McCain's Partisan Politics and Proposals Fall Flat in Address to Disabled Veterans

[bigtree]

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the Veterans Affairs Department.

The veterans, at Bally’s for their national convention, gave him a tepid reception, especially considering McCain’s life story . . .


. . . veterans, such as James Jewett and Jay Johnson of Texas, expressed misgivings about McCain using the occasion to attack his opponent so fiercely.

Duke Hendershot, a double amputee retired Marine who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s run for president in 2000 but is undecided this year.

“John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” said Hendershot, who lives in San Antonio, Texas. “A lot of that has to do with how he’s wanted this job so bad for so long that he’s tied himself to President Bush.” He said McCain’s embrace of Bush, whom Hendershot called a “draft-dodging coward,” is even more perplexing because of the rivalry between the two candidates during the 2000 campaign.

Hendershot also criticized McCain for taking swipes at Obama in his speech. “He should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent,” he said.

By contrast, he praised Obama for keeping his remarks tightly focused on veterans . . .



Members of Disabled American Veterans wait for McCain to speak. After his talk, just one of 14 vets interviewed by the Sun said he was a certain supporter of McCain, himself a vet and former war prisoner.

full article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/10/mccains-attacks-rival-fall-flat-vets-group/

[tsuki]

1. K&R. This is big news. Disabled Vets keep up with the issues

that affect them most.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd! Duke Hendershot is a wise man; McGrouchy will be lost

if he loses the vet vote. This does not bode well for him. Proof negativism isn't embraced by all.

[Pirate Smile]

3. K & R.

[blue sky at night]

4. sorry, but I don't buy it...........

vets far and away supported the assholes in Office NOW; remember bu$h/cheney? I think they will support johnny the same way, critical thinking should lead anyone to vote the other way, but these guys consistently vote repuke.

[bigtree]

6. we need their votes and we'll get votes like these critics'

. . . the more McCain attaches him to Bush

[madokie]

5. well this one here is not going to be voting for the war hero, never was actually

To me I do not put mcCain't on a pedistal because if I do it only would take from what I feel for all my other Vietnam sisters, brothers and myself.

[Hekate]

7. Vets I know, disabled and otherwise, think McCain is a jerk...

... But then they would. They're VFP. :hi:

Hekate