Michelle Obama asks soldiers & veterans to campaign for her husband

The Obama campaign's "Veterans and Military Families for Obama" is trolling for votes and collecting cash.  Pinning her own campaign message to the ninth anniversary of the war in Iraq, First Lady Michelle Obama has a new web video out asking U.S. soldiers and veterans to help her husband win reelection in November.

“Nine years later, we remember those who gave their lives and honor the sacrifice of all the brave women and men who served our country,” she says. “In 2008, Barack made a promise that as president he would bring the Iraq war to a responsible end. He kept his word.”  She goes on to say that President Obama has done "everything we can" to support military veterans and their families, including increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, ObamaCare and tax credits for businesses that hire wounded service members.

“I hope you’ll join me in standing up for all those who have served,” she says.

WATCH:

Capturing some of the military vote this election will be important for Obama.  According to the Census Bureau, there are approximately 23.4 million military veterans in America. During the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans dominated this demographic, with the majority of their gains in districts with the most veterans.  Moreover, most of these pick-ups required the GOP challenger to defeat a Democratic incumbent.  The GOP currently holds over 3/4 of the 218 congressional districts with large concentrations of active duty military members and veterans.

The challenge for Obama will be convincing military men and women that gutting defense spending is a good idea. (Good luck.)  In the end, the best plan to help America's veterans is a smarter economic policy -- growing the economy, creating jobs and reining government spending all while still providing for the common defense.

Oh, and defacing the flag veterans spend their lives fighting under isn't a good idea either...