VFW and its Auxiliary asks for 'No Confidence" Vote in VFW PAC who Refuses to Rescind their Endorsements!

The VFW Auxiliary was the first to pull funding from the VFW PAC effective immediately on October 13, 2010. Good thing I am not President of the Auxiliary or I would have been a 'wee bit' more forceful sometime ago. This went on far too long with endorsements of Democrat candidates over veterans who had served their Country. It took endorsing people like the Democrat Grayson in FL who is one of the most unethical candidates running this time or the endorsement of Barbara Boxer who is no friend to the military. Remember her admonishment to the general:


All the calls and emails have finally paid off -- first with the Auxiliary:

October 13, 2010

Dear Sisters,

In light of the VFW’s position on the most recent endorsements by the VFW Political Action Committee, effective this day, October 13, 2010, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars is suspending all fundraising and promotion of VFW-PAC for the remainder of the year.

Any monies raised for PAC up to this date should be forwarded immediately to PAC for those purposes in accordance with the laws concerning political action committees.

Department Award No. 5 as seen in the 2010-2011 National Program Book on Page 20 is hereby suspended for the remainder of the year, and the program title will hereafter be known as Legislative.

Loyally,

Cortina Barnes
National President

We would like to know what union group took over control of the VFW PAC -- was it SEIU? This smacks of something their people would do when confronted. They would refuse to back down which is exactly what happened with the VFW PAC directors. Now the Commander of the VFW has asked for a vote to decertify the PAC and removed the appointments of officers of the PAC. It should be almost unanimous to decertify but we will have to wait and see at the Convention as the PAC as refused to rescind their endorsements. The Commander is right about one thing -- it makes the VFW look really bad to dis Veterans in favor of incumbents like Boxer who have contempt for the military.

BIG WIN! VFW (Finally) Does Right By Members
by Mr. Wolf

You spoke.

You were heard.

This, was the right thing to do-

MEMORANDUM
________________________________________________________________________

National Council of Administration

Richard L. Eubank, Commander-in-Chief

Date:
October 14, 2010
________________________________________________________________________

I have reviewed the Political Action Committee (PAC) Board of Directors’ response to our request to rescind this year’ s Congressional endorsements. I disagree with their assessment.

It is now evident to most of the VFW leadership, both National and especially the departments, that the VFW has been subjected to extreme negative publicity throughout the nation, and the recent endorsement decisions have, in fact, harmed the VFW’s reputation and future ability to fulfill our mission.

I cannot let this erosion of public support for our great organization continue. The apparent lack of the committee to address these concerns will lead to a proposal by me, as Commander-in-Chief, to amend the by-laws at the 112th National Convention for the purpose of dissolving the PAC.

Meanwhile, under the authority granted to me as Commander-in-Chief in section 619 of the VFW National By-Laws and under section
620 of the Manual of Procedure, I am withdrawing all PAC appointments effective October 15, 2010.

Accordingly, I’ m asking the council for a vote of “ no confidence” in the VFW PAC as indicated on the enclosed ballot.

There you have it. The PAC refused to back down. So, the Commander had no choice but to shut down the PAC. Apparently, behind the scenes, he was not able to get them to rescind the endorsements, thereby necessitating closing it down completely. While I’d like to have seen was the PAC remove the endorsements; maybe, by ‘proxy’, the Commander can now do that. See, hideous candidates who have a long history of NOT supporting those in uniform are trumpeting their VFW endorsement

Excerpt: Read more at Big Government

VFW Leaders Act on PAC Endorsements to Rescind Them

Leadership of the VFW is not happy with their PAC -- no kidding. They want them to rescind all endorsements and endorse no one now. Very bad publicity for the VFW to even have this happen.

Endorsing Grayson in Florida for the House and Barbara Boxer in California for the Senate may have finally swung the pendalum away from some of the worst endorsements ever. Endorsing a candidate against veterans who have served overseas made no sense. Looks like the VFW leaned the hardway that an independent PAC is not the way to go.

VFW is there for veterans but not if you want to run for office the way it looks. The PAC obviously did no vetting or Grayson would not have ended up on the list. Looks like the incumbents were the only ones making the grade this year.

VFW Leaders Act on PAC Endorsements
October 12, 2010

Comrades,

The angry tone and tenor of the telephone calls and messages being received at national headquarters make it clear that many of our members are not cognizant of the fact that VFW National By-Laws clearly stipulate that the VFW Commander-in-Chief is not authorized to direct or otherwise attempt to introduce his control over the VFW PAC. Furthermore, no membership dues or donations made to the VFW or VFW Foundation are used for the VFW PAC.

As you know, the recent endorsements by the PAC are the subject of much controversy. Unfortunately, many questions have been raised regarding VFW’s involvement in the endorsement process and the integrity of the organization as a whole. Regrettably, many of our members and supporters are disappointed and have misdirected their anger toward the VFW as having lost its purpose.

Comrades, we cannot sit idly by while a great organization is being disparaged and maligned, even unintentionally. It is vitally important that you take a direct role in alleviating this current flood of criticism by reminding members and supporters that:

-- The VFW PAC was created by the VFW members and not by VFW national leaders. 2/3 of the delegates of the 80th VFW National Convention (1979) voted to establish PAC as a standing committee.

-- VFW By-Laws stipulate that VFW leadership does not direct PAC activities and that the VFW convention is the governing body of the organization. As such, it is only the delegates at the convention that can determine the continuation of the PAC.

-- Encourage VFW members to get involved in their VFW Posts and to exercise and further direct their concerns to convention delegates so that there can be an informed debate on the existence of the PAC.

That is a future process. But, as indicated, we also have an immediate necessity on the recent PAC endorsements. VFW’s values and guiding principles aren’t grounded in a desire to participate in partisan policies in political activities. As veterans of foreign wars, we gave substantially more of ourselves than most to ensure the viability and the integrity of our great democratic process. However, our recent endorsement process unintentionally provided favoritism to the incumbents. It is now evident it was unfairly skewed and actually subverted that process.

As determined in the VFW By-Laws, as the national officers, we have specific responsibilities to take definitive action when events can have a detrimental impact on the organization. It is clear to us that the current situation now demands direct action; therefore, we are requesting the chairman and the directors of the Political Action Committee immediately rescind their endorsement actions.

We also want to stress this request means no endorsement for any Congressional candidate.

Richard L. Eubank
Commander-in-Chief

Richard L. DeNoyer
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief

John E. Hamilton
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief

Source: VFW