Grassroots Iraq and Afghan War Veterans Launch
Wisconsin Countryside Campaign: Trump is Unfit to Lead
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 13, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: D.Boylan, Communications | dan.boylan@vfrl.org
ABBOTSFORD, WI — Iraq and Afghan War veterans are calling Donald Trump out for his historically unprecedented and continued disrespect for American troops, veterans, fallen soldiers and Gold Star Families by launching the Unfit to Lead campaign across rural communities.
Please see billboard photo here:
Unfit to Lead is supported by the national nonpartisan volunteer organization, Veterans for Responsible Leadership (VFRL). The campaign also highlights Trump’s role in inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and his unorthodox ties to foreign dictators like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
VFRL raised funds for Unfit to Lead through people-powered small-dollar donors. The organization helped forge one of America’s largest grassroots veterans collations, which is now calling on both parties to respect the 2024 election results and renounce violent rhetoric.
“With the most consequential election in our lifetimes fast approaching, we wanted to remind Wisconsin voters of Trump’s repeated pattern of disgraceful insults about service and sacrifice to America,” said Ben Dowell, Wisconsin VFRL volunteer and 10-year Army veteran. “He’s a Vietnam-era draft dodger who routinely insults the military and memories of fallen soldiers. He’s unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.”
Wisconsin, home to over 331,000 veterans and 46,000 active-duty and National Guard service members and their families, is a critical battleground this election. The military community will play a major role in the outcome, election pundits have noted, especially with the most recent polls showing Trump’s support among the group has “dropped significantly since 2016.”
“Support for Trump continues to erode because veterans and members of the military find his fake flag-hugging patriotism cheap,” said Dan Barkhuff VFRL founder and former Navy SEAL. “He doesn’t understand honor and service, using us as props when it’s convenient and repeatedly disavowing us when we don’t serve his selfish ends or, god forbid, get injured or killed.”
The group is expanding the Unfit to Lead campaign across Wisconsin and into additional key swing states in the coming weeks.
