Vets rally in support of Kerry

Vets rally in support of Kerry

By Quincy C. Collins

Ben, Bill, Rick and Louie Bolanos, four El Paso brothers, left their family to fight in Vietnam more than 30 years ago.

Now, three of the band of brothers are touring the Southwest as part of Texas Democratic Veterans’ effort to spread John Kerry’s and John Edwards’ campaign messages.

At a Monday afternoon political rally at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, the brothers urged Corpus Christi veterans to vote Democratic and “Take back Texas.”

Ben Bolanos told the audience of roughly 150 Corpus Christi veterans and guests that their vote is one of the strongest weapons in this election.

“Let’s stay united, and let’s get out there and vote,” Ben Bolanos said.

The brothers’ stop in Corpus Christi was part of a Southwest tour including stops in 17 Texas cities. Their grassroots effort is focused on the need for better health care, education and the loss of jobs, Rick Bolanos said.

Kerry and Texas Democrats understand the issues veterans and their families face, the brothers told the audience.

The Bolanos brothers said recent attacks on Kerry’s Vietnam War record insult all veterans wounded in battle. In August, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth sponsored anti-Kerry political ads and accused Kerry of distorting his military record.

“The message we hope to send is the fact that this administration is using the Swift Boat ads as a smoke screen,” Rick Bolanos said. “They are tearing at the very fabric of veterans’ patriotism.”

Some local veterans said political rhetoric and negative campaigning have driven a rift between veterans.

Bob Jones, a Vietnam veteran, said the line between politics and the kinship of veterans has been crossed as the presidential campaign heats up.

“This thing has divided veterans against veterans,” said Jones, who said he supports President George W. Bush for re-election but came to the rally to hear the brothers speak.

Ram Chavez, state commander of the American GI Forum, said he hopes the rally mobilized local veterans to cast their ballots.

“Veterans vote,” Chavez said. “There is nothing wrong with having opposite choices. This country is about choices.”

State Rep. Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi, Abel Herrero, Democratic nominee for District 34 state representative and Diana T. Barrera, Democratic candidate for Nueces County clerk, also addressed the veterans at the rally.