May 20, 2008
Veterans' Group Unveils Ad Critical of McCain's Stance on GI Bill
A veterans’ group that has been critical of the Iraq war is unveiling a television ad today that criticizes John McCain for opposing legislation to expand education benefits for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The ad, by the group VoteVets.org, is scheduled to run over 36 hours, beginning today on broadcast- and cable-television stations in Washington, D.C. It features veterans of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who ask Senator McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, to reverse course and support the bill.
“It’s time for some straight talk,” one of the veterans says in the ad. “Call Senator McCain and ask him to support our troops.”
Senator McCain has criticized the legislation, which would cover up to the full cost of a four-year education at a public college, as being too costly and has voiced concern that it could harm retention rates in the armed services. He is backing an alternate version of the bill that would provide a smaller initial increase in education benefits but raise the award after 12 years of service to encourage retention.
Barack Obama, meanwhile, also has made this an issue in the campaign, criticizing Senator McCain for his refusal to support the bill.
Sara Hebel | Posted on Tuesday May 20, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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This is not the pre-presidential McCain; this is Madman McCain, the candidate who—like his predecessor—sold his soul to the military-industrial complex to be its party’s choice.
— marcii May 20, 04:08 PM #
Concerned about retention? You have got to be bull####ing me! How about multiple tours in theater . . . 2, 3, 4, 5 tours and higher . . . . Now, there’s a rentention incentive! And, excessive costs? After 6 years the war is still being funded with “emergency” funding bills. There’s some straight talk with a kink in it.
— PNed May 20, 04:34 PM #
As a life member of the VFW for action I’d rather not talk about, I think the funding is too much.
When I got out of the Navy in 1984, my education benefit was $225 a month. I was a full-time student taking 15- 18 hours each term. I worked part-time jobs in a bank in the day time and a liquor store at night and did the drilling reserves on the weekend once a month.
I don’t think the Government should pay the full-ride, covering more than tuition. I think just the tuition and books are plenty.
I rented a house and did not live at home and was able to make it without much loan debt. Of course my degree was in finance and I was very conscious of debt.
I think the uproar or brouhaha is all political mumbo jumbo. I do think the GI Bill of 1945 was a great moment in American history and when you consider that Truman, Ford, and Carter used GI Bill funds, some pretty good products come out of it. The ROI on the GI Bill was 6x the cost. I just think expecting to not have to contribute anything is wrong.
Bubba
— Good ol' Bubba May 20, 04:57 PM #
marci, you can rest assured that John McCain has a better understanding of veteran benefits than you ever will have. So please return to your hole and leave this blog to us thinking dudes.
— real marci May 21, 09:20 PM #
good ol bubba, that’s fine for you, but with everything these troops have gone through with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, that’s the least this country can do for them. They deserve every bit. Oh and I come from and married into a military famiy so I know of what I speak.
— Informed May 31, 12:01 AM #