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Obama Hits McCain on Veterans Benefits
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ShareJune 01, 2008 3:05 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama used a Sunday morning pancake breakfast with veterans in Sioux Falls, S.D., to once again blast McCain over veteran’s issues.
Obama highlighted the difference he has with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee over the 21st Century GI Bill proposed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a bill that passed overwhelmingly in Congress but is now up for looming veto by President Bush.
"John McCain -- like George Bush -- opposed it, even though John McCain didn’t come back to vote, " Obama explained, "I don’t understand why he would side with George Bush in opposing a bipartisan bill that does so much to make college affordable for veterans. George Bush and John McCain may think that the bill is too generous, but I could not disagree more."
The GI Bill would expand education benefits for veterans who served at least three years in the military after Sept. 11, 2001. Obama used the story of his grandfather, who fought in World War II, to demonstrate the need for veterans benefits when they return from war.
"We have an obligation to do everything that we can to extend opportunity to those who serve. Doing so will not only help us with recruitment, not only will it help veterans live their dreams, but that’s what built the middle class in this country was the ability to train a new generation after they’d come back from war," Obama said, "America stood by my grandfather when he took off that uniform, and it never left his side."
The McCain campaign responded to Obama’s criticisms, saying the Illinois senator once voted against funding for a veterans' health bill in 2007.
"Last year Barack Obama was driven by left-wing party politics to vote against more than a billion dollars in funding for veterans' health care because it was included in funding for the 'surge' strategy in Iraq," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.
Obama ended his visit with veterans, eating a pancake brunch -- the pancake chef tossed three flapjacks high in the air and Obama caught them on a plate.
June 1, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (25)
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How can we count on Obama to support our veterans with GI Bill benefits when he failed to support a veteran in death? I contacted Senator Obama to solicit his help in securing a VA grave marker for my mother who died in January 2004 (Korean War Veteran) and a resident of Illinois at the time of her death. Senator Obama failed to respond to my request for assistance (he is a member of the US Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs). It took Rep John Shimkus (Rep) from Illinois to secure her grave marker. Even Senator Durbin failed to respond to an identical request for assistance. How would Obama support our troops as commander in chief?
Posted by: Dennis | Aug 13, 2008 10:05:17 PM
Dennis, do you think that McCain has never failed to respond to a request? What an incredibly shallow, self-centered, biased, dishonest basis you have chosen for judging who should be CiC.
Posted by: Jay Ballou | Sep 6, 2008 3:29:38 PM
Jay, how dare you call that shallow! McCain has surely failed to respond just like Obama did, but to take this blogging so far as to insult someone about their feelings concerning their mother's GRAVE MARKER! Do you really think that verbally abusing someone is going to make them vote for Obama?
Posted by: Ryn | Sep 8, 2008 6:41:05 PM
As an Army Brat whose father was a medic in Vietnam, receiving Bronze with 3 Oak Clusters, loosing my brother-in-law on the Forrestal and many other friends, I believe this 21st Century GI Bill is Right On!
Those who want a Career in the Miltary will stay regardless of this bill. McCain's logic on this, as with most of his proposals just goes to his lack of insight, leadership, and just plain old common sense.
Guess you know who I am voting for!
Chris
Posted by: Christine | Sep 13, 2008 12:48:11 PM
what a bunch of idiots, obama is going to cut the military that means your pensions and compensations, morons
Posted by: John | Nov 5, 2008 8:13:27 PM
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