IAVA Gives John McCain A "D" For His Vets Record

Before he went on the full-frontal assault against Barack Obama, John McCain loved to talk about his time as a POW and his record on veterans issues. While McCain may have suffered tremendously for his country in Vietnam, what he says and what he does for our troops and those that have served are two different things entirely. Veterans rights advocates know the truth about John McCain and they aren't afraid to speak up on the issue.

From Crooks and Liars:

Paul Rieckhoff of IAVA sits down with Rachel Maddow to discuss his group's 2008 report card on how members of Congress voted on Veterans issues. John McCain: D. Barack Obama: B.

RIECKHOFF: There were 53 original co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle [for the new GI Bill]. Eventually, right-wing folks like Senator Warner got involved with folks on the left like Senator Webb. Every major veteran services organization in the country supported it, more ¾ of the House. So, this was kind of a legislative locomotive. And one of the only blocks along the way consistently was Senator McCain.

So, it's not a partisan issue here. The G.I. bill had tremendous support. And he was just really behind this legislative issue. Now, he's made attempts to go back and say he was holding out for transferability. Transferability, being able to transfer your G.I. bill benefits to your family members. It was already in the law. It was at the discretion of the Department of Defense.

So, it's kind of a red herring there. But the reports are out there now. Everybody can check the vote. Go to VeteranReportCard.org, you can check their votes and everybody else who's up for reelection this year.

Right on Paul, if you have any doubts about who's record is better than another, just look up the votes yourself. I can tell you that Barack Obama scores better on veterans issues until I'm blue in the face. Yet until you see it up close and personal, only then does one truly see the myth of the "maverick" and the truth of an aging soldier that does not do what it take to keep our veterans fully taken care of.

AFL-CIO Hits McCain For His Senate Record

It really is simple to go after McCain. All you need is some cash (like the unions have) to put a spot on the air that focuses on McCain's record and that does all the work for you:

Bashing Veterans And Being A Hypocrite Takes Real Talent

I have to hand it to Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) on his performance the other night while talking about his challenger last year and for 2008, retired Navy man Eric Massa. Kuhl had some pretty nasty things to say about Massa, especially when the nastiest thing in the 29th district of New York is Kuhl, his ridiculous behaviors and his positions.

From The Daily Gotham:

What is it with republicans and actual veterans? They cut their healthcare, let things like Walter Reed happen, start illegal wars, and when push comes to shove, point to yellow-ribbon bumper stickers to cover up their systematic abuse of America's military and the men and women in uniform.

From the 29th District comes another such tale of woe. It starts, predictably enough, with potshots taken by draft-dodger, Certified Wingnut™ and incumbent republican Congressman Randy Kuhl against Democratic challenger Eric Massa, a retired Navy Vet. In this specific case, Kuhl broke ground with an interesting description of military retirees.

To Kuhl, these aren't retired military personnel - they just don't have a job. This from a professional politician who has served in elected office for almost three decades.

Kuhl is certainly one to talk. While Massa was literally fighting for his country, Kuhl was voting for his own interests while using the troops as props. Now that one of those in uniform is running against him to take away the opportunity to abuse his power, he'll do and say anything to disparage Eric Massa. Time for this scumbag to get a real job and not in Congress.