Dems support the troops, too!

The Democratic Party is more supportive of the troops than the Republican Party.

That's the message of the Nevada Democratic Veterans and Military Families Caucus. Through its new website, www.nvdemocraticvets.com, the caucus hopes to dispel the myth that Republicans support the troops more than Democrats.

"Our goal with the caucus is to dispel the stereotype that only the Republicans are pro-military," said local veteran Johnathan Abbinett, one of the founders of the caucus. "The Nevada Democratic Veterans and Military Families Caucus supports just wars as a last resort and fully funding the VA [Veterans Administration]. The stereotype that the military is mostly Republican is a falsehood. The fact of the matter is the military is a slice of our society - and it's usually a slice that comes out of the middle class and poor."

Added Elliot Anderson, 24, a Marine Corps vet and acting chair of the caucus: "That fact is the Republican Party likes to write checks, but they can't cash them. They talk a great game. But when it comes down to taking care of the military and veterans, they don't do it."

The caucus was formally approved by the Nevada State Democratic Party on Dec. 7, 2005. Anderson said the caucus has been active, hosting media events and house parties and making care packages for soldiers in Iraq.

He said one of the goals of the caucus is to get veterans more involved in politics.

"We want to recruit a force of veterans who are mad about what's going on in this country and who are Democrats," said Anderson. "Then we're going to get them trained, get them out there and help turn Nevada blue."

At www.nvdemocraticvets .com, you can read about upcoming events, join the caucus or donate. For more information, visit the website or e-mail info@nvdemocraticvets.com.

Matt O'Brien » mobrien@lvcitylife.com

Is Fred Thompson pro-Yucca Mountain?

On July 20, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton said she would not push forward with the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump if elected president. A few days later, presidential prospect Fred Thompson said he would push forward with the dump -- at least that's how some people are interpreting his hiring of former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham as a campaign manager.

While energy secretary in 2002, Abraham recommended Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste dump. President Bush signed into law a plan to turn the mountain into a dump shortly thereafter.

"It's a thumb in the eye of all Nevadans," said Kirsten Searer, deputy executive director of the Nevada State Democratic Party. "Spencer Abraham was downright reckless when he pushed the Yucca Mountain Project through while he was secretary of energy. It's clear that Fred Thompson supports the project. He just appointed one of the all-time fiercest Yucca Mountain supporters as one of his top advisers."

Thompson, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee who's considering running for president, could not be reached for comment. Clinton's Nevada communications director, Hilarie Grey, declined to comment.

During a teleconference on the 20th, Clinton called for Senate hearings on the Yucca Mountain waste dump. Citing public safety, health and transportation concerns, she said the site is not safe for storing waste.

"It's past time to start exploring alternatives to Yucca Mountain, because we do need to find a safe, secure, long-term waste storage solution," said Clinton during the teleconference. "As president, I will work with the scientific community to address this problem and come up with alternative solutions.

"But for now what we need to do is turn our attention to laying the groundwork for making a better, smarter decision."

M.O.

Shrapnel is a roundup of Nevada-related news briefs. To submit story ideas, contact News Editor Matt O'Brien at 871-6780 ext. 350 or mobrien@lvcitylife.com.