lee is a Vietnam Veteran (Army, Sergent E5) and Chair of Perry County Veteran’s Association “As a Vietnam Veteran, I support Greg Rabidoux for Congress,” said Lee. “Greg is a good man who understands the needs and issues that Veterans face. I know he will do everything he can to improve the health and safety of Veterans when he is elected as our Representative.”
• Robert Lewis: Lewis is a Veteran (Sergeant Major) of 24+ years of active military service including tours in Vietnam, Germany and Iraq. Lewis said, “Since retiring in 1994, I have witnessed and experienced first hand the lip service handed out to military service veterans. I have watched elected representatives turn a deaf ear to the needs of veterans, while catering to the wishes and desires of corporations and the wealthy. After speaking with Greg Rabidoux; reviewing his qualifications and examining his position on issues affecting veterans, I whole heartily provide my support and endorsement.  Finally, we have a chance to elect a Representative who understands and will fight for the needs of Veterans.  We can no longer wait to see what crumbs will fall from the tables of Representatives who cater only to the will and desire of corporations and the wealthy. Military Service Veterans need to elect a Representative who cares and is willing to fight for us. We can elect Gregg Rabidoux as our next Congressional Representative for the 7th District.”
• Maura Satchell: Satchell identifies herself as a “Blue Star Mom and a Veterans Advocate.” She is also the Southern Regional Coordinator for the DNC Veteran and Military Families. Satchell said, “Painfully aware of the negative voting record of Congressman Blackburn when it comes to veteran and military family issues, I am very pleased to lend my support to Dr. Rabidoux.  First, as a military family member himself, Greg knows what it is like to have a loved one “transition back” to civilian life after serving.  The sacrifice of serving one’s country does not end when the Uniform is retired, and is not limited to the service member him or herself, as Greg well knows. Moreover, as a teacher of college students who have deigned to put themselves in harm’s way, Greg recognizes the cost of fighting wars includes not only the expense of going to war, but supporting those veterans once they’ve come home.  Marsha Blackburn has never gotten that concept and while her votes have enriched defense contractors and military weapons manufacturers through no-bid contracts and blank checks, her thriftiness when it comes to supporting those who’ve worn the uniform is shameful. It is time Tennessee’s 7th District, that includes the legendary 101st Airborne, have a representative that understands all the costs of war and is willing to back up those who’ve served and their families with tangible votes of support, rather than just photo ops and talking points.  It is time for Dr. Greg Rabidoux.”

PLEASE JOIN ME ON WEDNESDAY!

U.S. Congressional Candidate Dr. Greg Rabidoux will hold a virtual forum on Veterans’ Issues on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 1 p.m. (CDT). Press, military personnel and families, veterans, and all members of the community are welcome to participate. Here is the link to use to join the virtual forum on ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rabidoux4congress
 
A recent Gallup Poll and article in Time magazine have revealed health disparities in Veterans as compared to the general workforce, especially in female veterans. And yet, incumbent Congressman Marsha Blackburn has a voting record of not supporting the health and well-being of our veterans. “This is unacceptable,” said Rabidoux. “We have to pay more than lip service to our Veterans. Our Veterans kept their promise to serve their country. Now we need to make good on our promise to take care of them. If elected I will make sure to honor that promise.”
 
Please join the virtual forum on veterans issues at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rabidoux4congress. Dr. Rabidoux will release a statement on Veterans’ Issues and take questions from those logged in. While the focus will be on Veterans, feel free to log in and ask about other topics as well. In addition to the discussion about Veteran’s issues, Dr. Rabidoux will also announce several important endorsements from local Veterans.
 
For more information contact: Stacy Nunnally, stacynunnally@gmail.com, 615.364.7665

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

###

Early voting for the primaries begins tomorrow, July 16th, and runs through July 31st. While I am running unopposed in the Democratic primary, it is still very important to mobilize our supporters and get out the vote. We can send a powerful message by having a large turn out in voting for Rabidoux4Congress.“We are here; we are active and we are voting! Watch out in November, because we are ready for real representation of the 7th District. We are ready for Rabidoux4Congress.”

Early next week, I will announce when I will be casting my own vote here in Clarksville and organizing a voter rally to celebrate the kick off of voting– and our ability to enact positive change in the district. We will also be hosting mini-voter rallies across the 7th District. I hope you will be able to join us for one of these rallies and bring all of your friends and families.
 
Here are some ways to get involved during early voting:

• VOTE EARLY
• Attend a voting rally with Team Rabidoux (schedule of events coming out next week)
• Spread the word about Rabidoux4Congress by emailing your friends, getting people to sign up for the campaign on our website and asking people to become a fan on Facebook.
• Donate to the campaign. Ask others to donate to the campaign– you can even organize your own donation drive and fundraising page on Act Blue.
• Help us canvass your community by talking to your neighbors about Rabidoux4Congress.
• Create visibility: Put out yard signs and make sure every car in your community has a Rabidoux bumper sticker.

Early voting is another step in our march to get the power back to the working people of the 7th district and get our voices heard! It is another call to action for us to get out the vote and spread the word about Rabidoux4Congress. The energy and drive of the campaign is in full gear. Team Rabidoux is working hard to engage voters and get our message out. And I am more certain than ever that, together, we can win this election. So let’s get out there and vote. VOTE EARLY. VOTE RABIDOUX.

Note: You can find your early voting sites and hours of operation on your county election website or you can click here and enter your information.  

July 13, 2010

Dear Friends,

On Friday, Jackson Baker of the Memphis Flyer spoke with Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn acknowledged me as her opponent and attacked me for not being from Tennessee. “I think it’s interesting that to challenge me, they [Democrats] had to go to somebody in Connecticut,” said Blackburn.
 
My family and I chose to move to Tennessee and have made Clarksville (and the 7th district) our home. I was not recruited by anyone to move here to run in opposition to Rep. Blackburn. I am an educator, professional mediator and public servant who has chosen to enter this congressional race as a way to serve. 

 In response to questions from some of you about Memorial Day; Well, Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day” and it was officially first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia. However, there is evidence that several Women’s groups were already honoring the memory of fallen soldiers in the South before it became a national day of remembrance. What about the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day?

Well, Moina Michael in 1915 inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” wrote the following poem to honor our fallen soldiers during World War I;

” We cherish too, the poppy red, That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies, That blood of heroes never dies.”

She then encouraged folks to wear red poppy flowers on Memorial Day to honor all those who had fallen during the war (WWI). The idea did export to other nations including France. In 1922 in honor of Memorial Day that year the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) started selling red poppies to raise money in support of Veterans and by 1924 their Buddy Poppy Program began selling poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 Moina was honored for her role n founding the red poppy movement with a 3 cent postage stamp with her image.

Over the years, especially since Congress passed in 1971 law (National Holiday Act) making Memorial Day into a 3 day week-end, there has been growing concern that the power of memorial Day and its original meaning has been diluted and diminished. In December 2000 a resolution was passed called the National Moment of Remembrance which requests that at 3pm local time for all Americans to simply take a moment of silence and truly reflect and remember the sacrifices made by so many over the years in battle to protect and preserve the freedom of so many more over the years.

I encourage all of you to take such a moment. I will be doing so on Memorial Day at 3pm my own local time. It may not seem like much but there is nothing so profound and powerful than prayer and personal reflection.

May you all have a safe and blessed Memorial Day as we join together to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that the flame of freedom will never be extinguished.

Dr Rabidoux  May 28, 2010

May you all have a blessed and safe Memorial Day week-end.

UPDATE 5/30/2010:

We attended a candlelight vigil for our veterans who are “absent but not forgotten” at Veterans Plaza in Clarksville tonight. Despite the rain it was gratifying to see so many folks brave the elements and storm to show their respect and honor the fallen. We truly can never forget those who have sacrificed so much for u…s to enjoy the freedom and liberty here at home. Special thanks and salute to all of our Biker Veterans who attended and our Women Veterans.

UPDATE 5/31/10: 

We attended the Memorial Day laying of the wreaths ceremony in Clarksville. Those still missing in action were honored by the symbolic missing in action table, representing all our armed forces units. Very moving and the memories shared by those who attended are much appreciated.

I was visiting Washington D.C. this week to meet with various people and groups. Coincidentally, there was an event happening to benefit Tennessee flood relief.

I was pleased to be able to attend a fundraiser in D.C. last night to benefit TN flood relief funds at the Community Foundations in Nashville and Memphis. Zack Marshall, from Jim Cooper’s office, helped organize this event. I was proud to attend and make a donation to this event. It is a great reminder that there is still much to do. I encourage everyone to continue to help out in every way they can.

Greg Rabidoux and Zach Marshall at the D.C. Fundraiser for TN Flood Relief