Air Force Association Endorses Webb’s GI Bill
Air Force Association Endorses Webb’s GI Bill
In 1993, the Air Force Association (AFA) — “an independent, nonprofit, civilian education organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation” — awarded Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) the W. Stuart Symington Award, AFA’s top award for civilian contributions to national defense. While presenting the award, the AFA noted McCain’s “continued championing of programs important to the men and women of the armed forces.”
Since then, McCain’s record on veterans issues may have given the AFA pause. Most recently, McCain has been a vocal opponent of the Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century GI Bill. He offered his own watered-down version of the bill but shut out most veterans groups from the crafting of the legislation. Now the AFA and McCain have officially parted ways, with the AFA endorsing Webb’s bill, S.22:
Updating the bill to tie it to the current costs as proposed in S. 22 will help Airmen achieve a complete four-year education and thus a better quality of life after serving, while bolstering recruitment efforts throughout the military and helping lower post-military unemployment rates of veterans.
The AFA specifically urged providing “the full benefit to anyone who has served three years active duty,” a component of Webb’s bill McCain has rejected and the Pentagon has mocked.
McCain has claimed he has the support of “literally every veterans organization in America.” Yet the AFA is just one of many groups who object to McCain’s opposition to the GI Bill — a bill he found so unimportant he skipped the vote on it:
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: “The GI Bill is the military’s single most effective recruitment tool…an expanded GI Bill will play a crucial role in ensuring that our military remains the strongest and most advanced in the world.”
American Legion: “This bill would encourage young men and women to join the military.”
Military Officers Association of America: “We believe the new ‘greatest generation’ deserves an education benefit more consistent with that the government provided the World War II generation.”
Student Veterans of America: “After years of dedicated and dangerous service in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans must now battle to afford an education upon returning home. … Student Veterans of America calls on the members of the 110th Congress to support…S.22.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars: “The group’s national commander, George Lisicki, emerged from a meeting with the president expressing strong support for…[Webb's] legislation.”
This is only a partial list of the 15 veterans groups — not to mention the 30 governors — who have endorsed Webb’s bill.
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McCain never lets facts get in the way of his Straight Talk(TM), and I hope these veteran groups continue to speak out about how John has, and continues to, fail them.
I’m waiting for the information that McCain single-handedly stopped the ongoing efforts to search for Vietnam MIA’s, and his “permanent closed” transcripts of his anit-American statements he made while a POW, to come to light and get coverage.
It is not only sad, it’s tragic that a veteran whose education was paid in full by our tax dollars, and whose lifetime of healthcare was paid by our tax dollars, to oppose others getting the same benefits.
McCain is a hypocrit and a liar.
PEACE
June 14th, 2008 at 10:50 amApparently the AFA and 15 other veterans groups have realized that the straight talker has gone down a crooked path. The man who wants to be commander in chief has turned his back again and again on those who served after him; the man who hails from a military family, who fought in the VN war, who earned respect from many has a number of character flaws. His early life was dominated by his ambition and later exposed a personal lack of integrity; his political life is exposing the same trait.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:53 amAs McCain strives for political gain from the Republicans and George Bush, he follows the observation of Theophrastus: The man of petty ambition if invited to dinner will be eager to sit next to his host.
But McCain has overlooked what Oscar Wilde noted:
Ambition is the last refuge of failure.
McCain, Cheney and W all said, “So?”
June 14th, 2008 at 10:54 amWe got to this dreadful place in our history because not enough of the public were paying attention…Maybe now it will change…..Blessings
June 14th, 2008 at 11:02 amGeorge Bush; “This is a bad bill that will take money out of the pockets of war contractors, cronys, profiteers and my base, “the haves and have-mores”.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:10 amGood morning, Witch1.
Indeed, we are in a dreadful place today because of a willfully uninformed public.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:12 amApparently rumors, gossip and lies still dominate the political coverage with news that affects the lives of us all taking a few lines on the back pages of newspapers, and barely noted on the supposed 24/7 “news” channels.
Right now they are so self-absorbed with the loss of one of their own, they neglect to note that which affects the public more directly. SSDD
But… but… but… they volunteered!
June 14th, 2008 at 11:20 amI am a Vietnam combat veteran and used to respect Johnny Boy for his service. Now I diss him for his dis-service to all of us veterans and for our country.
He is a blatant liar and opportunist in the mold of Dubya and has no business being considered as our CiC, or our president. How he sleeps at night or looks himself in the mirror in the mornings, I can’t understand. But then, all of his supporters must have the same problem, or they should.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:23 amOh yeah. Well then never mind. Thanks Dick.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:25 amGregor Samsa Says:
But… but… but… they volunteered!
All the more reason to reward them for their patriotic action. Johnny Boy volunteered as well to get his legacy appointment to the Naval Academy and he came out smelling like a rose with his $58,000 disability payment. But he, like most Repugs have this attitude of: “I got mine, Cheney you!”
June 14th, 2008 at 11:26 am#1 Spencers Mom
I’m waiting for the information that McCain single-handedly stopped the ongoing efforts to search for Vietnam MIA’s, and his “permanent closed” transcripts of his anit-American statements he made while a POW, to come to light and get coverage.
Good Morning Spencers Mom :)
What you said got me thinking and I did some research, I have posted the link. You are correct, John McCain will go to any lengths to make sure that information will never see the light of day. This is just part of the article, the rest is even worse. He has in your words “single-handedly” made sure that no one does anything to help the POW’s that may still be out there. My God what a monster.
His McCain Bill ensures that even the families will never know if the government gets information. With all the restrictions he added. The article goes onto say that people observing are afraid to bring up the subject because of his explosive temper over this issue and the measures he takes against the person asking is legendary. He is a disgrace and has no honor for this cover up.
I had no idea how bad it was, thank you Spencers Mom!
Here is the McCain Bill: (what an abomination)
The Truth Bill
In 1989, 11 members of the House of Representatives introduced a measure they called “The Truth Bill.” A brief and simple document, it said: “[The] head of each department or agency which holds or receives any records and information, including live-sighting reports, which have been correlated or possibly correlated to United States personnel listed as prisoner of war or missing in action from World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam conflict shall make available to the public all such records and information held or received by that department or agency. In addition, the Department of Defense shall make available to the public with its records and information a complete listing of United States personnel classified as prisoner of war, missing in action, or killed in action (body not returned) from World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam conflict.”
Opposed by Pentagon
Bitterly opposed by the Pentagon, “The Truth Bill” got nowhere. It was reintroduced in the next Congress in 1991 — and again disappeared. Then, suddenly, out of the Senate, birthed by the Arizona senator, a new piece of legislation emerged. It was called “The McCain Bill.” This measure turned “The Truth Bill ” on its head. It created a bureaucratic maze from which only a fraction of the available documents could emerge. And it became law. So restrictive were its provisions that one clause actually said the Pentagon didn’t even have to inform the public when it received intelligence that Americans were alive in captivity.
First, it decreed that only three categories of information could be released, i.e., “information … that may pertain to the location, treatment, or condition of” unaccounted-for personnel from the Vietnam War. (This was later amended in 1995 and 1996 to include the Cold War and the Korean conflict.) If information is received about anything other than “location, treatment or condition,” under this statute, which was enacted in December 199l, it does not get disclosed.
Second, before such information can be released to the public, permission must be granted by the primary next of kin, or PNOK. In the case of Vietnam, letters were sent by the Department of Defense to the 2,266 PNOK. More than 600 declined consent (including 243 who failed to respond, considered under the law to be a “no”).
http://www.vvof.org/mccain_hides.htm
June 14th, 2008 at 11:44 amThank you Freedom Rebel. I had forgotten about that little issue.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:48 amAnd the hits just keep on coming!
And those low-life Bush supporters will show up, any minute now, to portray the veterans as dirty money grabbers for asking for a little help, in the form of educational benefits.
How long ago was it that not supporting the troops was unAmerican and traitorous?
I guess in the neocons’ dictionary support means shipping the troops thousands of miles away from home to get injured and killed in a war of choice, keep them there for years (with no end in sight), deny them any benefits, then completely forget about them.
A neocon’s support: Something you wouldn’t want for your worst enemy.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:49 amI almost forgot: Support, in the neocon’s dictionary, also means putting a magnetic made-in-China yellow “Support the troops” ribbon on the rear bumper of your car, without taking any meaningful action to actually support them.
(Said ribbon must be purchased online & magnetic, of course; you wouldn’t want to make the effort actually go to the store to buy it, let alone ruin the paint on your car).
June 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am#12 upside99 Says:
Thank you Freedom Rebel. I had forgotten about that little issue.
And the hits just keep on coming!
Anytime upside99 :) John McCain has done such a disservice to you and anyone that ever served in the military.
My hat off to you for your service to our country….
June 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pmMarie, very good and true post, thank you all for posting…Blessings
June 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pmFreedom Rebel,
I only did what many others have done and was fortunate enough to have the old GI Bill to finish my education when I returned. And I am fighting for the new veterans through the VVA and the VVAW.
Here’s hoping that many of the wrongs over the past 7 1/2 years can be corrected under thoughtful Democratic leadership and that Johnny Boy will fad away into the sunset and live off his $58,000 disability payment and his wife’s beer distributor millions.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pmBeautiful day in land of heat, AZ. McCain is a weenie.
Webb’s GI bill is good for the common folks, us people. We pay the taxes, and make the sacrifices. Keep up the push!
Webb is another great American.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:23 pmWith the exception of Social Security, the GI Bill is the best use of government money of the last 75 years. Social Security reduced poverty in the elderly and the GI Bill allowed hundreds of thousands to get an education. I believe the post WWII US productivity can be tied directly to the GI Bill. The relatively small amount of money spent came back a hundred fold in productivity and expanding tax base.
But the republicans want to gut Social security and put the elderly back in abject poverty and don’t want to invest in the future of those who serve this country (even though it is a great investment besides being deserved). I truly cannot understand the conservative mindset, gut successful government spending prgrams but privatize the war and make Halliburton billions. It truly is sick and revolting.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:27 pmThanks Freedom Rebel!
Here is the link to Vietnam vets again McCain, including translated transcripts that he wants to keep oh so secret.
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_declassified_landing.htm
If we had a media, this information would become public knowledge. What McCain did as a POW was considered treasonous, and while I can appreciate someone saying anything to avoid continued torture (um, does that resonate, John?) the information he spouted was factual, not made up to get the torture to stop.
Not a lot of respect or support for McCain from the Vietnam veterans.
PEACE
June 14th, 2008 at 12:29 pmIt is always amazing to see that McCain wants to take so much away from veterans. A six to twelve year period to begin any benefit would make the benefits worthless to the vast majority of soldiers. Too much time out of the civilian market place (especially at the 12 year point) to really have a financial advantage. But then that is the purpose. It is not about helping the veteran. It is about creating a financial lock to keep those who take the “benefits” in the service as a career. (God hope they do not get riffed before they make the sanctuary zone.) It is about denying those who desire to serve but not make a career of it any reward. Note how veteran’s groups were excluded from the drafting of the bill. Obviously, like most other Republican efforts, the focus is on them and not the beneficiary.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:31 pmEducated people ask to many questions. Please, keep America dumb.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pmI’m sorry, I mean dum.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:38 pmspencers mom Says:
Thanks for that link, Spencer’s mom. I forgot to mention VVAM as another organization I support. They have done some great work in researching and publishing their material.
Too bad someone like Stewart or Olbermann won’t give them some exposure, but I guess even they are afraid of the potential backlash.
But maybe, just maybe, as we get closer to November, some of this will make it to the MSM and the American public.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pmHad a new fisherman on the dock this morning, (I manage a tiny resort)…I.was talking to an old timer that knew me and the new kid walked up…By kid I mean early 20’s..Wanted to thank the owner’s, manager for letting the military fish for free on the dock..He was taken aback when I said your very welcome, good to see you here…We exchanged a few fishing hint’s and like the many before him he settled into the feedom to heal among friend’s…..Welcome youngster I said as I headed back up to the house to walk the Bear ……Blessing’s all and have a good day……Please remember to tell some one you love them, give a hug or a friendly word to someone who need’s it…All the above are free and return at the most unusual time’s…..Peace…
June 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pmI just don’t understand why anyone _ especially Republicans _ would be against this bill. Since they support Big Business, they should recognize this as an investment in Americans who, with a good education, will go on to help support the economy. Hopefully some would even become entrepreneurs, develop new opportunities and push the U.S. economy higher.
It’s a no brainer, but then I suspect Republicans have no brains.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pmVincennes,
BRRRRRRNNNNNGGGGGGGG! You have just said the secret word; when the republic party voters need a brain, they will be given one by the MSM and the republic party big-wigs.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pmI think Republicans Fear any Government program that is Popular, Well Run, and In the Public Interest.
Such programs Undermine their bogus contenetion that the Government IS the problem. Ronald Reagan said that the most frightnening thing someone could hear was ” I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help you”.
Bad ,Wastefull, Ineffective Government is a Problem, but instead of trying to fix the problem, Republicans want to Privatize everything, with No accountability.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:34 pmRetention my ass, they are against it because it comes from Webb, a Democrat.
Period.
Looks like it’s a slam dunk, so VETO it, chymp! Go ahead. Make our day.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pmIf we can’t override it, we’ll shove it up every Repuglycan’s ass this November.
When is Johnny Mcflipflopper going to realize he made a mistake in not showing up to vote for the G.I.Bill, muchless endorse it and look and act as an American who wants to be president and supports our soldiers who will need an education upon leaving the service and after doing their duty.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:13 pmGET YOUR BOYS IN SOME COMMERICALS ABOUT THIS GUYS!!! HAMMER MCCAIN REPEATEDLY AND PUBLICLY AND WATCH HIM THROW A PUBLIC TEMPER TANTRUM WHEN SOMEONE DARES QUESTION HIS POSTITION AS
“QUEEN OF THE MILITARY!”
when barack did it all he could do was whine about barack never being in the miltary. what is he going to say when someone in the military calls him out?
June 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pmPartial McCain Bio
1960—1965: Ground attack pilot flying A1-Skyraiders. Three plane crashes (one involving power-lines).
1967: USS Forrestal deck fire incident—injured by shrapnel.
1967: Shot down, very badly injured and assaulted by locals when captured.
1967-73: POW, tortured physically and mentally.
1973-74: Physical therapy (funded by the tax-payer)
1981: Retired with rank of Captain and, though now married to a multimillionaire, began receiving tax-payer funded disability benefits which continue to this day
2008 (June): Son Jimmy returns from his first 7-month deployment with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion/1st Division USMC.
So, given that he experienced three peacetime crashes, one wartime accident that killed over 100, 6 years of torture and deprivation, and then was rehabilitated by our tax dollars and with a son in active military, why does he have such a problem with Dodd’s GI bill?
Does he think that only service members who have suffered precisely as he has deserves tax-payer funded rehabilitation and a disability pension? Does he think a high school diploma is all the education anyone needs?–which is all the formal education he and his son, Jimmy, have.
What is his problem? Math apparently was his least favorite subject and apparently he still can’t “do the math”. If he can’t even relate his own experiences to those who are serving now then his capacity for cognitive dissonance is arguably greater than that of Bush.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pmFreedom Rebel @ 11,
Thanks for the great link. This is extremely interesting info and should be used in the campaign.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:06 pmReally Dumb Question: the administration’s opposition to the bill is that it would lower the level of military forces by encouraging folks to leave.
But, isn’t the incentive to join the military (and currently spend prolonged tours of duty in a war zone, etc. etc. ) that the military gives a route of improving one’s skills ? So aren’t we taking away a major reason for enlisting ?
June 14th, 2008 at 4:19 pm#33 woodguy Says:
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Freedom Rebel @ 11,
Thanks for the great link. This is extremely interesting info and should be used in the campaign.
Anytime Woodguy :) Glad to have been of service. It is an interesting read. Very upsetting also. I learned a great many things, I had no idea of the magnatude of what he had done.
Have a good day!!!
June 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pmWhat took the AFA so long to realize that Republicans in general, but Bush and McCain in particular, are not friends to our military, but are only friends to their corporate war-profiteering pals who continue to use and abuse our military?
I’m an Air Force veteran, who got drafted, then enlisted for a four-year tour of duty during the Vietnam War. After getting out in 1975, I took advantage of the generous GI Bill back then to go to college and get a degree.
Since then, I’ve watched in shock and awe as our military has been degraded, as our fighting forces have been shafted over and over again, with post-service veterans getting the shaft, too, while the war-profiteering crony corporate pals of the conservatives keep getting the gold.
I’m not fooled. Just as many other veterans of our armed services aren’t fooled anymore. So, kudos to the AFA and all the others who’ve finally realized that what’s good for the crony corporatist war-profiteers isn’t always good for our military or for veterans.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:45 pmI’m waiting for the wingnuts to come out and CRY, “HANDOUT, WELFARE! DEADBEATS, etc…”
June 15th, 2008 at 3:23 am5th ESTATE, like many of his ilk on the extreme right, they don’t care if government aid comes to them in the form of corporate subsidies or corporate tax loopholes, but only complain when others are reaping the benefits they believe they alone should have…
June 15th, 2008 at 3:25 am