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==Rose Garden [[photographic manipulation|photo-op]] [[Bush administration opportunism|props]] with President Bush==

On July 20, 2007, President [[George W. Bush]], who "has relied on veterans for support and credibility" since the [[war in Iraq]] began, met for an hour in the Oval Office<ref>Scott Johnson, [http://powerlineblog.com/archives/018289.php "Lt. H. and Major E. go to the White House,"] ''Power Line'' Blog, July 20, 2007.</ref> "with members of four organizations that formed since the war began to represent Iraq veterans and military families." The group formed the "backdrop<ref>Scott Johnson, [http://powerlineblog.com/archives/018289.php "Lt. H. and Major E. go to the White House,"] ''Power Line'' Blog, July 20, 2007: "others in attendance" included Merrilee Carlson, Ron Griffin, Chief Warrant Officer Pat Ivory, USN (Ret.), Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Terri Ivory, USN (Ret.), Becky Davis, Sergeant [Mark] Seavey, USA National Guard (Ret.).</ref> for a Rose Garden speech in which Bush asked [[Congress]] to let his [[troop surge in Iraq|'surge' strategy]] work and for passage of a defense-spending bill that stalled last week when [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] [[Republican Party|Republicans]] blocked an amendment calling for withdrawal," Cory Reiss wrote July 23, 2007, in Lakeland, Florida's ''The Ledger''.<ref>Cory Reiss, [http://www.theledger.com/article/20070723/NEWS/707230387/1004 "War Effort Relies on Veterans Groups for Support, Credibility,"] ''The Ledger'', July 23, 2007.</ref>