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Vets group criticizing president over bin Laden comments

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    Veterans for a Strong America chairman Joel Arends reacts

  • Duration 8:23
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We are digging deeper this hour into a web that just released.

By a veterans group.

Accusing President Obama of taking too much credit for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden on the one year anniversary of his death.

Credit they say should've gone to the Navy SEALs here is part of that -- That is just part of -- we're joined now by the head of veterans for a strong America.

-- -- an Iraqi war veteran awarded the bronze star for his service and recognized by secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld.

As one of the fifty euros in the war on terror.

-- also worked on the McCain at 2008 campaign and on the bush Cheney 2000 campaign -- Thank you for your service and thank you very much for being with us now by Skype want to ask you why you put this -- together.

And who's behind it who's in your group.

First of all good afternoon Megan thank you for having me on the show.

The message is very simple.

The real heroes who deserve credit.

Are the Navy SEALs in the intelligence community.

Who made the capture and kill bin Laden.

Possible.

-- what we're doing is worth throwing a penalty flag on President Obama here for excessive celebration.

We think what you've seen from President Obama is he's not only spike the football.

He signed it he threw it up in the stands with the France is doing -- Dance in the end zone now with Brian Williams in the situation room and we think it's all in an effort to.

To be able to help with his campaign.

And instead -- -- -- giving a real credit to the real heroes made -- -- -- -- possible clearly.

In his -- he took a shot at Mitt Romney and and you know he didn't just mark the anniversary he then added you know that Mitt Romney.

Would not have made that this the decision some of the Navy SEALs have been critical of that.

Ad suggesting they don't want that instant it used for political gain.

As an Iraqi war vet obviously I I assume they are Republican given -- about political history.

Do you have issues with that as well.

Well over the last 48 hours to 72 hours I've been on the phone with a lot of former Navy SEALs I've been talking a special operators.

And in the process.

What I found out -- there's a lot of discontent in the community out there.

They're very concerned about the president using the capture bin Laden to kill bin Laden as ammunition in his campaign but what really concerns them is Bill Clinton's.

Comment same that if the raid went bad.

It would have been bad for President Obama and that's what really concerns a lot of that's out there and look we've received a lot of feedback over the last 24 hours.

And were receiving very positive feedback from around the country.

Suggesting that because of the powerful emotions that the -- evokes.

Is that we've tapped into something here.

Here's here's that it at that line to which you refer with Bill Clinton in president Obama's -- Both Navy -- on and they are suppose they've been captured killed.

Down so I wouldn't.

-- but the ad went on Clinton followed that up mr.

Clinton did moments after by saying but he reasons.

I cannot in good conscious conscience do nothing.

So he took the harder.

And more honorable path he seemed to be trying to say politically he realized.

There was risk for him what he took the honorable path.

In in pursuing what was best for the country is that do you do you think that's a fair take.

On president Clinton's statement.

Well I think it's an incredible statement.

Coming from not president former President Clinton given the fact that.

He had multiple opportunities to go after bin Laden according to intelligence community officials and he demurred he he refused to go after him.

And while we can't second guess the president's actions what we can do today is we can ask President Obama -- excessive celebration.

Why they need to have to take the focus and off the Navy SEALs -- And the intelligence community officials because what we had here was we had a brief moment in America where we had -- a moment that was brought Americans together.

And now what you see is President Obama is using the kill bin Laden as as a way to -- would divide Americans as part of his campaign strategy.

You point out in in your ad that.

President Obama you feel.

Use the first person too much in talking about this issue and here's part here's the part of your -- that goes after that.

Support our director Leon Panetta I was briefed.

We've determined that my direction my home -- -- -- by us commander in chief.

You don't need to -- the football has its its.

That first part was from may 2011 after bin Laden was killed and the president was announcing it.

But we can't go back and look at his remarks droll and here's another portion of them.

Small team of Americans carried out the operation -- extraordinary courage and capability.

Tonight we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who worked tirelessly.

To achieve this outcome we give thanks for the men who carried out this operation.

-- they exemplified the professionalism.

Patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.

He did give thanks to the others and of course had to mention the first person in discussing how things went down.

Do you think the -- fare on that score.

Absolutely I do because why didn't President Obama make a campaign ad that highlighted those remarks now.

Why did he need to have a campaign -- That features former President Clinton making the remarks he did but another thing -- -- I recently Sar report I think it was two days ago.

That shows that President Obama.

Has made more remarks about himself for used -- -- from the first person more than all other presidents combined.

And so.

Look this is going to be up to the voters to decide they're gonna have to decide whether or not they want to maintain -- keep.

President Obama as the commander in chief or if there's going to be another acceptable option to take his place in November.

Is there going to be -- and an ad by a mean are you so far this hasn't been on at least as far as we know on the cable stations for purchase.

Are you going to do that.

We're evaluating that right now -- I mean.

Part of our strategy is to harness the incredible power of the Internet.

-- -- right now we're sitting here talking on Skype.

You're you're talking to me in New York on here and South Dakota so we're using the power of the Internet to be able to communicate our message that we certainly are looking right now very seriously at buying ad time.

-- especially critical states where we believe people really read where this message resonates with people.

Last thing at the veterans first -- America it should be a nonpartisan group it's it seems kind of pardon partisan -- it seems like you don't like President Obama will.

What's the story.

Well as you know there's a difference between that what are ideology is what our partisanship is.

We don't take sides with regard to Republicans -- Democrats in fact there's a lot of things we don't agree with Republicans on.

However but there's a lot of things we don't agree with present -- -- -- But let me say this -- we -- on apologetic -- conservative.

We -- on apologetic -- conservative veterans organization hasn't very specific point of view especially with regard to who deserves credit here.

We deserved that this are we believe.

This presidential focus more on talking about who's responsible for carrying out foreign policy on the ground and -- those boots on the ground are.

Instead of talking about what he's personally ordered.

Jill aaron's thank you so much for being here serve all the best you.

Thank you -- and I appreciate it we're taking your thoughts on it right now on Twitter follow me at Megyn Kelly.

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