McCain's Voting Record: He Does Not Support Our Troops and Veterans
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Since everyone is at least a bit familiar with John McCain’s record when it comes to strolling through a market in Baghdad with hundreds of his closest guards, or how he wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years (except when he flip flops on that).
But not that many really, truly know just how horrific his voting record is when it comes to the troops. And it is pretty consistent – whether it is for armor and equipment, for veteran’s health care, for adequate troop rest or anything that actually, you know, supports our troops.
This is chock full of links to the roll call votes, and the roll call votes have links to the actual underlying bills and amendments. I present this so that there is support and things that can be rattled off when saying that McCain is not a friend of the military. Feel free to use it as you want, but this can be tied into the "Double Talk Express". But here is a very quick statement - John 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.
In mid 2007, Senator Reid noted that McCain missed 10 of the past 14 votes on Iraq. However, here is a summary of a dozen votes (two that he missed and ten that he voted against) with respect to Iraq, funding for veterans or for troops, including equipment and armor. I have also included other snippets related to the time period when the vote occurred.
September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments. At the time, nearly 65% of people polled in a CNN poll indicted that "things are going either moderately badly or very badly in Iraq.
July 2007: McCain voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq. At the time, an ABC poll found that 63% thought the invasion was not worth it, and a CBS News poll found that 72% of respondents wanted troops out within 2 years.
March 2007: McCain was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all combat troops within one year. Around this time, an NBC News poll found that 55% of respondents indicated that the US goal of achieving victory in Iraq is not possible. This number has not moved significantly since then.
February 2007: For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote against a resolution condemning it. However, at the time a CNN poll found that only 16% of respondents wanted to send more troops to Iraq (that number has since declined to around 10%), while 60% said that some or all should be withdrawn. This number has since gone up to around 70%.
June 2006: McCain voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so.
May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.
April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
March 2004: McCain once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans' needs.
October 2003: McCain voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.
April 2003: McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.
August 2001: McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000. To his credit, he also voted against the 2001 Bush tax cuts, which he now supports making permanent, despite the dire financial condition this country is in, and despite the fact that he indicated in 2001 that these tax cuts unfairly benefited the very wealthy at the expense of the middle class.
So there it is. John McCain is yet another republican former military veteran who likes to talk a big game when it comes to having the support of the military. Yet, time and time again, he has gone out of his way to vote against the needs of those who are serving in our military. If he can’t even see his way to actually doing what the troops want, or what the veterans need, and he doesn’t have the support of veterans, then how can he be a credible commander in chief?
Veterans for Common SensePost Office Box 15514 Washington, DC 20003
and 9 Other Joe's McCain doesn't speak about.
Wednesday night, I prepared to watch the last debate with a plate of pericos and some cold Dos Equis, and my lovely wife Nora (whom I call Scully--I'll save that story for later).
Scully has been a devout politico's wife for about ten years, a Chicago yellow-dog democrat, her father was a democrat, her mother was a democrat and she will die a democrat. She is also the one person fond of my affinity to watch every political news show and my willingness to talk politics with anyone -- anytime. For this someday she'll be awarded a purple heart, congressional medal of honor or a tall glass of Scotch, more than likely the latter.
In her eyes, I am, when it comes to politics, all-knowing, all-seeing, and can turn tap water into a great chardonnay at fundraising receptions, however , I am NOT infallible." So every election cycle (until I report for work at the great caucus in the sky), I make sure that the most qualified candidate receives 150% of my unequivocal, loyal, articulate and vociferous support (I reserve the other 50% for possible mid-cycle corrections or retreats--JK).
CNN -- Debates a la Boxing!
So it was this week, when I sat down to watch the much ballyhooed debate-to-end-all debates on CNN, that my Mexi-Mind began to wonder. With CNN HD you get the equivalent of HBO Boxing's Comp box, for each political pundit. Red/Blue dials tracking positive and negative points --LIVE! This is great, although I'd prefer totals discussed Larry Murchant and an interview with each fighter at the end.
After a some- day-dreaming about a rendition of a Jimmy Leonard-like introduction for each debater, (in this corner wearing blue satin shorts the Master Blaster against Economic Disaster, the Senator of Suave, Democratic Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama)---my mind returned to the Dos Equis and the salsa, only to be mildly irked by the introduction of "Joe the Plumber."
Joe the Plumber joins Joe Six-pack in McCain/Palin's portrait of America.
You see folks I hate glittering generalities, specifically I hate Palin's introduction of Joe Six-pack, and Holly Hockey-mom, or whatever her attempt to classify the sum of our American cultural and social experiences into some tacky image of mediocrity, is.
For a better understanding of my views on the Republican right's incessant attempts to instill fear, loathing and bias into American politics read my book, "It Is Not OK- put an End to Mediocrity!" (Publication Date -- sometime soon after I get around to writing it.)
As McCain pronounced the moniker 'Joe the Plumber', I winced.
I pained. I pained, then I winced. (Repeat as often as he was mentioned)
So after 90 minutes of inconsequential jabber on the possible investment practices of one, Joe the Plumber (mentiroso, in this climate who's going to lend you the money?).
I began to thinking of the dozens of Joe's, McCain/Palin hope you don't meet.
Yes, like a retort to the PC v Mac commercials, I realized that Joe Six-pack and Joe the Plumber are everywhere. But not like McCain thinks. No, like GI Joe, they come with different costumes and sometimes a --kung-fu grip.
So allow me introduce you to the latest Joes:
Joe the Voter. After 8 years of failed public policies, the worst economic crisis in American history, seeing neighbors, friends and family sacrifice their sons and daughters in Iraq, sacrificing the amount of food, healthcare and education they and their children can buy, after seeing their civil liberties eroded, and the international image of America tarnished, Joe the Voter is you. He is your friend, family and neighbor. Folks, Joe the Voter is desperate for leadership and change.
Joe the Voter, also known as Knock-out Joe, is heading to the polls with a powerful jab, and a tremendous left-hook, and a furious right-cross. Joe heralds from Anywhere, USA, he weighs in on every important issue and is the current world heavy weight champion of the 'Liberty and Justice for All' belt, and the 'I Want my Country Back' Belt.
and John---he wants change, and he wants it now.
JJ Martinez
TIM DICKINSON in the Rolling Stone
At Fort McNair, an army base located along the Potomac River in the nation's capital, a chance reunion takes place one day between two former POWs. It's the spring of 1974, and Navy commander John Sidney McCain III has returned home from the experience in Hanoi that, according to legend, transformed him from a callow and reckless youth into a serious man of patriotism and purpose. Walking along the grounds at Fort McNair, McCain runs into John Dramesi, an Air Force lieutenant colonel who was also imprisoned and tortured in Vietnam.
McCain is studying at the National War College, a prestigious graduate program he had to pull strings with the Secretary of the Navy to get into. Dramesi is enrolled, on his own merit, at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in the building next door.
There's a distance between the two men that belies their shared experience in North Vietnam — call it an honor gap. Like many American POWs, McCain broke down under torture and offered a "confession" to his North Vietnamese captors. Dramesi, in contrast, attempted two daring escapes. For the second he was brutalized for a month with daily torture sessions that nearly killed him. His partner in the escape, Lt. Col. Ed Atterberry, didn't survive the mistreatment. But Dramesi never said a disloyal word, and for his heroism was awarded two Air Force Crosses, one of the service's highest distinctions. McCain would later hail him as "one of the toughest guys I've ever met."
McCAIN FIRST
This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.
In its broad strokes, McCain's life story is oddly similar to that of the current occupant of the White House. John Sidney McCain III and George Walker Bush both represent the third generation of American dynasties. Both were born into positions of privilege against which they rebelled into mediocrity. Both developed an uncanny social intelligence that allowed them to skate by with a minimum of mental exertion. Both struggled with booze and loutish behavior. At each step, with the aid of their fathers' powerful friends, both failed upward. And both shed their skins as Episcopalian members of the Washington elite to build political careers as self-styled, ranch-inhabiting Westerners who pray to Jesus in their wives' evangelical churches.
In one vital respect, however, the comparison is deeply unfair to the current president: George W. Bush was a much better pilot.
Read more:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print
McCain Misstates Record on Veterans Issues
Friday night, John McCain said “I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I'll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them.”
However, McCain’s record in the Senate contradicts this statement. And America’s veterans know this – which is why groups like the Disabled American Veterans and Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America have given McCain failing grades for his voting record on issues facing veterans and military families.
· McCain Opposes the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Is Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08; Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08; ABCNews.com, 5/26/08)
· McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)
· Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)
· McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)
· Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)
· McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)
· McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)
· McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (www.johnmccain.com/Informing/ Issues/9cb5d2aa-f237-464e-9cdf-a5ad32771b9f.htm; S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03)
· McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)
· McCain Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a “disgrace.” (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)
· McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)
· McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)
· McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)
· McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)
· McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)
· McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)
[PennsylvaniaVeteransforObama] Facts on McCain non-support for Veterans CANDIDATES’ SUPPORT FOR VETERANS’ ISSUES
Who has veterans’ best interests in mind? Look at the candidates’ records:
Although no bills specifically on veterans’ issues were voted on since the 2004 elections, three amendments have been (source: the Congressional Record & votesmart.org): Health Care for Veterans Amendment 10/05/2005 Official title: S Amdt 1937 to HR 2863 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation. Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services. Voting record: Obama – Yes McCain – No (Amendment rejected in Senate)
Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment 11/17/2005 Official title: S Amdt 2634 to S 2020 - To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder. Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that appropriates $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse. Voting record: Obama – Yes McCain – No (Amendment rejected)
Tax Rate Extension Amendment 02/02/2006 Official title: S Amdt 2735 to S Amdt 2707 to HR 4297 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation. Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services. Voting record: Obama – Yes McCain – No (Amendment failed to pass in Senate)
Now, let’s turn to the candidates’ sponsorship of Senate bills & amendments directly related to care for veterans during the 109th-110th Congresses (source: Library of Congress THOMAS database [thomas.loc.gov]): Obama (10): S.117 [110th] & S.3988 [109th] :
A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes. S.692 [110th] & S.2358 [109th]
: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals. S.713 [110th]
: A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries. S.1084 [110th] & S.3475 [109th] : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. S.1271 [110th] : A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families. S.1885 [110th] :
A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty. S.2330 [110th] : A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes. S.1180 [109th]
: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes. S.AMDT.3144 to S.CON.RES.83 [109th] : To provide a $40 million increase in FY 2007 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and to improve job services for hard-to-place veterans. S.AMDT.5138 to H.R.5385 [109th] : To require a report on the costs of the Comprehensive Service Programs for homeless veterans. McCain (1): S.663 [110th] : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.
The bottom line: McCain is clearly not an advocate for veterans’ issues, and only Obama has enough interest to be a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee.
