John McCain has been projecting himself as a Vietnam war hero (which he is, but may run into some
527 storms on that issue). That's his brand....his bio.
So as one would assume with such a political identity, you'd think that he would stand with a strong record supporting fellow veterans. Well, just as you'd think he's a "maverick" who has actually embraced the Bush policies for the last 8 years (which makes him
not a maverick), his record for helping veterans is actually disappointing and some would say
shameful.
To illustrate just how McCain has essentially thrown veterans under the bus in the past years, consider this:
During a March 2005 Senate budget debate, McCain voted to kill an amendment that would have "increase
veterans medical care by $2.8 billion in 2006." That amendment lacked an assured funding stream, but lest one mistake this incident for a maverick's stance against budget-busting, there's more. Just a year later McCain voted against an amendment that would have "increase Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes." Two days after it failed, he voted to kill "an assured stream of funding for veterans' health care that take into account the annual changes in the veterans' population and inflation to be paid for by restoring the pre-2001 top rate for income over $1 million, closing corporate tax loopholes and delaying tax cuts for the wealthy." That amendment died quietly, forty-six to fifty-four.
In September 2006 McCain voted to table an amendment to a Defense appropriations bill that would have prevented the department from contracting out support services at Walter Reed. The amendment was indeed tabled--by a vote of fifty to forty-eight, the sort of margin a true veterans' senator might have been able to flip if he really cared about veterans' healthcare.
"John McCain voted against veterans in 2004, '05, '06 and '07," says Jeffrey David Cox, who spent twenty-two years as a VA nurse before moving to the American Federation of Government Employees, where he serves as secretary-treasurer (AFGE represents employees of several federal agencies, including the VA). Cox is right. Under Bush, McCain has voted for measures that target so-called Priority-7 and Priority-8 veterans (those whose injuries are not service-related and whose incomes are above a low minimum threshold) for annual fees, higher co-pays and even suspended enrollment. Priority-7 veterans without dependents earn more than $24,644 annually. Priority-8 veterans without dependents earn an annual minimum of $27,790.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080602/beutlerBarack Obama questioned John McCain's apparent need to fundraise in a California country club over voting for the GI Bill, which passed on May 22, 2008. McCain, known for his outbursts, fired back at Obama with what many considered a cheap shot:
It started with Sen. Barack Obama’s comments on the Senate floor in support of the education benefits that later were approved in a bipartisan vote. He said he couldn’t understand why Sen. John McCain would “line up with the president” against the legislation. “I could not disagree more with him and our president on this issue,” Obama said.
McCain, who did not return to Washington for the vote, called Obama’s remarks “typical” and “offensive” in a statement.
McCain added: “I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did…If that is how he would behave as president, the country would regret his election.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/05/22/mccain-obama-spar-over-veterans-benefits/McCain appears at odds with veterans being able to attain an education. He thinks that too many soldiers will take advantage of the situation:
"Transferability supports military families, thereby enhancing retention," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., recently.
The Webb bill, Gates suggested, wouldn't encourage retention.
"This is not World War II we're fighting. This is not Vietnam," Graham said. "This is a global struggle with an all-volunteer force. And anything we can do to help retain people, I think, would be great."
But that's the point, Webb argues: This isn't like past wars. He estimates that roughly three of every four Marines and Army personnel leave after a single four-year enlistment — the people, he says, who "answered the call" and should be rewarded.
Webb is at the forefront of a parade that includes not only the Democratic presidential candidates, but also a lot of key members of Congress and veterans' groups. Last month, they rallied in front of the Capitol, where backers wore buttons saying, "Leave No Veteran Behind."
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/36929.htmlObama has gotten the approval from many veterans groups for his support:
Supporters of Webb and Hagel's bill dismiss McCain's concerns about the retention issue. While the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would cause a 16% drop in re-enlistment rates across all four branches of the military, the same study also predicts a 16% uptick in new recruits attracted by the benefit. The bill has 58 co-sponsors, including none other than Obama — just two shy of a veto-proof majority. It was passed last week by the House with a comfortable veto-proof majority, but as an amendment to the emergency war supplemental, it could be altered as the two chambers hammer out differences between the two versions. McCain's office is confident that in the reconciliation process a compromise can be worked out. "We're negotiating in good faith and we think they are as well. We want to do something for veterans. We're really working hard to accomplish our goal," said Mark Buse, McCain's Senate chief of staff.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1808161,00.htmlTo give full perspective on McCain's dreadful voting record for veterans, look at these ratings:
2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 20 percent in 2006.
2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of D.
2006 Senator McCain sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.
2005 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 25 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.
2003 Senator McCain supported the interests of the The American Legion 50 percent in 2003.
2001 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 46 percent in 2001.
1999 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 66 percent in 1999.
1997-1998 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 0 percent in 1997-1998.
1989-1990 On the votes that the Vietnam Veterans of America considered to be the most important in 1989-1990 , Senator McCain voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53270&type=category&category=66&go.x=14&go.y=11A war hero perhaps... a supporter of fellow veterans... not so much. Keep this in mind this Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I'm sure he'll be flanked with American flags and veterans... look at his record and not his flag pin.
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