The Quiet Veteran: McCain's Troubling Positions for Veterans
View my blog: www.projectilepolitics.blogspot.com
It is clear that John McCain is using his status as a veteran as one of his qualifications for President. He touts this as an indication that he is strong on foreign affairs and constantly refers to the fact that he was a POW. McCain's service in an unpopular war should be praised. But there is a troubling trend in his stances on veterans issues after he returned from Vietnam. These stances led the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to give McCain a "D" on their Senate Report Card, the second lowest of all 100 senators. (Barack Obama received a "B"). Here is a list of Senator McCain's positions on Veterans Issues over the years:
But if he wants to flaunt his veteran record, then he should start voting for policies that help veterans rather than leave them in the dust like an arrogant-come-successful high school classmate.
It is clear that John McCain is using his status as a veteran as one of his qualifications for President. He touts this as an indication that he is strong on foreign affairs and constantly refers to the fact that he was a POW. McCain's service in an unpopular war should be praised. But there is a troubling trend in his stances on veterans issues after he returned from Vietnam. These stances led the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to give McCain a "D" on their Senate Report Card, the second lowest of all 100 senators. (Barack Obama received a "B"). Here is a list of Senator McCain's positions on Veterans Issues over the years:
- McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care.
- McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans' Benefits, Including Healthcare.
- McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans.
- McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs.
- McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs.
- McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs.
- McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding.
- McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs.
- McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders.
- McCain opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care.
- McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans' Care.
- McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs.
- McCain Opposed the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Was Too Generous.
But if he wants to flaunt his veteran record, then he should start voting for policies that help veterans rather than leave them in the dust like an arrogant-come-successful high school classmate.
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View my blog: www.projectilepolitics.blogspot.com
October 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's service in an unpopular war should be praised.
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STOP repeating the Republican LIES:
1. US involvement in Vietnam was ILLEGAL.
2. EVERYTHING based upon and flowing from that ILLEGALITY was ALSO illegal.
3. McCain, unlike some, VOLUNTEERED to advance that ILLEGALITY.
4. ILLEGALITY is NOT to be praised, else we make excuses for "Joe the Plumber" (whose real name is Samuel) who doesn't have a plumber's license -- that is ILLEGAL -- and owes back taxes, which somehow justifies his also being a LIAR about his income, his plans to buy a business he cannot afford, and about Obama and his tax proposals.
And LIES against Social Security in exactly the same way as the traditional enemies of the vast majority, and FDR, continue to do.
McCain was an insufferable, entitled snot then, and remains an insufferable, entitled snot. Stop lying in his behalf by giving him praise he DOES NOT deserve, on either merits or actions.
October 18, 2008 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well jeez. McCain seems to have a superiority complex about his service. Not superiority against non-serving Americans, . . . ."
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Have you LISTENED to his rant about the US losing in Vietnam? It is a rant against the CIVILIAN leadership -- not against the on-the-ground military commanders that fucked up.
Under the CONSTITUTION, our military is TO BE UNDER the CIVILIAN leadership. McCain's same rant is endemic to the far-right lunatic fringe who HATES the fact that the CIVILIAN leadership is in chrage of the military.
The loss was not because of civilian leadership -- which was deliberately mislead by the intelligence and military "leadership" on the ground in Vietnam. It was because the military leadership failed, again and again and again.
And it is because the war COULDN'T be won -- consider the numbers alone: one-half million US troops "up against" multiple millions of Asians.
McLame is pissed because he didn't come out of a LEGITMATE war as a LEGITIMATE hero whose entitled ass was ever after kissed by the world.
Fuck McFake: tell the truth without "softening" it by interweaving his lies.
October 18, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyway.. also McCain's vote against the Webb amendment, which would merely have called for responsible deployment cycles for the men and women who serve in todays military
October 19, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is there an Obama/Biden ad that addresses McCain's voting record?
October 19, 2008 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) gave McCain a "D" on veterans affairs.
http://www.veteranreportcard.org/
IAVA's Executive Director, Paul Rieckhoff, posted here on TPM about veterans benefits recently.
I do not understand why this issue has not received more attention. Schieffer did not ask one question about veterans affairs in the last debate.
Somehow McCain's hypocrisy and negligence on veterans issues must get out - but how?
October 19, 2008 6:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
mcShame seems to have contempt for everyone.
October 19, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink