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Former Senator and wounded Vietnam veteran Max Cleland (D-GA) talks to Alan about the Veterans Jobs Corps Act.
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And -- -- well welcome former senator Max Cleveland -- microphones Vietnam War veteran.
Served as the head of veterans administration.
And on the 9/11 commission.
I think it's a -- on -- program tonight.
You know there was just a bill before congress a jobs bill for veterans I'm amazed that this didn't pass.
Well challenge you know as a -- a member of the senate.
You know I have actually -- that's what we're not talking -- you know that this is the last straw.
I'm in I know about politics of a stroke or other obstruction -- though about that.
The Republican commitment to -- the party -- -- I get that to put it politics this election year but when it comes to employ about.
I'll close to reshape it to war.
-- rock and Afghanistan assumptions -- and coming hole.
And that unemployment rate is 11%.
At least.
And when it -- of their implement and checking their military skills.
And translating them into -- -- jobs that help rebuild our country what's wrong with -- and yet the Republican Party.
In this should it should hold the bill.
But they -- the threat that it was -- -- -- outside the that he articulated in the stated union earlier this year the -- jobs or bill.
Well -- my father was part of the CC siege in urban thirty.
That would support the best thing that ever happened to him in this lights became the skills he -- or -- or drive a truck believe it not -- -- -- far.
-- -- -- -- -- True be a better should cerberus apparently was that may be stationed at Pearl Harbor after the attack -- it's an investment in people not just our better.
But that Republicans -- that's that this political structure.
Just got to stuff rehab start governing this country -- picture of our troops that's what the presence in the attitude that's -- planned speech you know.
But you're talking about the civilian conservation corps there was a tremendous success under -- Roosevelt.
To -- Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says the government already has six job training programs are veterans.
There's no way to know how well they're working -- is making progress on the country's debt.
Is the best way to help veterans that's his response.
Ultra -- ball on the chain of movie a breach.
You know demonstrated -- about -- -- war.
Which bush got started the Cheney and that Russell got started.
There and say that about Afghanistan.
You know there weren't all that concerned about the deficit -- respects.
More than a trillion dollars -- both of those -- So.
Did gesture to hear what it comes in here that you but it's people who bought those wars -- -- that's also others.
So like he knows it idle at the truck you know sit.
And it just highlights the difference between the president and the Republicans this year.
I don't think the American people grow up and give it what it would just be the party notes there or remove the structure forward.
I thought Patty Murray had a great point the senator from Washington says that this is part of the cost of going to war but it the united seems to make.
That this is an issue of the Republicans no warning to do anything they can re down to the benefit.
But Barack Obama they're afraid he might get credit for anything at this point especially -- the election they're afraid to do that.
I understand politics out of it a long time.
I feel you know but -- -- -- -- things the people what should it toward their government.
Share -- to war.
And now we have an obligation not moral obligations but it's not meant nothing but if you if you don't like politics but we have a moral obligation.
Take care of these younger women and re trained them.
And deal with their mental health issues and -- -- it's just adjusting and so forth we have a moral obligation do that and the veterans' jobs or bill.
Would have been great it was modeled its -- species program in the -- Part of the Great Depression -- It help to people like our father general of their street.
-- some some penetrating that they could.
Treated to a life trumps all book out of so two months -- -- -- -- the program and I think that the that the -- and sort -- that this.
And -- certainly warm into this program this mr.
people.
What picture -- I think that the -- -- it's certainly the senators certainly step with the there could be.
We're done with former Georgia senator Max -- one of the accomplishments of this president has been.
They're getting rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
We were a year now into that and yet there are those who will say well over you know from Romney for example in the Republican to -- overturned that but haven't we seen that did not in fact damaged the military.
-- and what you want but very Cold War.
That you don't have to -- straight should -- -- -- -- you know.
You want to want that person.
To be able to work this should rely on to be able to kill the bad -- substantially from discounts in.
And that should be subject.
-- -- -- How do you see this election shaping up -- you think it's going to be close are you concerned about.
A possible loss for the Democrats and what do you think will happen in the house and senate.
Well I do say that the American people -- seeing very clearly.
That they're presently the parties that's.
Sure this -- party driven to a certain extent the parties -- from their bases -- them stop like that but other people that are just look at and say you know like -- You know we we've we've got we've got to do something to move destructive -- Mean -- The party of true.
-- no.
You deserve it conduction -- now that your reduction Melanie in the president's -- bets on America fortunately where we're actually.
The yes we -- people.
And we -- approach -- trouble on some hard times economically.
But the president is really.
Very and commander -- -- She's got the job done in the awarding -- You just -- cheer rose almost all of that lot do you withdraw -- forces from upstairs to.
Did you know that leadership responsibility -- the next president should take care of our forces.
That's all that is what the present is doing that's what has been articulated that national distribution Republicans you know this past week.
A republic not -- So I didn't take -- the Republican Party shall we strollers and the American people don't like you and the kill the bill so they'll go to present this program.
And I think -- the Democrats pick up some cheap -- about how the process over the so.
People in the house and just flat out much and than it -- -- the Japanese forward.
That I think that Democrats have a great shot.
-- standing up to their Republican in the challengers and that's keeping the senate and really put together some kind of working coalition.
So we -- football here especially as they interpret the future of our people -- fought a war.
Unless noting getting back to the issue taken care of our veterans you yourself in your book part of a -- -- -- and a few years ago talked about.
Your own battle with posttraumatic stress syndrome even years after you served so.
You know we need to take our Medicare or veterans not just upon their re -- into society after serving.
But.
Issues can rear their ugly heads years later.
Absolutely they -- -- triggered there.
Absolutely.
They can be triggered by regular circumstances you're like that it was and in my change.
So what we what we know now is that wars -- not over when the shooting stops.
Not -- those who perhaps have fought the wars.
And that that it's another reason why it's.
This country is obligated to -- government.
To do everything -- and to embrace those who have fought a war and -- them when they compact sport of the best ways to help with that PP ST.
With that whole question of readjustment you Morgan -- and the citizens supports its secure that Federer in a -- that you know some of the -- cheater -- used.
The military.
Sort of the work -- our country you know John knows we need it.
Senator -- thank you very much for your time today thanks for talking to us.
