Since 2003 McCain Has Voted 10 Times Against Increased Funding for Veterans Benefits
There are 24 million veterans in America today. Two million of these veterans served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A very large percentage of them will be voters this November. There is an equal number of veterans’ spouses and grown children who are deeply concerned about veterans issues and benefits. Here is a huge segment of the national electorate.
John McCain boasts that he takes “a back seat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans.” But, in fact, he has a shoddy record of supporting the welfare of veterans. It is a matter of record that McCain has consistently opposed legislation that would help them.
To the amazement of millions of voters, John McCain, like George W. Bush, initially opposed the new GI Bill which offers funds for higher education to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a weak explanation for his position, McCain said the prospect of a free college education would prompt many servicemen and women to leave the armed forces and not re-enlist. McCain chose to be in California when the final Senate vote was held on the bill. Obama was in the Senate and voted for the bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 75-22.
After the House-Senate conference committee ironed out differences, it became apparent that the bill would become law, even if vetoed by President Bush. McCain finally said he would support the legislation.
On at least 10 occasions since 2003, John McCain has voted against funding of increased healthcare benefits for veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan. Here are some of the key votes:
• In 2005 McCain opposed an amendment that would have provided an additional $2.8 billion for veterans medical care.
• In 2006 McCain opposed a plan to add $1.5 billion to veterans programs with money used by closing some corporate tax loopholes.
• In 2006 McCain opposed a plan that would automatically increase funding for veterans health programs by indexing the appropriations to inflation. The bill would have automatically indexed spending to rise or fall depending on the number of veterans.
• In 2005 McCain voted against a measure that would have targeted $500 million for veterans mental health programs.
• In 2006 McCain opposed an amendment that would have added $430 million for veterans outpatient services.
Several veterans groups have given McCain very low marks for his legislative record on issues important to servicemen and women. For example, the Disabled American Veterans Association assigned McCain a rating of 25 (on a scale of 0 to 100) in 2005. In 2006 McCain got a 20 rating. Obama, on the other hand, supported the group’s position 92 percent of the time in 2005 and 80 percent of the time in 2006.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans association has tracked more than 300 key votes of concern to veterans since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It gives John McCain an overall grade of D. Obama was given a B+.
The Vietnam Veterans of America’s legislative scorecard shows that on 19 key votes on veterans issues since Obama came to the Senate, he voted for the position favored by the association on 13 measures. McCain voted for the position favored by the association three times.
Earlier this month McCain was questioned by a Vietnam veteran at a town hall meeting in Denver. The veteran asked McCain why he had opposed funding for veterans benefits four years in a row. McCain ducked the question, responding, “I’ve received every award from every major veterans organization. I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.”
After being informed of his ratings by various veterans groups, McCain said that further questions about veterans benefits were off the table. “I will be glad to debate a lot of things, but not that one.”
Readers may watch the McCain exchange with the Vietnam veteran by viewing the following video. Just click on the play button below.
One of Karl Rove’s guiding principles has been to attack an opponent where he is the strongest. McCain’s service in Vietnam and his years in a North Vietnamese prison camp project McCain as a hero in the eyes of many veterans as well as Americans generally. But Obama’s strong record on veterans issues compared to McCain’s consistent opposition to increasing veterans benefits should erode McCain’s support in one of his strongest voting constituencies.
Bringing the truth about McCain’s votes on veterans benefits is particularly important in Virginia and Florida, battleground states where there are large numbers of retired military personnel.
Additional voices:
OEW is not alone in its criticism of John McCain’s record on veterans issues. See, for example:
Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain
Union Veterans Council
VoteVets.org
Or click the play button on the following videos which show veterans explaining why they do not support John McCain.