Iraq Vets Against the War representative Garett Reppenhagen: Veterans' welfare shouldn't be a partisan issue.

Iraq Vets Against the War representative Garett Reppenhagen: Veterans' issues shouldn't be a partisan matter.

This morning at 8:30, a group of about 150 US military veterans against the war marched from the State Capitol to the security perimeter outside the Xcel Energy Center. During the 20-minute walk, the group shouted out a marching song with improvised lyrics to an audience consisting mainly of reporters and photographers. According to Garett Reppenhagen of Iraq Veterans Against the War, the organization that sponsored the march, “We really want to pressure John McCain’s campaign to bring veterans’ issues to the forefront. We’re very shocked that despite being a veteran himself, he’s voted very badly on issues affecting his fellow veterans. He didn’t vote for the new GI Bill. As far as his voting record on previous veterans’ issues is concerned, both Disabled American Veterans and IAVA [Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans of America] have both given him very poor grades. We want to depoliticize veterans’ issues. Both parties should be willing to take them on, not one or the other.”