McCain Declares He’s ‘Obviously Committed’ To ‘Quality Education’ For GIs, But Still AWOL On GI Bill
McCain Declares He’s ‘Obviously Committed’ To ‘Quality Education’ For GIs, But Still AWOL On GI Bill
On his first day in the Senate in January 2007, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced a new GI bill to dramatically expand the scope of education assistance provided to returning veterans who served after Sept. 11.
A year later, on March 20, The Hill reported that Webb was still seeking Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) support for his new bipartisan plan, S. 22 (H.R. 2707), a “21st Century GI Bill.” “McCain needs to get on the bill,” Webb said.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America hailed the expansion of education benefits as “the military’s single most effective recruitment tool.” So why, four days after the Hill article, was McCain still clueless on the details of Webb’s bill?
I have not had the chance to examine it carefully. It seems to me that it is a good thing to do. But I haven’t examined the bill with the care that it needs. … Obviously we want to make sure that every veteran who comes back from serving their country has the ability to receive a quality education. And I’m obviously committed to that.
VoteVets and Brave New Films have teamed up to produce this short video of soldiers expressing the need for a new GI bill. Watch it:
In a statement to the Huffington Post today, Webb said he had emphasized to McCain “several times that this is not a political issue” — it is “a no-brainer,” as he says in a video on his website.
Webb’s bill currently has 50 co-sponsors. As Webb pointed out in March, “many more Republicans could vote for the bill if McCain endorsed it.” Sign a petition here.
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I thought McCain was committed to saying whatever his media handlers and managers told him to say.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 pmMcHypocrite! McHypocrite!
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 pmIf he is obviously for the Vets then he should obviously support this bill. What becomes obvious is that McCain is remaining partisan at the expense of veterans.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pmWebb’s bill currently has 50 co-sponsors. As Webb pointed out in March, “many more Republicans could vote for the bill if McCain endorsed it.”
yes like good little sheep, dont act until you are told when and how…
republicans are a cancer on the human race.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 pmIs anyone else tired of this flip-flopping coot already?
_AIO_
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmAnd yet he still can’t get behind the bill, cause that would take time to study it, and he is much to busy flipping and flopping on deck.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmAnd they (whoever “they” are) say Hillary triangulates. Looks like McNutzi’s handlers believe that his military background insulates him from attack as soft on defense while refusing to sign on to the bill keeps him out of hot water with those who oppose government spending for anything from which Republican donors cannot directly profit.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm“many more Republicans could vote for the bill if McCain endorsed it.”
So much of the GOP won’t sign on to this bill because they don’t want to leave McCain hanging.
The Dems have their own spine issues, but this is pretty rank political weaniness from the party that stands behind Genghis Chimp.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pmI’m failing to see what’s “obvious” about his commitment. Perhaps I’m missing something.
You know, McCain probably spends a great deal of time on his campaign bus. How does he spend this time? Talking to the ride-along press? Surely the press would understand if he wanted to take some time to examine this bill he co-sponsored.
On the other hand, if all his time is being taken up being polished by his handlers, he may truly not have time to get any Senate work done (even for causes he’s “obviously” committed to).
Methinks his commitment to education benefits for the troops pales in comparison to his commitment to getting elected.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm“I’m for all the good and against all the evil, just wait and see”.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmMcCain: Listen to the
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmliesthings I tell you, but don’t you dare look at what I really do….John, and I am referring to the toilet, has never supported troops. He was a prisoner and never had help from the government. He doesn’t see why anyone else should. He is a proper republican. Screw anyone that doesn’t have enough money to pay me. But give him a couple bucks and he will suck anything and make a campaign video of it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmMcMaybe can’t make up his mind…either that, or he can’t find it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmMaybe he hasn’t cared to much for his current position? Maybe he’s worried that if he actually makes a stance on this it will expose his later flip flopping.
The bill is to provide a better financial plan to veterans. We ask them to die for us. It wouldn’t be too much to provide better education and the finances to do so.
McCain, Man up to the veterans and at least look into this bill. Your ignorance and lack of thought on this bill is a slap in the face to all veterans.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pmLooks like it’s passage hinges on mccains involvement. Commitment means endorsing it, period.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:26 pmAs hellinabucket says, we asked these young people to face death. If you consider the basis for endangering their lives then it is not too much to ask to just do the right thing by them. They truly hit the ground running……why mccain, are you dragging your feet?
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmIt’s time for him to be “committed”…
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 pmprogressisgreat Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Were you that wacko who called into Colmes last night?
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm“I have not had the chance to examine it carefully.”
Most senators admit they never fully read all the bills, they say there is not enough time. If they read every single Bill nothing would get done.
I thought that’s what Aides are for, to outline what the Bill stands for and what’s in it. (Including Pork) What did all of his help go on vacation??? He sure has been on a hiring spree with so many people to get him reelected. It reads like the Who’s Who List of Lobbyist. Your telling me not one of these guys could help him with the fine print.
I’m thinkin’ no-brainer… Maybe his has atrophied..
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 pmprogressisgreat Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
At least he’s not a xenophobe like yourself!
Seriously, I logged on just to flag your butt. Knock off the abusive language please.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmprogressisgreat @ 19
I’m flagging this one…..
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pmGI’s may need a bleach blonde lobbyist or two to get McBush’ attention.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 pmI shouldn’t get so upset but progressisgreat is paying me 1$/post to post the progressive viewpoint on his TPWatch website…..including my posts there are 30 comments……not bad for two weeks.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pmThe Maverick’s Lobbyist/Handlers haven’t told him it’s OK to support the bill yet.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pmMcCain’s level of commitment is obvious. It’s obvious that in an entire year he hasn’t bothered to “examine it carefully.” And either he has no staff or aides, or none of them can read. The obvious follow-up to “I haven’t had time” is “Why the hell not, Senator?”
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pmAfter Nam, I used my GI bill to get me through college, even though I worked part and full time, and got a small scholarship.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmWe owe our veterans at least that much.
The GI Bill that followed in the wake of WWII provide the United States with one of the greatest economic, technical and industrial expansions in the history of our country. It created a vast pool of mature and disciplined college students who were not only motivated to succeed but also understood the concept of cooperative effort. This was competition at its best that led to greater innovation, productivity and advancement across the board.
We see a United States today that is in serious decline because of people like John McCain who will mouth the words but betray not only our soldiers but our society in general. We could afford the GI Bill because everyone sacrificed during WWII. This included significant tax increases on the wealthiest. Industry and the standard of living boomed after the war because the economy was not burdened with crippling debt from the war. McCain supports tax cuts during a war for the first time in the history of the United States.
Look, McCain does not give a shit about the common soldier. He got into the Naval Academy because his daddy and grand daddy were admirals. He was no brilliant cadet graduating in the bottom 5 of his class. Although having courage, he was a poor pilot.
McCain is like all of the Republican elite. He wants no competition. An adequate GI Bill would bring that competition on. Besides, we cannot afford to pay because of the tax cuts necessary for the richest 1% of this country.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 pmprogressisgreat Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pmFlagged for being an illiterate sock puppet.We know who this is by it’s spelling errors and overall stupidity!
McMaverick is AWOL on many votes…in fact, over half of them!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:20 pmWell, his “commitment” ain’t so obvious to ME.
But then again, I’m only a stupid librul. *eyeroll*
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pmL. Hussein Annie Says: April 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Well, his “commitment” ain’t so obvious to ME.
But then again, I’m only a stupid librul. *eyeroll*
Yes, but you’re a left handed redheaded librul…that makes you special!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm“Many more Republicans would support the bill if John McCain supported the bill”. hrrrrrrrr DOESN’T ANYONE THINK ON THERE OWN ANY MORE. THIS IS WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS. DROP THE PARTIES AND LETS FOCUS ON INDEVIDUALS. What a bunch of spinless, coward aholes!!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pmJohn 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.
May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 Million to the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) for VA Health Care Facilities.
If he is so Committed why is he AWOL on amendments for the Troops and Veterans.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 pmI think McCain’s stopped taking his ginkgo biloba again.
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pmMcCain thinks veterans should get ahead the old fashioned way, dump the woman who sacrificed and raised your children on her own for the new trophy wife with the rich daddy. It’s how conservatives pull themselves up by their bootstraps without counting on the government.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:17 pmWhat better way to build up the Blackwater private army then leaving our returning GIs with no other choice.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pmLike newt did, like julianni did, etc.
If our bootstraps were like gw’s we would be ok too.
It kinda reminds me of a kid singing blues….you know they can’t feel it because they haven’t lived it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pmJust exactly what does McCain aka bush committ to ? Not SCHIP not GI Bill revision. Not Healthcare for citizens. He has missed more votes than any other Senator. And the Republicans want this person for President ? Are you serious ?
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pmJust heard flipped and he’s going to support this bill. Good.
FISH ON DECK!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:19 pmFirst off,
F supporting the troops (as CIC Bush qualifies as the troops),
second,
supporting the troops after WW2 was a mistake that should only be made once,
third,
as a beneficiary of the MGIB, I can assure you it doesnt pay for college in the least, instead of fixing it just let people know that it doesnt work maybe people like me wont get suckered into thinking that a golden door will open.
April 5th, 2008 at 7:22 amYou know, McCain probably spends a great deal of time on his campaign bus. How does he spend this time? Talking to the ride-along press? Surely the press would understand if he wanted to take some time to examine this bill he co-sponsored.
On the other hand, if all his time is being taken up being polished by his handlers, he may toshiba portege m200 battery,toshiba portege m205 battery truly not have time to get any Senate work done (even for causes he’s “obviously” committed to).
Methinks his commitment to education benefits for the troops pales in comparison to his commitment to getting elected.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:34 am