McCain is lying...

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/23/mccain-vet-awards/

McCain: ‘I Recieved The Highest Award From Literally Every Veterans Organization In America’

Yesterday, the Senate voted 75-22 to pass Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century GI Bill, in a rebuke to President Bush, who opposes the measure. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) skipped the vote to hold a swanky fundraiser in California — one of only three senators to miss the vote (Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was gone for health reasons, and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) had to attend a funeral).

After Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) criticized McCain’s opposition to the bill yesterday, McCain went on the attack, first in a lengthy and vitriolic press release and then in a press conference, during which he insisted that he had the support of “literally every veterans organization” in the country:

I believe that I have earned the right to speak out on veterans’ issues. As a matter of fact I received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America. I don’t know if the American people will judge Senator Obama as to whether he has military experience or not, but they may judge him as to whether he has experience and knowledge to make the judgment necessary to care for the veterans.

Watch it at link~

In fact, his stance against the GI bill not only places him squarely in the minority of the Senate, but puts him in opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The recognition McCain has received from veterans groups is not “high awards” but failing grades:

— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)

– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)

– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain “Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)

McCain frequently cites his own experience as a POW in Vietnam as the ultimate evidence of his dedication to his fellow veterans. Unfortunately, his record belies his rhetoric.

He's riding this war vet/pow status of his into the ground.

Funny that some people thought of him as some sort of maverick- he does what he's told quite well.

:D

If voters see McCain as a veteran who betrays his fellow veterans he's done.

That's pretty much a slam dunk.

It comes with the territory. Always has, always will.

"Well, the United States does it, so why shouldn't we?"

:kick:

against the GI Bill? Straight Talk Express was just like Bush's Clear Skies, No Child Left Behind, they all lie in their Orwellian ways.

they nominate someone else. They are so screwn.

ALL politicians lie . . . it's the nature of the beast . . . any politician who expressed his or her true, unguarded feelings about every issue wouldn't last five minutes in the campaign arena . . .