Cleland

<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading"></h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">2002</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Cleland ad causes trouble for Chambliss</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">By ANDY BARR 11/12/<b>2008</b> 05:34 PM EST</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">With Sen. John McCain returning to the campaign trail on Thursday on stump for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss in his runoff race in Georgia, Democrats are reminding voters and donors of a<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">controversial ad aired by Chambliss in the heated final weeks of the 2002 campaign that shows pictures of Democratic Sen. Max Cleland, a triple-amputee from wounds suffered during his service in Vietnam, just after shots of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.</span></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The ad — which has a voice-over warning that, "As Americans face terrorists and extremist dictators, Max Cleland runs television ads saying he has the courage to lead," then lists votes where the Democrat opposed President Bush before concluding that "the record proves Max Cleland is just misleading" —<b>helped propel Chambliss to an unexpected victory.</b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"I'd never seen anything like that ad," McCain said at the time of the spot, which was widely condemned by Democrats. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield is "worse than disgraceful," said McCain. "It's reprehensible.”</font></p></h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">=</h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">
</h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">=</h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Max Cleland</h1>

<p><b>Joseph Maxwell "Max" Cleland</b> (1942- ) served as a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party" class="mw-redirect">Democratic</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Senate" title="U.S. Senate">U.S. Senator</a> from the state of Georgia, 1997-2003. <a href="http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001034" class="external autonumber" title="http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001034" rel="nofollow">[1]</a></p>

<ul>

<li>Jefferson Awards Board Member, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Institute_for_Public_Service" title="American Institute for Public Service">American Institute for Public Service</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Records_and_Controversies"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Records and Controversies</span></a>

<ul>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Quotes"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Quotes</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Education"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Education</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Military_Service"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Military Service</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Political_Career"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Political Career</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Political_Slanderings"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Political Slanderings</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Resources_and_articles"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Resources and articles</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#Related_SourceWatch_articles"><span class="tocnumber">8.1</span> <span class="toctext">Related SourceWatch articles</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Max_Cleland#External_articles"><span class="tocnumber">8.2</span> <span class="toctext">External articles</span></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Records and Controversies</span></h2>

<p>Cleland voted for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Iraq" title="Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq" class="mw-redirect">Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq</a> in Oct. 2002.</p>

<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;"><span>For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Senate_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War">U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War</a>.</span></div>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Quotes</span></h2>

<ul>

<li>"The president has declared 'major combat over' and sent a message to every terrorist, 'Bring them on.' As a result, he has lost more people in his war than his father did in his and there is no end in sight [...] Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President. Sorry you didn't go when you had the chance." <a href="http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/18cleland.html" class="external text" title="http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/18cleland.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Atlanta Journal-Constitution</i>, 9/18/03</a>.</li>

</ul>

<p>According to <a href="http://www.american.edu/" class="external text" title="http://www.american.edu/" rel="nofollow">American University</a>'s web site, "former U.S. Senator <b>Max Cleland</b>, who got his start in Washington by participating in American University's Washington Semester program in 1963 as a student, has returned as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor to AU's Washington Semester Program, and to serve as a Fellow in AU's Center for Congressional & Presidential Studies." <a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>

In 2002, "Cleland was appointed to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Commission_on_Terrorist_Attacks_Upon_the_United_States" title="National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States">National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States</a>. The Commission [is tasked with examining] the facts and causes relating to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=September_11,_2001" title="September 11, 2001">September 11, 2001</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Terrorist_attack&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Terrorist attack (page does not exist)">terrorist attacks</a>, and will report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent future acts of terrorism. Cleland is an advocate for a National Division for Bio-terrorism Readiness and Response at the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention" title="Centers for Disease Control and Prevention">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> in Atlanta." <a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" rel="nofollow">[3]</a>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Education</span></h2>

<ul>

<li>Lithonia (GA) High School, 1960</li>

<li>Stetson University, Deland, FL, 1964; majored in History; holds Honorary Doctorate</li>

<li>Emory University, Masters Degree in American History, 1965; holds Honorary Doctorate</li>

</ul>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Military Service</span></h2>

<ul>

<li>Army ROTC; Stetson University</li>

<li>U.S. Army 1965-1968; Commisioned Second Lieutenant and promoted to Captain 1968</li>

<li>Airborne, Ft. Benning, Georgia</li>

<li>Aide de Camp, Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey</li>

<li>Volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1967</li>

<li>Wounded in grenade explosion April 8, 1968 (lost both legs and right arm)</li>

<li>Recovered from injuries "in various Army and Veterans Administration hospitals"</li>

<li>Awarded Bronze Star and Silver Star</li>

</ul>

<p>"Cleland volunteered as communications officer for 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, which had been chosen for <a href="http://www.vietnam-war.info/battles/operation_pegasus.php" class="external text" title="http://www.vietnam-war.info/battles/operation_pegasus.php" rel="nofollow">Operation Pegasus</a> - the relief of <a href="http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/khe/index.html" class="external text" title="http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/khe/index.html" rel="nofollow">Khe Sanh</a> - in April 1968. CPT Cleland was on a mountaintop with his Signal team to set up a radio relay when he lost his legs and right arm to a grenade explosion. For Khe Sanh he received the Bronze Star for meritorious service and Silver Star for gallantry in action." <a href="http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/rdiv/REGTNCO/cleland.asp" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/rdiv/REGTNCO/cleland.asp" rel="nofollow">[8]</a></p>

<p>

The awards of star medals appear unrelated to the grenade explosion accident which caused hs injuries. The Silver Star Medal Citation references action on 4 April. The grenade explosion was on 8 April.

<b>Silver Star Medal Citation</b><a href="http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Testimony&TestimonyID=416&HearingID=83" class="external autonumber" title="http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Testimony&TestimonyID=416&HearingID=83" rel="nofollow">[9]</a></p>

<dl>

<dd>Captain Cleland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 April 1968 … during an enemy attack near Khe Sanh.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>When the battalion command post came under a heavy enemy rocket and mortar attack, Captain Cleland, disregarding his own safety, exposed himself to the rocket barrage as he left his covered position to administer first aid to his wounded comrades. He then assisted in moving the injured personnel to covered positions.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>Continuing to expose himself, Captain Cleland organized his men into a work party to repair the battalion communications equipment, which had been damaged by enemy fire.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>His gallant action is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.</dd>

</dl>

<p><b>Grenade Explosion Accident</b>. In his own words, <a href="http://www.josephsoninstitute.org/poc/cleland.htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.josephsoninstitute.org/poc/cleland.htm" rel="nofollow">[10]</a></p>

<dl>

<dd>On April 8, 1968, I volunteered for one last mission. The helicopter moved in low. The troops jumped out with M16 rifles in hand as we crouched low to the ground to avoid the helicopter blades. Then I saw the grenade. It was where the chopper had lifted off. It must be mine, I thought. Grenades had fallen off my web gear before. Shifting the M16 to my left hand and holding it behind me, I bent down to pick up the grenade. A blinding explosion threw me backwards.</dd>

</dl>

<p><b>Veterans Affairs</b>

"In 1969, Cleland was asked to testify before the United States Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to describe the difficulties veterans were experiencing returning home from Vietnam. The next year, Cleland was elected to the Georgia State Senate, thus beginning a 33-year career in public service. As the youngest member of the Georgia Senate at the age of 28, he wrote the state law making public facilities in the state accessible to the elderly and the handicapped." <a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" rel="nofollow">[11]</a>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Political Career</span></h2>

<ul>

<li>Georgia State Senate, 1971-1975 <a href="http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001034" class="external autonumber" title="http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001034" rel="nofollow">[12]</a></li>

</ul>

<p>In 1975, Cleland was hired to work for the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Two years later, President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jimmy_Carter" title="Jimmy Carter" class="mw-redirect">Jimmy Carter</a> appointed him to head the U.S. Veterans Administration. As the youngest ever VA Administrator and the first Vietnam veteran to head the agency, Cleland instituted the revolutionary 'Vets Center' program which, for the first time, offered psychological counseling to combat veterans to heal the emotional wounds of war. There are now more than 200 Vets Centers across the country offering support to combat and non-combat veterans and their families." <a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" rel="nofollow">[13]</a></p>

<ul>

<li>Consultant to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs 1975</li>

<li>Professional Senate staff member 1975-1977</li>

<li>Administrator of United States Veterans Administration 1977-1981</li>

</ul>

<p>"In 1982, Georgia voters elected him Secretary of State, the youngest in Georgia?s history. In that position, Cleland fought for tougher campaign finance laws and cracked down on securities and telemarketing fraud. In 1995, he implemented the National Voter Registration Act ('motor voter') in Georgia, which added almost one million new voters to the rolls. In 1995, he resigned his position as Secretary of State to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sam_Nunn" title="Sam Nunn">Sam Nunn</a>. Despite being out-spent three to one, Cleland won the race and was sworn-in to the United States Senate in 1997." <a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/ccps/faculty/clelandm.html" rel="nofollow">[14]</a></p>

<ul>

<li>Secretary of State 1982-1996</li>

<li>United States Senate 1996; served January 7, 1997 to January 3, 2003</li>

<li>Unsuccessful candidate for reelection November 4, 2002</li>

</ul>

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Political Slanderings</span></h2>

<p>Max Cleland lost the 2002 general election to Republican Saxby Chambliss. A key element in that loss was a negative ad that challenged Cleland's votes in Congress on the formation of the Department of Homeland Security.

The text of the ad is as follows:</p>

<dl>

<dd>"As America faces terrorists and extremist dictators, Max Cleland runs television ads claiming he has the courage to lead.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>"He says he supports President Bush at every opportunity, but that's not the truth."</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>"Since July, Max Cleland voted against President Bush's vital homeland security efforts 11 times."</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>"But the record proves, Max Cleland is just misleading."</dd>

</dl>

<p>The issue in 2002 was civil service protections for Homeland Security employees, which Bush opposed and Cleland supported. The ad failed to point out that Cleland supported the creation of a Department of Homeland Security <i>before</i> Bush did. Cleland originally co-sponsored the enabling legislation and eventually supported it, but as the bill moved through Congress, he cast a number of votes against it in hopes of getting a better bill. The Republican attack ads made it look as though Cleland was voting against Homeland Security itself, and one TV ad morphed Cleland's face into Saddam Hussein's while suggesting that Cleland was indifferent to the safety of the American people. This ad was so disgusting that Republican Sens. Hagel and McCain both protested it]</p>

<p>

In February 2004, "vitriolic right-wing ideologue" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ann_Coulter" title="Ann Coulter">Ann Coulter</a> wrote that Cleland should not be referred to as a war hero, as he had lost his limbs in a routine non-combat misssion. Regardless of the exact circumstances of the explosion, or its non-relation to the prior battles for which the stars were given, it is worth noting that Cleland was awarded a Silver Star "for gallantry in action" at the battle of Khe Sanh.

<h2><span class="mw-headline">Resources and articles</span></h2>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">Related SourceWatch articles</span></h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush_administration_smear_campaigns" title="Bush administration smear campaigns">Bush administration smear campaigns</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Forbes_Kerry" title="John Forbes Kerry">John Forbes Kerry</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Operation_Iraqi_Freedom:_Military_and_Political_Dissent" title="Operation Iraqi Freedom: Military and Political Dissent" class="mw-redirect">Operation Iraqi Freedom: Military and Political Dissent</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.presidential_election,2004" title="U.S. presidential election, 2004">U.S. presidential election, 2004</a></li>

</ul>

<h3><span class="mw-headline">External articles</span></h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.mentata.com/ds/retrieve/congress/person/Max+Cleland" class="external text" title="http://www.mentata.com/ds/retrieve/congress/person/Max+Cleland" rel="nofollow">Max Cleland's Congressional Voting Record</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.clw.org/election/2002profiles/cleland.html" class="external text" title="http://www.clw.org/election/2002profiles/cleland.html" rel="nofollow">Max Cleland 2002 Profile</a> (Reelection Campaign), <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_a_Livable_World" title="Council for a Livable World">Council for a Livable World</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.issues2002.org/Senate/Max_Cleland.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.issues2002.org/Senate/Max_Cleland.htm" rel="nofollow">Max Cleland</a> <i>On the Issues</i> 2002.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_cleland.html" class="external text" title="http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_cleland.html" rel="nofollow">Frank Sesno talks with Max Cleland. More on the 9-11 Commission</a> (Interview), <i>NOW</i>/PBS, July 25, 2003.</li>

<li>Max Cleland, <a href="http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/18cleland.html" class="external text" title="http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/18cleland.html" rel="nofollow">Mistakes of Vietnam repeated with Iraq</a>, <i>Atlanta Journal-Constitution</i>, September 18, 2003. <a href="http://www.truthout.com/docs_03/printer_092003E.shtml" class="external text" title="http://www.truthout.com/docs_03/printer_092003E.shtml" rel="nofollow">Also here</a>.</li>

<li>Max Cleland, <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/09/22/cleland/index_np.html" class="external text" title="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/09/22/cleland/index_np.html" rel="nofollow">"Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President"</a>, <i>Salon</i>, September 22, 2003: "In a scathing critique of the Iraq war, former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland compares President Bush to Lyndon Johnson -- and blasts his lack of service in Vietnam."</li>

<li>W. David Kubiak, <a href="http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/21097.php" class="external text" title="http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/21097.php" rel="nofollow">Daschle PNACkles 'Commission Incredible'. Top Dem Mis-Kerrey's National 9/11 Probe</a>, <i>Houston Indymedia</i>, December 20, 2003: "December 9th, two days after the 52nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the National 9/11 Commission itself was hit without warning by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_Daschle" title="Tom Daschle">Tom Daschle</a>'s bombshell appointment of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a> hawk <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bob_Kerrey" title="Bob Kerrey">Bob Kerrey</a> to replace Max Cleland."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ann_Coulter" title="Ann Coulter">Ann Coulter</a>, <a href="http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20040212.shtml" class="external text" title="http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20040212.shtml" rel="nofollow">"Cleland Drops a political grenade"</a>, <i><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Townhall.com" title="Townhall.com">Townhall.com</a></i>, February 12, 2004.</li>

<li>Joe Conason, <a href="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=16458" class="external text" title="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=16458" rel="nofollow">"Vile Ann Coulter Smears a War Hero"</a>, <i>New York Observer</i>, February 18, 2004.</li>

<li>Joseph Galloway, <a href="http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/editorial/8052847.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/editorial/8052847.htm" rel="nofollow">True Vietnam-era hero is not on a presidential ballot</a>, <i>Sun Herald</i> (Mississippi), February 27, 2004.</li>

<li>SilentPatriot, <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/12/cleland-to-cheney-where-the-hell-were-you-in-the-vietnam-war/" class="external text" title="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/12/cleland-to-cheney-where-the-hell-were-you-in-the-vietnam-war/" rel="nofollow">"Cleland to Cheney: 'Where the hell were you in the Vietnam War?'"</a> <i>Crooks and Liars</i>, March 12, 2007. re <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dick_Cheney" title="Dick Cheney">Dick Cheney</a></li>

</ul>

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<p style=" font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/23/1163626/-GA-Sen-Don-t-Applaud-Saxby-Chambliss-R#">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/23/1163626/-GA-Sen-Don-t-Applaud-Saxby-Chambliss-R#</a></p>

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<span style=" color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(246, 243, 236); display: inline !important; float: none;">after losing his U.S. Senate seat to an opponent who ran post-9/11 TV ads that showed the decorated Vietnam vet alongside Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, Cleland fell into a depression he was afraid he might not pull out of. It was public service, he says, that had given his life shape and meaning after he left three limbs on a battlefield in Khe Sanh. But without that role, the old darkness came back. Along with his job and his bearings, he lost his relationship with his fiancée. "That's emotionally and physically over,'' he told me. "That's gone.'' And for a time, he was once again a patient at Walter Reed, where he'd first been put back together nearly four decades earlier – and was now surrounded by vets from Iraq and Afghanistan: "I cried uncontrollably for 2 ½ years.'' - Politics Daily, 2009</span></p>

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