LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

East To The Rescue

Last week my son graduated with his GED from Nature Coast High School. My family had looked forward to this night. My camera's batteries ran out before the evening was over. One of your photographers, Bob East, was nice enough to let me have two batteries.

I really appreciate his kindness. The pictures that I have from that night mean so much to my family. Thank you, Bob East.

Sonya Hall

Inverness

Let Voters Decide

Brown-Waite's Fate

This is in response to Peter Strathis's letter to the editor and his misguided opinion that U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite has done a good job representing the voters in the 5th District. I really hate to burst your balloon Peter, but it's necessary when you paint this image of Brown-Waite as having one of the of the best records in Congress for helping the veterans and senior citizens.

You must be kidding or you haven't checked her record. Again that record consists of voting with President Bush on any issue, even if it meant denying veterans and their dependents of benefits. I remember a little while back Congress proposed legislation that would make the budget for veterans' medical care be mandated. This would help eliminate the needless fighting by the VA, the veterans, as well as the veterans' organizations every year to get a legitimate and fair budget. This would make life so much easier for veterans and their dependents. When I contacted Brown-Waite's office to make sure she would vote for it. I was told she hadn't made her decision yet. This was a bill the veterans and veteran groups fought for. It turned out she voted with the president to help kill it. Her comment? I think this would be the best thing for veterans?

Also, I've heard more than once she takes credit for the veterans clinic in Brooksville. That means her predecessor, Karen Thurman, a Democrat who worked hard on it and the many veteran organizations that worked endlessly, shouldn't get credit for fighting to get this clinic in Brooksville. They fought and were able to get this clinic before she became a member of Congress. I just want the veterans organizations to get credit where credit's due. I will give her credit for later helping to get the clinic enlarged.

Yes, Mr. Strathis, I am upset with Brown-Waite's ploy to buy votes by giving out 35-cent medals for veteran votes. I'm sure all veterans would like to hear they are appreciated for doing their part, but to pass out cheap medals every election year to get publicity is using the veterans. Many veterans thought she was actually awarding a bona fide military award. If she feels patriotic, then she should go to a VA hospital and tell the hospitalized veterans thank you for a job well done. Don't take a camera crew and not just before an election.

Mr. Strathis, you said she is responsible for making sure veterans get awards they were awarded, such as the Purple Heart. Do I think the Purple Heart is also another cheap 35-cent medal? No I don't think that at all. As a matter of fact I received one in Vietnam and my brother, who was in the same unit, received two of them. We both were awarded them for wounds received in battle. I know the next thing you will say is two brothers can't serve in a war zone at the same time. That is not true when they both volunteer to be there. I never brought up Purple Hearts or any medals received while in the military, although now that you bring it up, those medals received in the military are authentic medals and what she gives out to buy votes are, well, they aren't military awards.

You mentioned you are not a veteran but you had a friend who went to Vietnam and when he came home he committed suicide. I'm sorry about your friend. You feel you know firsthand what a veteran whose saw combat feels. Take my word on it, you have no inkling how they feel. I do know we definitely need to get funds to aid those coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq. We don't need more young men or women to do the same thing as your friend. They are going to need help for what they experienced.

Another thing is you said John Russell lost by 20 percent setting a record for the biggest defeat. You seem to have a bad memory. Where do you get your facts? Brown-Waite won in 2004 by 16 percent of the votes against a well-funded (like Brown-Waite) attorney Robert Whittel. John Russell lost by 9 percent with a fraction of the funds and that's because he wouldn't sell out to big business. He ran on money he received from those who wanted change or believed in him.

When I first heard John at a debate, I knew he cared about the same concerns as I did. I felt he was almost speaking for me. Also, I feel he will fight hard for his constituents. He doesn't care what they are registered as. Mr. Strathis, this time the voters want change, and you will see that come election day. If you listen to him talk and not interrupt him speaking, you may just vote for him also. Voters are tired of the empty promises and the lies. If you feel we are doing better now than five years ago, then vote for Ginny Brown-Waite. For those who feel they are not doing as well and you feel the country is in need of change, then it's a no-brainer. Vote for change and get someone who feels as you do.

This is why I think John Russell will fight for veterans and senior citizens who find it hard to make it from month to month. We need someone who will demand that we spend those hundreds of billions of dollars be spent here first on American problems before we take care of everyone else. That is why I feel John Russell should represent the 5th district over Brown-Waite

William Vahoviak

Spring Hill