By Eli Tate, Kansas delegate

After finishing 10 years of active service in the Air Force last May, I was hungry for change in the level of integrity and ethics in our political leadership. I flew over 250 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I’ve seen the results first-hand of the Bush administrations mismanagement of our military forces, their families, and our nation’s resources. Like many veterans, I initially considered John McCain to provide that leadership and honesty. I respect Sen. McCain, his service, and his early political career. But then I looked at his voting record on veterans and military family’s issues. He voted against veterans’ health care in favor of continuing tax breaks for the wealthy. He voted against more funding to allow better health care for the National Guard and Reserves and their families. He recently voted against increasing the GI Bill to ensure combat veterans and their families can obtain competitive education after serving their country. That bill was sponsored by Barack Obama. And it passed despite a Bush veto and McCain’s lack of support.

So I want to ask all veterans to take a hard look at which candidate will do more for veterans, their families, and all active, reserve, and guard forces. And I ask all veterans to consider supporting Barack Obama for President in November. Here are some of the reasons I do.

The first congressional committee that first-term Senator Obama joined was the Veteran’s Affairs Committee. This is not a glamorous or powerful committee. It is, however, a vitally important one of which John McCain is not a member. Senator Obama will not let the wealthy defense lobbying sector manipulate our government, leaders, and military.

He does not take lobbyist or political action committee (PAC) donations because he advocates transparency in our government’s decision and law-making process. These lobbying groups are only out for their company’s profits. Finally, Senator Obama has shown the good judgment not to support the initial decision to go into Iraq. All the reasons the Bush administration gave for the war have proven false.

This good judgment is crucial in a commander-in-chief. But once the decision was made, Senator Obama has successfully lobbied to give our troops all the protection and resources they need to be as safe and effective as possible.

He spearheaded the initiative to get the appropriate armor to our troops in Iraq. He has a plan to bring our troops home while not sacrificing the limited gains we have in Iraq or relinquishing the responsibility our nation owes the Iraqi people for 5 years of war in their country. This is true leadership-to have good judgment, recognize our mistakes, take accountability and progressive steps to do the right thing, and take care of our troops and their families in the process.

I urge all veterans, active duty and reserve, as well as their families, to take a good look at why Obama will be a better advocate and leader for our great nation.