McCain, Obama spar on GI bill

[Terri]

By LIBBY QUAID
Associated Press
May 23, 2008

UNION CITY, Calif. (AP) -- Republican John McCain, a Vietnam War hero who hopes to be commander in chief, said Thursday that Democrat Barack Obama had no right to accuse him of political posturing on military scholarships because the Illinois senator did not serve in uniform.

''And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did,'' the Arizona senator said in a harshly worded statement issued Thursday.

At issue is an expansion of the GI bill that would guarantee full college scholarships for those who serve in the military for three years. The Democratic-led Senate on Thursday passed the measure, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and supported by Obama, on a 75-22 vote as 25 Republicans abandoned President Bush, who opposed it.

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[Terri]

McCain Responds to Obama on Veterans Bill

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Senator Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of. Let me say first in response to Senator Obama, running for President is different than serving as President. The office comes with responsibilities so serious that the occupant can't always take the politically easy route without hurting the country he is sworn to defend. Unlike Senator Obama, my admiration, respect and deep gratitude for America's veterans is something more than a convenient campaign pledge. I think I have earned the right to make that claim.

The Democrats are really pushing their anti-veteran stance this week.

[Jolanta]

I will agree with Senator McCain on this one. An Army full of private cannot win this war. They need their leaders, their non-commissioned officers to led them. This new GI Bill would be a great carrot to get people to serve in the military.

[gems]

Yes, we agree that McCain is on the right side on this issue, but that is not enough to get us out to the polls in November.

He still must admit that his "Comprensive Immigration Reform" is dead and that is the second part of the lesson he learned last summer.

Until we hear him say that, we will not be voting in November and we'd hope that most of the Republican base did the same. McCain is a RHINO and does not deserve our votes until he aligns himself with some of our core issues. With "Compresnsive Immigration Reform" is dead being our #1 issue!

Genieve, Eric, Mariebeth & Stephanie (GEMS)

[MrJLDoug]

''And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did,''

That away Pappy, take Junior to the woodshed...

''Perhaps if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue, he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully,'' McCain said. ''But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions

In the past I have stated that McCain would not stand up to the Liberals. I am very pleased to be proven wrong. This is the McCain I remember from decades ago.
The reason we can maintain an all volunteer military is for the benefits offered. If the better benefits are offered after a short enlistment then everyone is correct in the knowledge of mostly less qualified enlisted leaders remaining.
Most of the moaning coming from the unhappy enlisted is that they joined for the benefits not to fight a war.

[THelsel]

MrJLDoug said:

"The reason we can maintain an all volunteer military is for the benefits offered. If the better benefits are offered after a short enlistment then everyone is correct in the knowledge of mostly less qualified enlisted leaders remaining.
Most of the moaning coming from the unhappy enlisted is that they joined for the benefits not to fight a war."

Those who moan generally also cannot make it through BCT or AIT, or, having done so fail somewhere along the way. They are NOT the stellar performers that the majority of our young military members are.

One only has to look at the ranks of organizations such as the Iraq Vets Against the War, Vietnam Vets Against the War, and the Vets for Peace to see numerous examples of this type of GI.