McCain Slams Obama for Impugning His Motives on G.I. Bill While Not Having Served in Military

HooserSue writes, "Veterans like McCain have proven by their service how much they love America and the veterans who served her."
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You would have to be extremely naive to believe serving in the military actually EQUATES to loving America. It's beyond FOOLISH to make an assumption like that but it really shouldn't come as a surprise.

It's ludicrous to try to defend McCain's assertions when and I quote, "The White House has expressed opposition to the bill because of concern that the benefits will lure soldiers and sailors into the civilian world and hurt military retention. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has expressed similar fears."

This where HONEST men (and women) take a look at what ACTUALLY HAPPENED instead of spending hours trying to force a square into a circle. He REJECTED the bill because he was FAR MORE concerned about military retention. Simply put, if he had a choice between REWARDING those who he claims to understand and praise for their service and military rentention he would choose the latter.

Personally I think he was wrong but at least I, unlike you pretenders, can understand his LOGIC.

What I have is a problem is his BOLD assumption that he can't be challenged by folks who haven't served. Guess what...If you don't want to be challenged by those who HAVE NOT served you shouldn't BE in a PUBLIC OFFICE because the last time I checked the MAJORITY of Americans have NOT worn a uniform. Oh yes...He WILL ANSWER.

Pat, thank you for posting the truth about the alternate bill McCain backed. Veterans like McCain have proven by their service how much they love America and the veterans who served her. Thus, he can vote for a sensible plan that honors veterans while also calculating the consequences and respecting the taxpayers. That kind of thoughtful, sound reasoning is the hallmark of a great POTUS.

Matt writes' ""who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform"?"

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Actually Matt I do NOT feel it's my responsibility to serve our country. Serving in the military is a CHOICE just like any other and FRANKLY I find it disingenuous for men like yourself to suggest or imply that the REASON men/women are serving today is because they LOVE their country more than those who CHOOSE to not serve.

UNLIKE you and many of those you praise I worked HARD to have OTHER opportunities; OTHER career opportunties Matt.

It's clear you weren't paying attention to the REASON the White House rejected the bill because IF YOU DID you would have noted that there is absolutely NO GOOD REASON to not approve it.

Speaking as the son of a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, I know for a fact that UNLIKE you, he wouldn't put a LIMIT on what the men and women who serve should get when it comes to EDUCATION. After all, they do deserve it RIGHT?

Next time...don't let your politics render you mentally sterile.

Bush & McCain should put their Money where their mouth is, that would do much more to help the needs of the GIs than polite platitudes, which do nothing to ease the pain and suffering they, the G.I.'s have endured in the name of a fake war.

Here's an early example of impugning the motives of the opponent, from 2002, instead of debating an honest policy difference:

"What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income - to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics."

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from a drop in the median income

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from a rise in the uninsured

Overthrowing Saddam = distraction from corporate scandals

According to Barack "New Politics" Obama.

McCain: "...my admiration, respect and deep gratitude for America's veterans is something more than a convenient campaign pledge"

...therefore I cannot support the GI bill!???

God and the soldier, all men adore
In time of trouble, and no more.
For when the battle's over
And all things righted,
God is forgotten, the soldier slighted.

How can McCain be against this bill, then lash out at Obama for not serving in the military? (I guess McCain will fault Hillary for not serving, either). Why not start with Cheney the draft-dodger and Bush the duty-dodger? And BTW, it was Bush who sent the troops to Iraq w/o the proper gear. As a Vietnam vet, I'll never forgive him for that.

Well I think I have debated this issue enough.

One last thought before I go. I remember the DRAFT, I remember feeling patriotic, I remember the fear in my friends eyes and "mine" and their involuntary shaking waiting to be the next one to die.

I remember fighting to save my life first, then to save the guys next to me. I do not remember ever telling anyone any of this for my own personal gain. I remember wishing my friends and I were anywhere other than where we were.

I am an old man now and all those things are just a morbid memory.

I remember watching John McCain hug one of the VC who killed my friends and tried to kill me when that VC came to the US as an "HONORED GUEST". Not once did that VC appoligize for my friends. But McCain embrassed him as though he was his hero.

I had to finally stop and ask myself what the definition of honor is.

I do not want or need GI benefits.. but the vets that are fortunate to return deserve whatever we are generous enough to give them.

Vote for whom you like. Vote for whatever reason you care to. But dont disgrace my friends by lieing to support your unworthy candidate whoever they may be and reference it to the veterans that are true heros.

I was not a hero. I was a terrified young man and wish I had never had that experience.

Just wanted to let Matt know that it was the GI Bill that was voted on. So McCain doesn't want you to have that education and perks. There is no valid reason to not vote on this Bill. If McCain really cared about you he would have voted for the Bill. Reguardless of what else was on the Bill. But he would rather put himself before you..... Just something for you to think about.

cheap shot by a phony hypocrite who has no substance for political gain and hiding his own weakness.

Matt

i thank you for your service and those that you lead.

I will go one better than you ask.

I will vote only for candidates that will either bring you home or send you to afganistan to fight the TRUE ENEMY.

Since your a career soldier i can appreciate your lack of concern for benefits of those who do not choose to serve for a lifetime.

I do appreciate you admitting that the present admistration is not managing the funds available to you and your troops in the war effort your waging.. Maybe just maybe you can steal some of the good equipment from BLACKWATER.

again i sincerly thank you for your service and your courage!

as with all our troops you and your command will remain in my prayers.

In a day of bridges to nowhere the small amount of money for GI Benefits will be well spent.

Appreciate your comment, MATT, makes a lot of sense. The only problem I have with McCain's comment is that the new litmus test for President now becomes prior military service. While honorable to serve, I think those who have not served in the military are also capable of being President.

I am a veteran of the Iraq war and I am still a soldier... 20 years and counting. I can tell you that those benefits are the last thing that I am thinking of... We already get educational benefits, it is called the GI Bill. I went to school using it. They also have other educational benefits out there for soldiers too. If want to help us tell you congressman to spend the money on better equipment to keep my soldiers and I alive during battle. Tell your congressman to earmark more money for better personal equipment, living quarters, healthcare, mental health, armored vehicles,and training that will keep us alive. Those benefits would be nice but we don't need it. We also don't need those high flying jet fighters and fancy submarines that cost billions ... they're so useless to us who are doing the fighting. My men are tired of combat. Are any of you ready to volunteer and fill their boots or are you like Senator Obama, "who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform"?

louielouie, feel bad for ya bud. McCain has no backbone to stand on. And what, he is a hero cause he got caught and prolly gave up alot of american secrets to survive. I'll let that go. But what I won't let go is the fact that he would accept Bush's endorsment after what Bush said in 2000. Just shows he is a tool like Bush. People always try to hit Obama with his experience. How hard is it to make the right choice? Seems to be pretty hard for McCain.

A lot of you missed the point. Put your hatred of Sen. Obama aside. McCain did not vote to pass the bill. Why? Who has a relative serving in the military? Can he or she afford a college education at the current amount offered? Bush can spend billions to fight a war that should have never happened but he can't help our men and women serving in the military get a good education. See, by putting on this Sen. Obama he takes it off himself. I see the game.

bigtex

did you bother to read what the topic was about?

This is about Veterans benefits.

guess you feel like it was a good place to show your support for your candidate anyways on a subject that has nothing to do with the topic

cant debate a point just change the topic LOL

The double standard of the democrats is unreal. They put big oil on notice for making a 10 percent profit yet vote for a farm bill that will reduce the output of ethanol crops in America and tax ethanol products being imported into America. Which will drive up prices so they can blame the oil companies.
Obama was for it, Mcain was not.
Quit voting with your heart use your brain check the facts become an informed voter.

LOL. It's all I can say to the people that still support McCain after this. Are you blind? Or just that dumb? Sen. Webb introduced this bill. Thats right. The father of a fallen soldier. From what I understand not many didn't vote for this......... Maybe that says alot about the few who didn't. Can't wait for November. Only way for the tyrants to win is to cheat...... Bush did it, I wouldn't put it by McCain.

McShame's problem is not the press. It is the Republican George W. Bush facts that were used in the 2000 election.

Fact- McCain lived a life style as a silver spoon ADMIRAL's son.

Fact- His conduct at the Naval Acadamy was so poor that any other cadet would have been thrown out but McShames daddy had the stroke to keep him there.

Fact- All the other prisoners that were held in the same compound as McSHAME were not tortured and have also stated that McSHAME was not tortured.

Fact- McShame received none of the normal promotions that other prisoners received while being held captive and would have been court martialed for collaborating with the enemy except for the fact McShame's daddy was a big ADMIRAL.

John McSHAME on the war hero scale is about a 2 out on a scale of 10.

A far cry better than his draft dodging Republican buddies that he is in bed with.

Google and find the facts about MC SHAME our GREAT JESUS CHRIST WAR HERO!!

Vote for who you want I could care less!

But to say our Veterans want a hand out is pathetic.

God forbid we give those veterans anything extra to show our appreciation for their sacrifice. The were stupid enough to serve our country and therefore they dont deserve anything but a bullet in the head or a minimum wage job when they come home.

MccAin won this battle. No amount of Obama supporters calling him old man is going to take away for him. Obama's rebuttal was pathetic. If this was a debate class Obama would get a D.

Let's give credit were credit is due. McCain whooped his a$$ and then some. For Obama to think he can get away with these subtle attacks like he did on Hillary is ludicrous. As a Hillary supporter who has resigned herself to Hillary not been the nominee, I am rooting for McCain. As an American I'm rooting for McCain. As a pro-choice woman I'm rooting for McCain. As a black person I'm rooting for McCain.

I wish you luck Mr. McCain. Your problem is not Obama, it's the media. The headline of this blogs says it all. McCain did not slam Obama for not serving in the military, he slams him for a jacka$$. Like anybody who have children who receive child rearing advice for chidless people, McCain wanted to probably tell him to shut the F up.