Today, Iowa nurse and SEIU member ConnieGallagher sent a "Dear John" letter to Senator John McCain, asking himto give a clear answer at Friday's scheduled presidential debateregarding what victory in Iraq means to him, and when he will bring ourtroops home.

"Dear John,

"Iam a hospital nurse here in Iowa, and I spend my days taking care ofpeople in some of their greatest hours of need.  I care for people whenthey are sick and when they are hurt.  And I also care for theirfamilies who are themselves sick - with worry for their loved ones andanxiety about how they are going to pay for the medical bills.

"Healthcare coverage is critically important to a healthy life and a healthyfamily. You would think that since I am on the front lines ofhealthcare it would be easy for my family to find affordable healthcarecoverage, but this is often not the case.  It was certainly not thecase for my son James.

"James was aplumber's apprentice making $10 an hour with no benefits. He wasfrustrated that after two years he was still making such a low wagewith no healthcare access. One day, he surprised me when he told me hehad joined the National Guard.

"I triedto stop him. I thought he shouldn't give up on a career he had spent solong working on and I was worried about him being sent to Iraq. But hewanted to serve his country--and he'd have access to healthcare.

"Jamesserved 16 months in Iraq. Thank God, he came home to us last August.But one of the major reasons he went to war and put his life on theline was to get healthcare. Nobody's child should face this decision,especially in a war that was started on a lie and has been continuedfor years with no end in sight.

"Therehas been a lot of talk about what success in Iraq looks like. But whatis success for you? When will you bring our sons and daughters home?And what about the money that we are wasting there, that could be usedto fix the problems we all have here?

"Nomother should have to sit up nights like I did worrying if they aregoing to get a knock at the door saying something has happened to theirchild.

"Senator McCain, will you finally stand up and answer these questions for mothers like me?"

Connie'sletter is the sixth in a series of "Dear John" letters SEIU members aresending to Senator McCain in the absence of any policy blueprint fromthe McCain-Palin ticket that puts working families first.  SEIU membersare offering assistance The letters will continue until McCainpersonally meets with members.

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