" On May 22, 2008, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a landmark increase in college aid to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator McCain, however, sided with President Bush who has promised to veto the legislation which was authored by Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb. But the 75-22 margin, more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto, suggests an easy override of the President’s wishes.
On the Senate floor, Democrat Presidential candidate Barack Obama respectfully disagreed with McCain’s opposition to the Webb bill saying, “I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can’t understand why he would line up behind the President in his opposition to this G.I. bill.” The bill’s chief author is Senator Jim Webb who has a son serving in Iraq. Webb, like McCain, is a war hero who also served as secretary of the Navy under President Reagan.
The Webb G.I. Bill is co-authored by Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton along with Republican Senators Chuck Hagel, Frank Lautenberg and John Warner. It proposes paying tuition, room and board and a $1,000 monthly stipend to veterans who have served on active duty for at least two years. The legislation is backed by several veterans’ groups, including The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Webb argued that providing today’s veterans with a G.I. Bill similar to what World War II-era veterans received would boost recruiting, ease the transition of soldiers returning from war and raise the quality of life for those who have risked their lives.
McCain responded to Obama not with an answer but with an angry personal attack saying that he would not listen to any lectures on veteran’s affairs from Obama, “Who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform.”
Well, if people who didn’t serve in the military are not entitled to opinions on the subject then I imagine Senator McCain is also referring to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Abraham Lincoln (not a veteran by his own admission) Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton (Bush was in the Air National Guard but rarely showed up for work).
I cannot help but infer that McCain feels his judgment on the needs of current veterans is better than that of other Senators (whether having served or not) simply because his service is superior to theirs. What incredible arrogance.
Let us follow McCain’s convoluted reasoning a little farther. Does John McCain have a right to opine on issues concerning women — he’s never been one. Does the good Senator have any right to speak out on minority issues — he’s never been a minority. Does the Arizona Republican have any right to speak out on Israel — he’s not Jewish. And —what about the economy? McCain admits he is weak on the subject. His response to Obama was not only an example of his famous hair-trigger temper; it was a perfect example of hubris. And, oh yeah, I’d still like to know the answer to Senator Obama’s question, “Why are you opposed to this G.I. Bill?
Finally, in case you didn’t know, the original G.I. Bill returned between five and thirteen dollars on every one dollar invested. It also was more generous than Webb’s proposal because it also covered private college tuition. Guess who said this, “The original G.I. Bill is one of the greatest things about the 20th century.” None other than Arizona Senator John McCain. His support of President Bush in opposition to the Webb bill can be defined as nothing other than sheer hypocrisy. Never have the words “John McCaine, more of the same,” been truer."
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