Jon Soltz
Encyclopedia
Jon Soltz served as a United States Army
Captain in the Iraq War and served as the chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org
, before taking a leave of absence for a year beginning in 2011, while deployed as part of Operation New Dawn (Iraq). As a member of the army, he served in both the Kosovo Campaign (2000) and later in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). Soltz was an outspoken critic of Operation Iraqi Freedom and its execution.
, Soltz graduated from Washington & Jefferson College
in 1999 where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and majored in Political Science and History. He has completed graduate-level
work at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
.
He was commissioned in 1999 from the University of Pittsburgh Army ROTC and attended the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following his graduation he was stationed in Germany from 1999-2003. Between June and December 2000, he served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the Kosovo War. Between May and September 2003, he served as a Captain during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he worked deployed logistics convoys with the 1st Armored Division
. In 2005, he trained soldiers for combat at Fort Dix in New Jersey
. He took a leave of absence from VoteVets.org in Jan 2011, to deploy as part of Operation New Dawn (Iraq), but stated he expects to be back in 2012, to resume his position as Chairman. Until that time, Ashwin Madia
, an Iraq War Veteran, and one time candidate for Congress has assumed the role of Interim Chairman.
Soltz volunteered for the John Kerry presidential campaign
in 2004. Regarding his personal political views, Soltz told The Washington Post
in 2007 that "I'm a conservative" and that he opposed the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
because "I don't think 20,000 more troops is Democratic, I don't think 20,000 troops is Republican. I think it's stupid."
and the Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC. He has been interviewed by the Associated Press
, Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times
, Time
magazine, Newsweek
. He has appeared on NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN
, MSNBC
, Fox News Channel
, ABC News
, Nightline
, Air America Radio
, The Ed Schultz Show
, and The Bill Press Show.
and Vice President Dick Cheney
"draft dodgers" in a news conference on Capitol Hill. He also accused Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
of "aiding the enemy."
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Captain in the Iraq War and served as the chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org
VoteVets.org
VoteVets.org is organized as a non-partisan political action committee and non-profit 501 status in the United States. It was co-founded in 2006 by Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard....
, before taking a leave of absence for a year beginning in 2011, while deployed as part of Operation New Dawn (Iraq). As a member of the army, he served in both the Kosovo Campaign (2000) and later in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). Soltz was an outspoken critic of Operation Iraqi Freedom and its execution.
Military service and background
A native of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Soltz graduated from Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
in 1999 where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and majored in Political Science and History. He has completed graduate-level
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
work at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs is one of 17 schools comprising the University of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1957 to study national and international public administration, GSPIA contains several highly ranked programs...
.
He was commissioned in 1999 from the University of Pittsburgh Army ROTC and attended the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following his graduation he was stationed in Germany from 1999-2003. Between June and December 2000, he served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the Kosovo War. Between May and September 2003, he served as a Captain during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he worked deployed logistics convoys with the 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
. In 2005, he trained soldiers for combat at Fort Dix in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He took a leave of absence from VoteVets.org in Jan 2011, to deploy as part of Operation New Dawn (Iraq), but stated he expects to be back in 2012, to resume his position as Chairman. Until that time, Ashwin Madia
Ashwin Madia
Jigar Ashwin Madia, known as Ashwin Madia , is an American attorney and Iraq War veteran who ran for the United States Congress in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2008...
, an Iraq War Veteran, and one time candidate for Congress has assumed the role of Interim Chairman.
Soltz volunteered for the John Kerry presidential campaign
John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004
The Presidential Campaign of John Kerry, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and the nominee of the Democratic Party challenged Republican incumbent President George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election on November 2, 2004. Ultimately, Kerry conceded defeat in the race in a telephone call to Bush...
in 2004. Regarding his personal political views, Soltz told The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
in 2007 that "I'm a conservative" and that he opposed the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
because "I don't think 20,000 more troops is Democratic, I don't think 20,000 troops is Republican. I think it's stupid."
Media appearances
He has been a frequent contributor to numerous shows, including Countdown with Keith OlbermannCountdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
and the Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC. He has been interviewed by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
. He has appeared on NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, Nightline
Nightline
Nightline, or ABC News Nightline is a late-night news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs weeknights, usually for 31 minutes. Created by Roone Arledge, the program featured Ted Koppel as its main...
, Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
, The Ed Schultz Show
The Ed Schultz Show
The Ed Schultz Show is a radio program hosted by Ed Schultz. It was formerly broadcast from KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota. It is heard on a network of over 100 stations , including seven of the 10 largest radio markets...
, and The Bill Press Show.
Remarks about Republicans
In his role as chairman of VoteVets.org, Soltz called President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
"draft dodgers" in a news conference on Capitol Hill. He also accused Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
of "aiding the enemy."
See also
- General John BatisteJohn BatisteMajor General John Batiste is a retired officer of the United States Army.John Batiste was commissioned as an infantry officer from West Point and served in five US Army heavy divisions over the next 31 years...
- VoteVets.orgVoteVets.orgVoteVets.org is organized as a non-partisan political action committee and non-profit 501 status in the United States. It was co-founded in 2006 by Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard....
- A Responsible Plan to End the War in IraqA Responsible Plan to End the War in IraqA Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq is a 36-page plan created by a group of United States Democratic congressional candidates, retired military officers and national security professionals that outlines policy measures that the candidates pledged to support in the 2008 elections.The plan's...
- Global Zero (campaign)Global Zero (campaign)Global Zero is an international initiative launched in December 2008 to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons. It proposes a phased withdrawal and verification for the destruction of all devices held by official and unofficial members of the nuclear club...