One Week After McCain Claims Vets ‘Know I’ll Take Care Of Them,’ IAVA Gives Him A ‘D’
One Week After McCain Claims Vets ‘Know I’ll Take Care Of Them,’ IAVA Gives Him A ‘D’
During the first presidential debate, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) repeatedly emphasized his love of veterans — and their fondness for him in return. “I’ll take care of them. And they know I’ll take care of them,” he said. McCain frequently exaggerates his level of support for and from veterans groups, claiming to have “received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America” and to have “a perfect voting record” on veterans’ issues. Watch a compilation:
Today, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released its congressional scorecard for the 110th Congress, and awarded McCain a grade of “D” for his votes against veterans’ priorities. The grade makes McCain one of only four Senators to fall on IAVA’s “D List” — and marks a repeat performance for him, after receiving a “D” for his 109th congressional voting record as well.
IAVA hammered McCain for refusing to co-sponsor Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century G.I. Bill. In fact, the IAVA highlighted the weaker alternative proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — and endorsed by McCain — as “an effort to derail the popular and bipartisan” GI Bill proposed by Webb. “Thankfully,” the IAVA writes, “the Senate voted forcefully, 55-42, to kill” the Graham-McCain proposal.
IAVA’s score adds to other groups who have criticized McCain’s abysmal record on veterans’ issues. McCain has received a 20 percent vote rating from the Disabled Veterans of America, while the Vietnam Veterans of America noted McCain had “voted against us” in 15 “key votes.”
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32 Responses to “One Week After McCain Claims Vets ‘Know I’ll Take Care Of Them,’ IAVA Gives Him A ‘D’”
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Considering his class rank when he graduated from West Point, a "D" is probably a step up for McSame....
October 7th, 2008 at 10:36 amMcCain probably interprets this as a sign of support -- after all, a "D" is a passing grade, isn't it?
October 7th, 2008 at 10:37 amI can`t believe he has voted against veterans so many times, this guy is a hypocrit times 100, he says he loves the vets in the last debate yet votes against them time and time again.Is this how he`ll run the W.H. and this country?Mcwars is all wrong for every single person in this country that`s not wealthy, period.For a POW he is lacking alot of common sense and scruples, muchless a heart and soul.I can see why most Veterans groups despise him.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:41 amDuring the first presidential debate, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) repeatedly emphasized his love of veterans — and their fondness for him in return.
I have two words for Senator McCain: HOMELESS VETS.
If McCain isn't doing anything to stop veterans from sleeping in the streets, and considers that TLC, then I don't want to think about what he'd do to Medicare, Welfare or any of the other programs that serve those in need.
John McCain only takes care of John McCain.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:42 amMcCain supports veterans and they know it, just like he supports seniors. By wanting to cut Medicare and privatize Social Security.
Idiot. Dangerous idiot. Dangerous lying idiot.
PEACE
October 7th, 2008 at 10:42 amHe talks the talk but does not walk the walk. He is no friend of common people, or of veterans. He has a multi-million dollar wife, so he has no financial worries. The rest of us are not married to Cindy, and we have lots of worries.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:46 amJohn McCain quickly left the scene of the Forrestal fire to cover his own ass as his fellow sailors died, so what incentive this time would he have to care for vets?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:03 amHe wants the job of commander-in-chief just to out rank papa and grandpa. He'll get to press all sorts of cool buttons. I tell you, Battleship should be outlawed. It's ascending too many nutzoids to the White House.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:06 amUnfortunately, McSame lives in the past. I have no doubt that he received many "A"s prior to 2000.
Anything that happened recently is irrelevant.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:08 amI shutter to think what fruit a McCain administration would bear. This man has lost his moral compass if in fact he ever had one. His support of nazi affiliated and right wing death squads is frightening. Support of a robber baron like Keating is scary as well . We are given to understand that he has learned his lesson and decries his past mistakes but folks these transgressions occurred while he was in his 50's Most phycologists would argue that's a little late for changing your basic personality. Not to late to learn to hide your hatefulness though
October 7th, 2008 at 11:10 amWhat's next? Fox broadcasting a marathon of P.O.W. movies leading up to the election? Bridge On The River Kwai, The Great Escape, Stalag 17?
The Deer Hunter? Somewhat similar to McCain's campaign, no? Mao!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:12 amLet's hope they swift boat this guy. What a manipulative, lying and uncaring fool.
How about that 1.3 trillion he's going to find in the current medicare/mediaid plan (fraud, misuse etc.)that one of his advisors said would help pay for some of McCain's health care plan??? That will go over great with senior citizens. McCain doesn't care even though he himself is a senior citizen, he got his cushy medical insurance plan and is wealthy to boot.
Johnny Mac keep it up!! Good Job!!!!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:12 amMcCain to Vets: "Drop Dead."
October 7th, 2008 at 11:14 amThat $1.3 trillion just went to buy corporate commercial paper. The Fed is spending your tax money once again.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:16 amVetVoice's list of veterans' bills that McCain voted AGAINST should be in a campaign ad. McCain's claim above juxtapositioned with the list of these votes, with a website to access the information. For Americans to continue to see McCain as some mythic hero finally needs to end. The ad, itself however, should be done either by VetVoice themselves or the DNC.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:20 amWho cares what veterans say they think. McCain knows what they think because hes John McCain, Vietnam war hero extraordinaire. And John McCain knows veterans support him. Doesnt matter that veterans say they dont.
Remember John McCain knows because he says he knows. Just watch to nights debate and count how many times McCain says he knows. He will say it a lot simply because he knows everything and everyone there is to know. John McCain in his infinite wisdom and experience knows.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:23 amLifers in the US military are mostly republicans. Those are the ones that support mccain and his war mentality.
Our family members, the troops, are low priority to mccain. They are just numbers and bodies and statistics.
mccain has a long track record of not supporting our troops and he is not the only one. republicans across the board are guilty.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:23 amUnfortunately, McSame lives in the past. I have no doubt that he received many “A”s prior to 2000.
Actually? No. Flippy McSpin has always given lip service to vets issues while voting against them. If ol' Flippy had won the nomination in 2000, and gotten the full scrutiny, his "maverick" days would have ended. He's been a fraud since his first day in the Senate.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:24 amThe complete "D-list" of both the House and Senate includes :
John Campbell - California
Chris Cannon - Utah
John Duncan - Tennessee
Thomas Tancredo - Colorado
Ron Paul - Texas
Tom Coburn - Oklahoma
Michael Enzi - Wyoming
Jim DeMint - South Carolina
As well as McDepends ; every one of them a Republican.
Why does the GOP hate our military and our Veterans ?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:31 ampete I think maplestreet was being sarcastic. Note he mentions that nothing that happened recently is relevant.....correct me if I'm wrong maplestreet.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:40 amAccording to the McCain spin, America is expected to view McCain as he was portayed by a complacent media from about 15 years ago until about 8 years ago. This window in time is how we should picture him (and don't forget about 5 years in Hanoi while you're at it). Just please, nobody mention that the "maverick" is and always was a facade. Also don't dare mention that the John McCain of the last eight years has voted pretty much lockstep with the neocon agenda, the President and the rest of his merry men on the Hill. Please ignore the fact that he has surrounded himself and allowed himself to be manipulated by a crowd of neocons, lobbyists and many members of Bush's inner circle of political hit men. Forget about how he treated his first wife, his infamous temper, his boldfaced lying about supporting our troops and veterans, his long history of deregulation in the housing and financial sectors, his propagandizing of Iraq on behalf of Dick Cheney, his countless flip-flops, outright lies about Senator Obama, his lack of any economic solutions and his brazen bull-in-a-chinashop approach to foreign diplomacy. Please ignore the fact that a 72 year old candidate who has been battling cancer refuses American voters a complete view of his medical history. My friends, the emperor has no clothes. Just a well polished slime machine, an incompetant running mate and a "liberal" media that is STILL all too happy to give air time to his sorry campaign as it relies on smear tactics that have long been disproven. If Senator John Sidney McCain actually believed his "Country First" screed he would drop out of the race in embarrassment at what he has become. Sadly, it is and always has been John McCain first, Country somewhere further down the road. With no credible stance on ANY of the issues that matter to Americans McCain has decided that the only chance he stands is negativity and more lies. Mr. McCain, if you know damned well that you don't stand a chance when it comes to where you fall on the issues, face it...AMERICA DOESN'T WANT YOU AND YOU HAVE NOTHING POSITIVE TO OFFER US IN THESE SERIOUS TIMES! If all you have left is negativity, then kindly go Cheney yourself Senator! because by not being part of the solution YOU ARE A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:48 amEh. Those IAVA guys are just a bunch of random commie terrist-loving Muslim jihadis who hate Amurka!!!
(The above was brought to you by Snarktastic Prods., Inc.)
October 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pmIt is incomprehensible to me how any veteran can be supporting mccain. He doesn't care about vets or our problems or the issues vets face. His service doesn't qualify him on national security, his incarceration experience certainly hasn't helped him to be more sensitive to what the veterans are going through now. Wake up!
October 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pmVetVoice is running a thread on this as well today:
October 7th, 2008 at 12:27 pmhttp://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2001
Can you imagine what Repubs would be saying now if the Democratic candidate had gone on tape saying American pilots were "war criminals" and that we bombed hospitals on purpose?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:29 pmJohn McCain picked a woman that has a long intimate relationship with a man that for 7 years belonged to a movement that sought indepenance for Alaska from America. That man is Todd Palin, Sarah´s husband. If he cared about America at all he would not have picked someone that does not want to be part of this great country to be his running mate so why should it surprise anyone that he does not support our troops or veterans?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:30 pmraynman Says:
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"Considering his class rank when he graduated from West Point, a “D” is probably a step up for McSame…."
Actually, McIIIrd is a grad of the Naval Academy in Annopolis. He's still a jerk.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pmQuestion: Why does the GOP hate our military and our Veterans?
Answer: The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
October 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pmmarkusmarkus Says:
Question: Why does the GOP hate our military and our Veterans?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
_______
The military is the ultimate in Big Government. It'd take a bathtub the size of Connecticut to drown it all.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmFascist! McCain wouldn't give Vets the sweat off his balls. He is maxed out on betrayal, having voted religiously against Veteran assistance bills time and time again.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/a_hero_at_walter_reed.html
October 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pmHate to call anyone this,
but..
Mr McCain...
you are a disgrace to the Uniform, a disgrace to our country,
a disgrace to every single soldier that ever put on a uniform to serve this once great country..
We need somebody, who will rise to the occasion, to bring this country, back to where it was once respected around the world..
Mr McCain...Sorry, you dont fit the profile here...
Disgraceful..you dont deserve the respect, that our soldiers once had for you...
October 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pmI really do wish that Obama or the DNC would make an advertisement about McCain's record on veteran issues. It needs to be played in every state. It especially needs to be pointed out that he opposed Webb's veterans assistance bill and that he didn't even vote on it.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:30 am