Dems Target McCain On College Aid For Vets

Presumptive GOP Nominee Criticized For Opposing Bill That Would Expand Educational Benefits For Veterans

(AP)  Democrats and their allies are ready to convert Sen. John McCain's stance on college aid for military veterans into a presidential campaign cause.

McCain, the all-but-nominated Republican presidential candidate, opposes a Democratic-backed bill that would significantly expand the breadth of education benefits for veterans, first adopted for those returning from World War II. Democrats want the proposal included in a war spending bill the Senate is scheduled to vote on this week.

Sen. Barack Obama, McCain's most likely general election opponent, already has raised objections to McCain's resistance. And on Tuesday, a veterans' group that has been critical of the war in Iraq is launching an ad in Washington to pressure McCain to change his mind.

By taking issue with McCain on the subject of veterans, Democrats hope to weaken one of his biggest assets - his personal biography as a former Navy pilot who became a prisoner of the North Vietnamese and endured torture at the hands of his captors.

The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, also veterans of Vietnam, would guarantee full tuition payments to veterans at any public school in their home state. Its expected cost is $52 billion over 10 years.

McCain says the legislation is too expensive and has proposed his own version, which would increase the monthly benefit available to most veterans to $1,500 from $1,100. It would not offer the equivalent of a full scholarship.

The ad by VoteVets.org Action Fund, features Iraq and Afghanistan veterans noting that both McCain and President Bush oppose the bill.

"McCain thinks covering a fraction of our education is enough," one veteran says. Another one, pictured recovering from head wounds, adds in a voiceover: "We didn't give a fraction in Iraq. We gave 100 percent."

"Senator McCain" an announcer concludes, "we respect your service. Please respect ours."

The ad is running Tuesday and Wednesday on broadcast and cable television stations in Washington, primarily during news broadcasts. VoteVets is running a similar ad targeting Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in San Antonio and Waco - two Texas markets with military bases.

Other veteran's groups - from Veterans of Foreign Wars to the American Legion - support the Democratic bill. But VoteVets, which has been aggressive in its criticism of Bush's war policies, is the first to take McCain on directly.

"He's trying to run interference for the White House with a watered down bill," said Jon Soltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org. "How could this not be an issue in the presidential campaign if he doesn't vote for this bill? There is no way for this to go away if he votes against it."

VoteVets is a nonprofit corporation and part of a Democratic-leaning coalition of war critics that has vowed to spend millions linking McCain to Bush's war policies. Earlier this year, VoteVets ran an ad on Washington cable stations urging McCain to abandon his commitment to Iraq.

The Pentagon opposes the Webb-Hagel bill, saying the benefit could hurt retention by encouraging members of the military to leave after serving only three years.

Obama, campaigning in West Virginia last week, said the bill is necessary to make veteran's benefits match the rising costs of tuition.

"I have great respect for John McCain's service to this country and I know he loves it dearly and honors those who serve," Obama said. "But he is one of the few senators of either party who oppose this bill because he thinks it's too generous. I couldn't disagree more."

[jack3213]

These same Democrats do not want a war to save them from terror but want to spend tax money to give full scholorships- to vets- and these Democrats are more greedy and hypocritical than any Republican has ever been. MCCain does not say he will help vets- as he was one himself- but everything has to be reasonable. This is just reality

[briannorwood]

He''s against helping our troops, but I betcha he never leaves home without putting the flag on his lapel!

20 billion a month for "Iraqi reconstruction" but not a cent more to help our troops get a better education! Disgusting!

[jack3213]

These same Democrats do not want a war to save them from terror but want to spend tax money to give full scholorships- to vets- and these Democrats are more greedy and hypocritical than any Republican has ever been. MCCain does not say he will not help vets- as he was one himself- but everything has to be reasonable. This is just reality. Democrats have a poor sense of reality.

[wdrussell1]

You don''t see nine figure McCain crying about needing government help.

[roger_inkart]

Democrats have a poor sense of reality.

Posted by jack3213 at 09:47 AM : May 20, 2008

Better than having none at all - like Republicans.

[missingamerica]

...but everything has to be reasonable. This is just reality

Posted by jack3213 at 09:46 AM : May 20, 2008

If the Republicans would have delivered on what America should reasonably able to expect - corruption controls and full accountablility for all funds expended in the Iraq war effort - how much of that $50 billion GI Bill expansion could have been fully funded with the money that the Republicans didn''t flat out waste in Iraq?

20%? 40%?

lolll...unfortunately, it is unreasonable to expect honesty and accountability from a Republican once they attain office.

[missingamerica]

Do you know the real difference - on the taxation and expenditure side - between the Democrats and the Republicans, which contrasting the Bear Stearns bailout to this GI Bill provides a perfect example of?

The Democrats think it is a good idea to enrich the lives and futures of tens and hundreds of thousands of Americans with tens of thousands of dollars apiece.

The Republicans think it is a good idea to enrich the lives of dozens to hundreds of Americans with millions to billions of dollars apiece.

Beyond the fact that the Republicans obviously only represent their own aristocracy, what method is more effective as an economic driver?

I think you only have to look at the nation''s economy during the period from 1945 to the OPEC-enabled coup d''etat Big Oil carried out in the ''70s to figure that out.

[armydog2]

Hey jack3213, I would rather see my tax dollars go to our Brave and Honorable Soldiers who have sacrificed the most for our country by serving 2,3,and four tours of duty in this war that bush started by telling lies 935 times, than line the pockets of halliburton and blackwater. These Soldiers have earned it and anything less is a moral crime. so mccain is no more than a common criminal just like bush for not supporting these Soldiers.It is the very least we can do to say Thank You for their service.

[fuzkida]

I used to respect McCain - esp. when he stood up to the avaricious Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest in a time of war. BUt the more I get to know this man, the more I get to see his hypocrisy and how he doesn''t have any scruples when it comes to pandering for support. Nevertheless, I cannot fathom why this war ''hero'' would be so heartless as to oppose this bill.
If he can pander to right-wing nut jobs like Rev. Hagee, why can''t he ''pander'' to those who have given up life, limb and family to fight this immoral war?!
McCain, this is a no-brainer. Are you really prepared to hurt your fellow-Vets just bc. this compassionate bill is sponsored by a Democrat?! Wow! What happened to the candidate who used to reach across the aisle to help our fellow Americans?

[neoconslayer]

jack3213: Thank you for your eloquent backstab of our veterans, as well as your bald-faced lie about democrats. Your assumption that the war in Iraq is keeping us safe from terror is just another lie. 4,000 of us are dead, over 32,000 are wounded. Are you really so deep into your crack pipe that you believe al-Qaeda was going to maim 32,000 of us on the job in America?

[jack3213]

Bush has set the bar too low- you cannot wipe out an entire party becasue of a bad situation or you would have done that to every Democrat as well. Flip flopping to suit your purpose is as bad as a herd of sheep- Jobs need to be fixed and completed in Iraq- and we are not leaving there any time soon- A Democrat will not allow it at the expense of the safety of the country just to appease his or her ego.They promise you the moon and cannot deliver on anything- that to me is the biggest scam of all. Socialized health care is a disaster. Just look at countries that have it. Democrats want that just to make you feel like you are getting something for nothing. Nothing is free. They will raise your taxes and they also will not be able to lower the oil prices just because they say so. They are inept and the two Dems running are the least qualified. Shame on all for falling for the scam.

[jack3213]

Posted by neoconslayer : "Are you really so deep into your crack pipe that you believe al-Qaeda was going to maim 32,000 of us on the job in America?:

YES- IF THEY CAN- THEY WILL. WAKE UP YOU NAIVE IGNORANT.

[antoniof123]

Jack let me say this about flip-flopping:

If you are a fish it is bad but if you are a public servant you had better be listening to the public.

That said you stay the course is like fish it sticks after three days and it is time to throw them out.

The GOP said they could lose as much as 30, to 40 maybe more seats in congress in Nomvember if they don''t do something.

They could start by listening to the voters oh wait they are the deciders.

Want to see what happens to the deciders in Nomvember stick around.

[starleo146]

he ad by VoteVets.org Action Fund, features Iraq and Afghanistan veterans noting that both McCain and President Bush oppose the bill.

"McCain thinks covering a fraction of our education is enough," one veteran says. Another one, pictured recovering from head wounds, adds in a voiceover: "We didn''t give a fraction in Iraq. We gave 100 percent."

and he is for the troops another liar mc Bush every veteran org. should be outraged and speak out loud and clear