McCain Does Not Support Our Veterans

[rayboyusmc]

But not that many really, truly know just how horrific his voting record is when it comes to the troops. And it is pretty consistent – whether it is for armor and equipment, for veteran’s health care, for adequate troop rest or anything that actually, you know, supports our troops.

This is chock full of links to the roll call votes, and the roll call votes have links to the actual underlying bills and amendments. I present this so that there is support and things that can be rattled off when saying that McCain is not a friend of the military. Feel free to use it as you want, but this can be tied into the "Double Talk Express". But here is a very quick statement - John McCain skipped close to a dozen votes on Iraq, and on at least another 10 occasions, he voted against arming and equipping the troops, providing adequate rest for the troops between deployments and for health care or other benefits for veterans.

In mid 2007, Senator Reid noted that McCain missed 10 of the past 14 votes on Iraq. However, here is a summary of a dozen votes (two that he missed and ten that he voted against) with respect to Iraq, funding for veterans or for troops, including equipment and armor. I have also included other snippets related to the time period when the vote occurred.

September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments. At the time, nearly 65% of people polled in a CNN poll indicted that "things are going either moderately badly or very badly in Iraq.

July 2007: McCain voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq. At the time, an ABC poll found that 63% thought the invasion was not worth it, and a CBS News poll found that 72% of respondents wanted troops out within 2 years.

March 2007: McCain was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all combat troops within one year. Around this time, an NBC News poll found that 55% of respondents indicated that the US goal of achieving victory in Iraq is not possible. This number has not moved significantly since then.

February 2007: For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote against a resolution condemning it. However, at the time a CNN poll found that only 16% of respondents wanted to send more troops to Iraq (that number has since declined to around 10%), while 60% said that some or all should be withdrawn. This number has since gone up to around 70%.

June 2006: McCain voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so.

May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.

April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.

March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.

March 2004: McCain once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans' needs.

October 2003: McCain voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.

April 2003: McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.

August 2001: McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000. To his credit, he also voted against the 2001 Bush tax cuts, which he now supports making permanent, despite the dire financial condition this country is in, and despite the fact that he indicated in 2001 that these tax cuts unfairly benefited the very wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

So there it is. John McCain is yet another republican former military veteran who likes to talk a big game when it comes to having the support of the military. Yet, time and time again, he has gone out of his way to vote against the needs of those who are serving in our military. If he can’t even see his way to actually doing what the troops want, or what the veterans need, and he doesn’t have the support of veterans, then how can he be a credible commander in chief?

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/articleid/9559

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Ohh look that anti american Lt Col Mustard has returned to spew lies and misinformation on these boards again. Whats wrong? Get booted from what ever board you were hiding on the last few months? They get tired of your crap and can your ass?

 

[rayboyusmc]

What is it like to live with you head up your ass so far?

Glad you are still your happy little self.

I have never been kicked off a board? Have you?

I missed the feeling of superiority I got everytime I read one of your posts.

 

[rayboyusmc]

anti american Lt Col Mustard

That's right, if you don't agree with retired, you are anti american.

What bullshit. But I guess calling people who don't agree with you unpatriotic is one of yours and McCain's thing.

 

[busara]

Ohh look that anti american Lt Col Mustard has returned to spew lies and misinformation on these boards again. Whats wrong? Get booted from what ever board you were hiding on the last few months? They get tired of your crap and can your ass?

damn RGS, why dont you act like an adult and show the posted information is wrong instead of attacking the guy who posted?

grow up, and watch your blood pressure

 

[Gunny]

damn RGS, why dont you act like an adult and show the posted information is wrong instead of attacking the guy who posted?

grow up, and watch your blood pressure

That's not too hard to do. This si just another case of one of the more uber-leftwingnut, anything to the right of him haters posting his usual propaganda. He's posted this same bullshit thread, or a close facsimilie thereof on more than one occasion. Only last time, IIRC, it was Bush-bashing. He's stepped up to McCain-bashing.

Nothing in that bullshit amounts to shit without the specifics of the legislation and the specifics of the votes. No telling what riders were attached to those bills because if one side wants something, you can rest assured the other is going to attach their wants list to it as a rider.

 

[Annie]

That's not too hard to do. This si just another case of one of the more uber-leftwingnut, anything to the right of him haters posting his usual propaganda. He's posted this same bullshit thread, or a close facsimilie thereof on more than one occasion. Only last time, IIRC, it was Bush-bashing. He's stepped up to McCain-bashing.

Nothing in that bullshit amounts to shit without the specifics of the legislation and the specifics of the votes. No telling what riders were attached to those bills because if one side wants something, you can rest assured the other is going to attach their wants list to it as a rider.

Yep, seems like more of the 'present' or absent that Obama did. Let's see, McCain has been in the senate how long? Obama 3 years, whoops, running for 2....

 

[Denny Crane]

McCain might have some problems with veteran groups. We have some pissed off vets that aren't getting the treatment they deserve or require. I don't know the fine print on how he voted yet but at a few of his votes seemed questionable.

I'd like to hear what McCain and Obama both have to say about vet issues.

 

[strollingbones]

if you disgree witht he facts posted, then refute the facts. You can not however so you resorted to name calling. McCain was against webbs reforms of the gi bill also.

 

[Jeepers]

if you disgree witht he facts posted, then refute the facts. You can not however so you resorted to name calling. McCain was against webbs reforms of the gi bill also.

Macs anti military voting record in both indefensible and inexcusable. But you will get nowhere trying to point this out. Unfortunately the ignorance is bliss statement pertains to much to the republican party...

 

[editec]

The military is built on classism, folks. that's why there is the officer (formerly the artisto) class, and the enlisted (formerly peasant) class.

McCain's preference for the upper class is obvious, and to some extent as perfectly natural and right to him as it is repugnant and wrong to many of us.

 

[sealybobo]

McCain might have some problems with veteran groups. We have some pissed off vets that aren't getting the treatment they deserve or require. I don't know the fine print on how he voted yet but at a few of his votes seemed questionable.

I'd like to hear what McCain and Obama both have to say about vet issues.

McCain voted against the troops 80% of the time, Obama voted with the troops 80% of the time. McCain lied about having good ratings with veterans groups. A veteran called him out at a town hall and he argued with the guy.

I don't know how McCain gets away with lying all the time.

The troops have donated more to Obama. That's not a good sign for McCain.

 

[editec]

Mc

I don't know how McCain gets away with lying all the time.

Because partisans want to believe in their party's inhernet goodness no less than some nutters want to believe in bigfoot or the grand unified conspiracy of secret societies.

It is EASIER (and healthier, too, in today's society) to take a side and put on blinders.

Most of us have bought into the team-work concept, and that brainwashing serves the party system very well.

 

[sealybobo]

Because partisans want to believe in their party's inhernet goodness no less than some nutters want to believe in bigfoot or the grand unified conspiracy of secret societies.

It is EASIER (and healthier, too, in today's society) to take a side and put on blinders.

Most of us have bought into the team-work concept, and that brainwashing serves the party system very well.

Oh there are secret societies. Skull & Crossbones. Do you know how many of them worked for the HW Bush administration? I don't, but I saw a thing once and these groups really do exist.

 

[Jeepers]

I think its troops deployed and or living over seas that have donated more money.. Those not recieving hazard pay either dont have the money to donate or have donated what little they do make to mac.. I think Mac has the edge in donations but.. barely...

 

[sealybobo]

I think its troops deployed and or living over seas that have donated more money.. Those not recieving hazard pay either dont have the money to donate or have donated what little they do make to mac.. I think Mac has the edge in donations but.. barely...

You think or hope this? I think you are wrong. Top brass give more to McCain, but I told you guys before, no freakin way the grunts support McCain, unless they've been brainwashed. Aren't there a lot of poor soldiers? Aren't there are lot of black soldiers?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

You think or hope this? I think you are wrong. Top brass give more to McCain, but I told you guys before, no freakin way the grunts support McCain, unless they've been brainwashed. Aren't there a lot of poor soldiers? Aren't there are lot of black soldiers?

Get a clue.

 

[busara]

Get a clue.

the weapon was the candlestick!

 

[Shadow]

You think or hope this? I think you are wrong. Top brass give more to McCain, but I told you guys before, no freakin way the grunts support McCain, unless they've been brainwashed. Aren't there a lot of poor soldiers? Aren't there are lot of black soldiers?

Are black soldiers automatically required to vote for Obama now?

 

[busara]

Are black soldiers automatically required to vote for Obama now?

polls make it look likely that they will vote obama