May 28 2008
McCain touts his popularity with veterans’ organizations…not quite, sir
Last week three senators failed to appear to vote on the new GI bill that presented to the Senate by Virginia Senator Jim Webb. One had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor, one was at a funeral and the other, well, he was busy at a fundraiser for his presidential campaign. On the Senate floor, Barack Obama (who did bother to show up to vote, along with Senator Clinton) cited McCain’s opposition to this new GI bill, criticizing this stance. McCain immediately hit back with a press release, calling Obama’s support of the GI bill political posturing for the election season. He then held a press conference stating the following:
As a matter of fact I received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America.
Well, “literally” that doesn’t seem to be quite accurate. Think Progress cites McCain’s failing grades from three significant veteran’s organizations. Here are there findings:
— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain“Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
As I’ve mentioned here before, McCain’s veteran status does not immediately equal support for current military vets and his absence and lack of support on the new GI bill (which passed 75-22 in the Senate, picking up several Republican votes) is just the latest example of this hypocrisy.
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