McCain Defends GI Bill Opposition In Memorial Day Speech

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — John McCain on Monday defended his plan for veterans' college benefits, as both the war hero and Democratic rival Barack Obama reached out to veterans on the Memorial Day holiday.

The issue has become a point of contention between the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting and Obama, the Democratic frontrunner who has slammed McCain for opposing a measure in the Senate. The two have squared off from a distance in recent days, at times with heated words.

Meanwhile, Obama's longshot rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Rodham Clinton, continued to campaign Monday in Puerto Rico. The U.S. territory's primary on June 1 is one of just three left as the intense battle for the Democratic race begun in January winds down.

In his remarks Monday, McCain made no direct mention of Obama but seemed to poke at him nonetheless. McCain said his was the right position rather than the politically expedient one, suggesting Obama was on the wrong side of the measure sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/26/mccain-defends-gi-bill-op_n_103594.html

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[sakabatou]

1. Remember kids...

War isn't about fucking over the enemy. It's about about fucking over your own soldiers.

[stray cat]

2. McCain wants increasing scholarship amounts based on length of service

However, McCain said he opposed Webb's measure because it would give the same benefit to everyone regardless of how many times he or she has enlisted. He said he feared that would depress reenlistments by those wanting to attend college after only a few years in uniform. McCain said the bill he favored would have increased scholarships based on length of service.

[saigon68]

5. would depress reenlistments

This Guy is beyond the pale.

He needs to go back to the Hanoi Hilton for more "Re-Education"

[JeanGrey]

18. As much as I dislike McCain, that comment is disgusting

and for shame you should say it. NO ONE should go back to the "Hanoi Hilton".

[saigon68]

19. Get a life

The man is bat shit crazy.

Tell that to the parents of the children Gangster Cheney and the rest of the criminals are killing tonight.

And by the way tell it to the AWOL Chimpanzee who has his own version of the Hilton this new lobotomized War Criminal apparently intends to Maintain for 100 years

[AlinPA]

6. More people would enlist to get the benefit. When Bush** goes into Iran,

they would need a draft and they are afraid it would cost too much.

[Doctor_J]

3. "The war hero and his rival"????

I don't remember any phrases like that in 2004. Bis Media whoring for the Repukes again.

[magellan]

4. McCain thinks this bill will encourage personnel to leave after a single 3-year stint

Seems to me the GOP already has a way of retaining personnel who have the silly idea that you need only serve for what you sign up for. It's called STOP-LOSS.

[Happyhippychick]

7. Completely INAPPROPRIATE to use this holiday for a political platform.

What a tool.

[PSPS]

8. "the war hero and Democratic rival Barack Obama"

John McCain on Monday defended his plan for veterans' college benefits, as both the war hero and Democratic rival Barack Obama reached out to veterans on the Memorial Day holiday.

Gee, no bias there at the AP!

[HawkerHurricane]

10. War hero?

Getting your butt shot down and captured makes you a war hero? Funny that winning a silver star, three bronze stars, and three purple hearts made you a coward, eh?

[annabanana]

11. Rupert Murdoch is on the board of AP now. . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/14/murdoch-zell-appointed-to_n_96566.html

[superconnected]

13. good point, another blatant example of how slanted this journalist was.

[defendandprotect]

9. What I don't understand is how they are managing to HIDE that they have destroyed the military . .??

The corporate-media doesn't mention it so I guess only the soldiers and liberals know --- ?????

Another taboo subject like Bush bankrupting the Treasury ---

[superconnected]

12. What a horribly slanted article, it wouldn't come out and SAY mccain

is against the GI bill. Instead it did a shoddy job tap dancing around that and then changed the focus to Hillary.

[still_one]

14. Didn't Hagel cosponser that bill, and wasn't Hagel a Viet Nam war vet

wasn't there a majority in Congress many veterns who also voted for it?

mccain is so full of shit, look at his record. He has voted against most benefits to veterns if they cost money

[Sam Ervin jret]

15. Did McAssh0!e happen to explain his other votes against vet benefits?

For example there is his May 2006 vote against an amendment providing 20 billion to the department of veteran affairs medical facilities. Then of course in April 2006 he was one of only 13 senators to vote against 430 million for VA outpatient care and treatment for vets.

I could go on but why burst the "John McShame is for vets and don't dare question him he was a POW" bubble which the McShameful camp have so carefully crafted and the media have so disgracefully been accomplice to.

(we need a new emoticon for when we're being jerked around - again)

[FREEWILL56]

17. How about this?

:freak:
close enough?

[VP505]

16. According to Project Vote Smart :

Voting record on all issues: http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53270

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.

2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 100 percent in 2003-2004.

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=10

For a Veteran, his voting record on Military and Veteran Issues is pretty pathetic!