Tonight marks the end of the American combat mission in Iraq.
As a candidate for this office, I pledged to end this war responsibly. And, as President, that is what I am doing.
Since I became Commander-in-Chief, we've brought home nearly 100,000 U.S. troops. We've closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of our bases.
As Operation Iraqi Freedom ends, our commitment to a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq continues. Under Operation New Dawn, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain to advise and assist Iraqi forces, protect our civilians on the ground, and pursue targeted counterterrorism efforts.
By the end of next year, consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, these men and women, too, will come home.
Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest -- it is in our own. Our nation has paid a huge price to put Iraq's future in the hands of its people. We have sent our men and women in uniform to make enormous sacrifices. We have spent vast resources abroad in the face of several years of recession at home.
We have met our responsibility through the courage and resolve of our women and men in uniform.
In seven years, they confronted a mission as challenging and as complex as any our military has ever been asked to face.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans put their lives on the line. Many returned for multiple tours of duty, far from their loved ones who bore a heroic burden of their own. And most painfully, more than 4,400 Americans have given their lives, fighting for people they never knew, for values that have defined our people for more than two centuries.
What their country asked of them was not small. And what they sacrificed was not easy.
For that, each and every American owes them our heartfelt thanks.
Our promise to them -- to each woman or man who has donned our colors -- is that our country will serve them as faithfully as they have served us. We have already made the largest increase in funding for veterans in decades. So long as I am President, I will do whatever it takes to fulfill that sacred trust.
Tonight, we mark a milestone in our nation's history. Even at a time of great uncertainty for so many Americans, this day and our brave troops remind us that our future is in our own hands and that our best days lie ahead.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Ethics Probe Asks If Joe Wilson Abused Taxpayer-Funded Per Diem
COLUMBIA - South Carolina Democrats are demanding answers in the wake of media reports that Congressman Joe Wilson is the subject of an ethics investigation. This morning, The Wall Street Journal reported that Wilson was part of a sweeping probe into lawmakers' abusing their taxpayer-funded per diem while traveling.
Jay Parmley, SC Democratic Party Executive Director, said that Wilson's involvement in the investigation is part of a career built on questionable activity, and highlighted a Wilson spokesman's dismissal of the charge.
"Joe Wilson represents everything that is wrong with Washington, D.C.," said Parmley. "He's a career politician who's lived a good life on the public dime while hard-working South Carolinians have had to tighten their belts. And now that he's found himself under fire for playing fast and loose with our tax dollars, he has the temerity to claim through his spokesman that this investigation 'doesn't reflect American priorities.' Does Joe Wilson really think Americans don't care whether or not their elected officials meet moral and ethical standards? He should be ashamed of himself."
Jay Parmley, SC Democratic Party Executive Director, said that Wilson's involvement in the investigation is part of a career built on questionable activity, and highlighted a Wilson spokesman's dismissal of the charge.
"Joe Wilson represents everything that is wrong with Washington, D.C.," said Parmley. "He's a career politician who's lived a good life on the public dime while hard-working South Carolinians have had to tighten their belts. And now that he's found himself under fire for playing fast and loose with our tax dollars, he has the temerity to claim through his spokesman that this investigation 'doesn't reflect American priorities.' Does Joe Wilson really think Americans don't care whether or not their elected officials meet moral and ethical standards? He should be ashamed of himself."
State Dems say Haley's too busy debating herself to debate Sheheen
South Carolina Democrats were not impressed with Haley's attempts to explain away her refusal.
"It's no shock that Nikki Haley won't accept Vincent Sheheen's debate challenge," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "She's too busy debating herself. She's for releasing tax returns until they're her tax returns. She's for releasing e-mails until they're her e-mails. She was all for school vouchers, and then said they were 'not a priority'. South Carolina voters deserve honest leadership."
Monday, August 30, 2010
S.C. Comptroller uses taxpayer money on state cars, vacation, and lawsuit settlements
COLUMBIA - Democrats criticized Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom today, highlighting troubling hypocrisies in the incumbent's record. Eckstorm told The Aiken Standard earlier this month that the state was doing too much for children, teachers, and state employees. The paper reported that "Eckstrom is running against Democrat Robert Barber, but the incumbent expressed misgivings about members of both parties at the Republican Club meeting. The state, Eckstrom said, is doing too much for the state's citizens, including the children, and for state employees." But he doesn't seem to mind that the state has wasted thousands of dollars for his personal benefit:
- Eckstrom checked out a state van for a family trip to Minnesota in 2004 [AP, December 12, 2006]
- Eckstrom settled a sexual harassment lawsuit for $57,000 in taxpayer money [The State, Feb 18th, 2010]
- Eckstrom drives a state car [S.C. Budget and Control Board]
"Richard Eckstrom only cares that there are enough taxpayer dollars to line his own pockets," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "Kids Count reported that South Carolina is 45th in the nation in the number of children living in poverty, but he has used our tax money to go on vacation, drive new cars, and pay off a sexual harassment lawsuit. Richard Eckstrom thinks he is more important than South Carolina's children. I look forward to electing a comptroller who realizes it's his job to serve the public, not vice versa."
- Eckstrom checked out a state van for a family trip to Minnesota in 2004 [AP, December 12, 2006]
- Eckstrom settled a sexual harassment lawsuit for $57,000 in taxpayer money [The State, Feb 18th, 2010]
- Eckstrom drives a state car [S.C. Budget and Control Board]
"Richard Eckstrom only cares that there are enough taxpayer dollars to line his own pockets," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "Kids Count reported that South Carolina is 45th in the nation in the number of children living in poverty, but he has used our tax money to go on vacation, drive new cars, and pay off a sexual harassment lawsuit. Richard Eckstrom thinks he is more important than South Carolina's children. I look forward to electing a comptroller who realizes it's his job to serve the public, not vice versa."
Joe Wilson has been failing Middle Class for years
Have you wondered why economists have been saying the middle class is dying off? Well, it's because of lawmakers like Joe Wilson, who continually vote against measures that support and sustain the group of people that do their best to make ends meet.
2009 Year to Date Score
Voted on 25 of 25 bills considered.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
AFL-CIO Voting Record of S.C. Congressman
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