General Hugh Shelton Endorses Hillary
By V on May 5, 2008 at 6:35 PM in Barack Obama, Commander in Chief, Flag officers, Hillary Clinton
Gen. Hugh Shelton, a native North Carolinian:
“You know in the history of our great nation, there has been only one former President who received an endorsement of a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs prior to being elected. And in this case, not only one, but two former Chiefs along with a former Vice Chairman have expressed their support for Senator Clinton. And so I’m proud to be one of those two [in endorsing Sen. Hillary Clinton for president].”
Today, in General Shelton’s hometown paper, The Daily Southerner, Gen. Shelton endorses Hillary: “An opinion piece deserves a frank opinion,” and that, “Unlike any other candidate, she knows that maintaining a highly-trained military and alert military goes beyond throwing dollars at the Pentagon or giving upbeat speeches.“
Sen. Clinton has gotten to know our military during her time as first lady and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Unlike any other candidate, she knows that maintaining a highly-trained military and alert military goes beyond throwing dollars at the Pentagon or giving upbeat speeches. She understands the impact of endless commitments on the service families who also serve our country.
She has already worked hard to build the morale, training and ultimately the capabilities of our armed forces, and she uniquely understands the importance of remembering those on our forgotten front line in Afghanistan.
We need a president like Sen. Clinton, who understands that a successful foreign policy combines equal parts of economic strength, military readiness and diplomatic persuasion. … (Read all of Gen. Shelton’s endorsement .)
In the long history of our nation, there has been only one former Green Beret to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs — General Hugh Shelton. 
He stands beside Hillary and 34 of his fellow Generals and Admirals in enthusiastically endorsing Hillary Clinton for President and next Commander-in-Chief. General Shelton served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He was assistant commander of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, and later commanded the 82nd Airborne Division. Prior to serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Shelton commanded U.S. Special Operations Forces. He served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest ranking military office, from 1997-2001.
Gen. Shelton goes on to note Hillary’s tenacity, her commitment to the military and veterans, and her record of achievement on Armed Services committee.
Why are so many military leaders supporting Hillary? Sometimes I think back to my own years in the service and get caught up in the interplay between light and dark, from no-nothing boot camp newbie to old salt, the remembrances of both good times with my buddies, and that deadly day in Beirut. While twenty-plus years have taken off some of the edges, my patriotism burns undimmed and the experience of that warrior culture remains part of my fiber. So, I find something that is touching and true in the seemingly contradictory juxtaposition of all those gruff old warriors and their respect for that small, middle aged woman — Hillary.
But I understand why these warriors respect her, they find in her a kindred spririt, a toughness, a tenacity and a willingness to fight against the odds for what is right. Barack likes to claim that he is, “skinny, but he’s tough,” but Hillary has fought alongside these Generals and Admirals on issues they deeply care about. She has earned their respect.
What has Barack done? Skated out on his NATO subcommittee duties? (He hasn’t done much. Read this post by Joe Wilson.) So, just like General Shelton, I too am proud to be supporting Hillary Clinton for next Commander-in-Chief. See many more endorsements below:
(The player just above has 23 video endorsements. Roll over with your mouse to access the controls.)
What an excellent endorsement! Thanks, V.
It’s an excellent endorsement, to be sure! After a few early stumbles, Hillary has succeeded time and time again in making the case that she is the right person at the right time. After today, superdelegates will start to ripple toward her in great waves.
I think that endorsers like General Shelton realize that when it comes right down to it, this country needs fundamental reform at the hands of a committed, competent leader. Change is important, yes, but we can’t work in the abstract. People like General Shelton understand this. And if you want insider proof of why Hillary can still win this election, look no further than the concerns, fears and questions of your neighbors and relatives. The game is changing, and realists like General Shelton would not be endorsing Hillary at this point if it wasn’t.
This is a great endorsement and it speaks volumes about Hillary’s character. However, with the narrow win in Indiana and the loss in N. Carolina so near the convention, it may be time to start looking for a vice president position. This rivalry is tearing apart the party and making it harder for the democratic nominee in general election. Hillary is a wonderful individual and she should really look into and Obama-Clinton ticket.
GREAT ARTICLE…….I think Clinton will have a great day on Tuesday……
This is great news, however it may be more helpful in the general election. Will it have an impact in North Carolina?
Yes. Think “Ft. Bragg”.
Also think “Pope AFB.”
Fabulous endorsement. Hillary gets the most meaningful and relevant endorsements, doesn’t she? With all we face in the next few years, those are the people I want standing with our next President.
We really have to fix the media, though. Hillary gets this important endorsement, and yet.. Tom Hanks is the big story today endorsing Obama??? WTF does Hanks have to do with our every day lives? Hillary’s growing number of flag officers behind her is given little notice, in favor if celebrities for Obama.
The real people know which endorsements matter the most…
just another crappy actor whose career is over.
I think I’ll go with the General as well. Although I am afraid with these endorsements, Obama is sewing up the 14 year old boy vote.
Oh, they don’t vote, do they?
Or perhaps I should have just said:
“Oh man. We didn’t get Forrest Gump’s vote?”
cnn and msnbc report every celeb who endorses Obama, but we NEVER hear about folks siding with Hillary. as always, the MSM continues to make my gut churn.
Excellent article!
I see the retired military brass overwhelmingly support Hillary over Obama.
As I just wrote: “Obama is blackmailing America with fear of riots — he is trying to bully the nation and that is not something we can allow.”
Amongst many issues, surely the brass see Obama as a threat and are lining up behind Hillary to protect our nation. The know Hillary has the stones to defeat Obama.
My hat’s off to General Hugh Shelton for his service to our country and his forward thinking wisdom in endorsing Hillary. Hillary is a scrapper, she’s gonna be the next President!
Let’s all keep our spirits up, Hillary is amazing but she still needs our energy and support!
Juan Williams said on Fox this past Sunday that the superdelegates were concerned that if they don’t back Obama there will be fear for what might happen in the black community and with the young voters.
Certainly lots of fear to go around. The majority of America fears Obama and his crowd. Obama played the fear/race-riot card — now America fears Obama.
As is said:
“As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap”
right…let’s vote for someone because we’re afraid of them. that’s very constructive and a very healthy approach to selecting the leader of the free world. NO THANK YOU! these bully tactics and death threats must be stopped.
I have no inside knowledge, unless you consider logic and intuition “inside knowledge,” but I will venture to say the following:
The powers-that-be agree with us that Obama has to quit the race and he will be provided a parachute as to not exacerbate the situation. That’s actually great news for him, he gets to save face and whimper off into the background.
The above has been my assessment for a few days now. Maybe part of what Spike Lee was saying is true, there is a “conspiracy” of some kind in the works. This should not be viewed as anything strange especially when you consider Obama has been involved in a conspiracy of his own: to strong arm the nation into a hostile takeover.
Food for thought.
Add this to my theory:
Obama won’t be given a choice whether or not to quit the race. We have no clue what leverage the power brokers might have on him — and it is logical to assume that they may use it on him to stop him.
Nobody is bullied, cmon.
It would appear the only ones being trolled here are the big oranges.
OT, and speaking of bullying, I was thinking how everything with this crew of Cheney morons has to center around the use of violence, bullying, in fact, cowardly white men trying to appear tough, using the military to compensate for their lack of masculinity, and intellect.
It’s our country’s intellect that has always set us apart.
So, why do we need to “nuke” or bomb, given we have professionals who can game other countries, asymetrically, the same way those other countries gamed Bush, and Cheney, the dimmer twins?
I mean, when the smart people come back, post Cheney, post Bush, the non PR types, who KNOWS where the cards will really be, or how the table was really set…
Again, I would not be surprised to know Russia, and Iran were trying to manipulate each other, what does this mean for Iran’s stability?
See?
A lot of other options, why do we want to “war” like a bunch of morons, using fear?
It’s so Bill Kristol, and Bill Kristol is an idiot.
Let’s see now…who would I rather have endorse me for president–Hugh Shelton or Tom Hanks?
I guess that says it all. I’ll take the grown-up team.
Oh don’t worry, next to be thrown under the Obama bus, the military. What will KOS say now? He’s ex miltary isn’t he?
BOO to this article
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-supers5-2008may05,0,4564727.story?track=rss
I get the feeling it spoils the mood of this thread so I ain’t going to look.
There’s tons of noise out there designed to keep our morale down. Stay focused and positive and do what you can to help Hillary.
Ah they are all hedging their bets either way. They are all political whores you know. They are solidly behind whomever looks like the winner du jour.
As I said, nothing matters until they actually vote. Then they will suck up to the winner. It’s the way it is. Unfortunately, if they do what I think they will do, they will all be taking a long embarrassing vacation in November.
Exactly. I respect your views, you’ve been in this game a very long time and I am a newbie. But maybe my non-battle scared mind could be right and in November you will have a pleasant surprise indeed…
Stranger things have happened.
Yes!
gutless pigs…
WOW. Wonderful!
A little off topic, but related to the foreign policy discussion of the day. Notice that Obama calls out Hillary for talking about “obliterating” Iran, then says that if Iran nuked Israel, he would “respond forcefully” and then says “an attack on Israel is an attack on the United States.”
Am I supposed to take that to mean if Iran nuked the United States, Obama wouldn’t obliterate Iran? He’d just “respond forcefully”? No wonder Democrats keep losing the f-ing White House.
If Obama was president and Iran nuked Israel, he would have tea and crumpets with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, of course.
That’s what I thought of when Obama whined about Hillary’s comments. Hillary is right to say that. She has also pointed out deterrence worked for half a century of Cold War. Obama is severely grasping at straws if that is a big argument for him against Hillary.
By Obama calling Hillary on that, he made himself look weak, unpresidential and woefully unaware of how the real world works. I think Obama has been smoking his own hopeium.
Bottom line: you prove why the vast majority of the retired brass out there support Hillary. They don’t want a foolish coward without even a semblance of a clue controlling our nuclear arsenal. Obama makes it sound like he would be afraid to retaliate, and the bad people in this world might consider exploiting this weakness — and that makes the world a more dangerous place, not the acid-trip peaceful place Obama dreams he can wave a magic wand and create.
I made this point in another thread, but now that Bush is on his way out, and we can start to think like intelligent people , again, we don’t need nukes to destroy a government.
Really, think, now, the USSR came down in part because of a forty year strategy.
Why couldn’t the same be done, today?
And given Iran already has internal problems, how long would it really take to cause the government to become dysfunctional, to teh point of collapse?
See?
No nukes, Ma!
Sorry, OT. I’m just giving out a heads-up on Obama being his dip-shit, out-of-touch-with-reality self again.
This time: he told workers that they lose their sense of dignity when they lose their jobs.
See the video at:
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/5/5/3178/17296
This is a HUGE endorsement. I wish it would have occurred a little sooner but General Shelton’s word and bond is as good as gold.
Obama is no Superman. He would have everyone take a four or eight year subscription to the Daley Planet.
Daley Daley Jr. Obama
That’s the most dangerous political dynasty running in this election.
Excellent Story V…
Thanks for Putting This Up…
Hugh is a stellar endorsement in terms of Hillary running against McCain. See the big pitcure.
If you click on the YouTube picture directly above the comments section, the flag officers testimonials go on and on and on. Just let them play, one after the other. They are pretty impressive in their praise of Hillary. Worth listening to, especially if you are a veteran or have someone in your family in military service.
mtunes,
Thanks for pointing this out. I forgot to add directions and most folks will not think it’s more than one video.
-V
I have seen the videos, and heard the audio clips from Taylor Marsh.
As the mother of a son who was in the AF, and served time in Iraq, I want a President who understands the military and foriegn policy. We dont need some damn newbie wanna be President.
I especially liked the “tough” Marines who endorsed her, I have a soft spot for Marines. They look so damn good in their dress uniforms.
WOW is really all i can say. How beautifully written…Careful, obama may try to steal it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7-O_XcBWMI
Patti you are so right!A can-do-want-a-be will not do for us.
As this video will show you who is the best choice for presidant.
Hillary has been for the people and 9/11 who risk their lives and the people who dies in 9/11
This is who Sen.Clinton is.she is in it for us.Not for the white house to live in or say I am president.She is in it for all the people
What a great endorcement! If the voting public simply looked at the candidates, truly assessed their strengths, weaknesses, and experience, how could they not choose Hillary! But, this record-breaking race for the nomination is such a farce. Backed exclusively by the Obama-swooning media, suppoted by the thralldom of the class of youth who voted obsessively for Sunjaya on American Idol, and too instantly a cry for the African American community, those who would vote in the same 90+% even if Barack were convicted of selling crack to children — Barack Obama has been all but criminally preordained to be our next president.