CLW’s veterans’ division endorses Cote

First Congressional District Democratic candidate Adam Cote earned the endorsement Thursday of the Council for a Livable World’s Veterans’ Alliance for Security and Democracy.

Lorin Walker, Vice President of CLW-VETPAC, told the campaign the following in an e-mail:

“On behalf of the Council for a Livable World's Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy (CLW-VETPAC), I am honored to inform you of our decision to endorse your candidacy in the race for Maine's 1st Congressional District.

“Our decision is based, in part, on your responses to a very challenging set of questions posed to you regarding foreign policy, civil liberties and veteran's rights and services. Your responses align very nicely with the positions established by CLW-VETPAC.

“Your status as a veteran was the second factor in our consideration. VETPAC believes that veterans in Congress are more likely than non-veterans to forward cogent foreign and national security policy and maintain their support for veteran's rights and services in the heat of legislative give and take.”

There was a bit of confusion, however. The day before, retired U.S. Gen. John Johns, a board member of the council, appeared with one of Cote’s opponents in the primary, Chellie Pingree, and said the council did not endorse in primary races. They likely would, however, endorse Pingree in the general election.

John Isaacs, a spokesman for the council, said Friday that Johns represented the main division of the council – the Peace-PAC.

The PAC generally does not endorse in primaries, although that’s not set in stone. They endorsed Tom Allen, a current U.S. Representative now running for Senate, last July.

All of the candidates the council has endorsed so far – in both divisions – are Democrats.

The council seeks to inform members of Congress about weapons of mass destruction, nuclear nonproliferation and national security issues. The VETPAC is “an alliance of veterans working with veterans” to protect the security of the country, and also enhance the Democratic process.