By Bill Bartel The Virginian-Pilot May 18, 2012 NORFOLK President Barack Obama's re-election campaign launched a national"Veterans and Military Families for Obama" effort on thecity's waterfront Thursday night, and Republicans countered withnews conferences criticizing the president's record on veteransaffairs. "This president has spent more on veterans than any presidentin the past 30 years," Delaware Attorney General Beau Bidensaid during the rally at Nauticus. Biden, an Iraq War veteran and the son of Vice President Joe Biden,told the crowd of more than 100 people - mostly veterans - thatObama should be credited with increasing the Veterans Affairsbudget, pushing for new incentives for employers to hire returningvets and properly winding down the wars overseas. Rod Diamond, a former Navy officer who leads Obama's outreach toveterans and military voters, said the location of the kickoffspeaks to the competitive race in the commonwealth. "Obviously, a state like Virginia is a critically importantstate with the large military presence," Diamond said."There's no secret to it." Hours before the rally, GOP supporters of the party's presumednominee, Mitt Romney, blamed Obama for a weak economy that hurtsthe job market for returning veterans and for chronic delays atVeterans Affairs in processing vets' claims. "Veterans are having to wait an interminably long period oftime to receive their disability compensation that they need as aresult of their wounds on the battlefield or in training,"said Anthony Principi, who was VA secretary for four years underPresident George W. Bush. The backlog has grown to more than 800,000 claims, Principi, whonow is a Washington lobbyist for a pharmaceutical company, saidduring a conference call with reporters. "We really need tohave a change." Diamond countered that a delay in processing claims existed longbefore the president took office in January 2009. "The president has declared from day one that the goal is tobreak the back of the backlog," Diamond said, noting that theVA has been updating its records system to more quickly processclaims and has hired more claim handlers. Nonpartisan veterans organizations aren't taking sides in thepolitical debate but have noted that the backlog problem hasspanned the tenures of both Democratic and Republican presidents. Bill Bartel, 757-446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Desander , Hydraulic Piling Rig Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit drilling rigs suppliers today!
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