McCain: Obama Did Not Serve In Uniform

Presumptive GOP Nominee Says He Will Not Accept "Lectures" On Military Scholarships From Those Who Didn't Serve

(AP)  Republican John McCain said Thursday that Democrat Barack Obama had no right to criticize McCain's position 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.

McCain lashed out at Obama's personal history despite Obama's repeated praise of McCain's military service. As Obama said Tuesday night in Des Moines, Iowa: "We face an opponent, John McCain, who arrived in Washington nearly three decades ago as a Vietnam War hero, and earned an admirable reputation for straight talk and occasional independence from his party."

McCain was a Navy fighter pilot who was shot down and spent nearly six years as a Vietnam prisoner of war. At age 46, Obama is too young to have been drafted or fought in Vietnam. The direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War officially ended in 1973, the same year the military draft was ended and replaced by an all-volunteer military.

The candidates' criticism of each other has grown increasingly acrimonious in recent weeks, a sign of things to come in the general election campaign.

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 passed the measure, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and supported by Obama, on Thursday by a 75-22 vote as 25 Republican abandoned President Bush, who opposed the provision.

Obama and his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Washington for the vote. McCain skipped the vote to campaign and raise money in California.

McCain opposes the measure, as does the Pentagon, out of concern that providing such a benefit after only three years of service would encourage people to leave the military after completing only one enlistment even as the U.S. fights two wars and is trying to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps.

Instead, McCain and Republican colleagues proposed a bill to increase benefits in conjunction with a veteran's length of service. Senate Democrats blocked the measure last week.

"Most worrying to me is that by hurting retention, we will reduce the numbers of men and women who we train to become the backbone of all the services, the noncommissioned officer," McCain said in his statement.

While McCain was joined on the campaign trail in California by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Gov. Pete Wilson and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, Obama reiterated his respect for McCain's service in a speech on the Senate floor.

"He is one of those heroes of which I speak," Obama said. "But I can't understand why he would line up behind the president in his opposition to this GI bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing, but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them."

McCain, in his statement, accused Obama of being motivated by politics.

"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."

[jsilver2th]

I have a hard time understanding why McCain would claim a veteran''s disability pension when he has his US Senate salary and his wife earned $6 million last year alone...

Seems that wearing the uniform was not a cure for his greed...

I''m sure our homeless vets living under bridges understand...

[firststate]

Obama didn''t need to wear the uniform to foresee the problems inherent with the Iraq use of force authorization McBush supported and the resulting war. Good, sound judgement doesn''t require military experience. Giving back to our veteran''s who have risked and sacrificed so much isn''t the exclusive right of veterans, either. The numbers and quality of recruits driven by the overdue GI bill''s provisions could likely make up for any reduction in retention.

[actornaught]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:28 PM : May 23, 2008

Not that i think the scenario is valid, it''s too extreme for a standard. But "the finger on the button" needs to be someone of way above average intelligence, great clarity of thought, and NOT a mind that is militaristic in reaction. Not at all requirements to be a politician.

But, with that criteria, John (and w) are both quickly disqualified.

[remco82]

As Mort Sahl remarked years ago, that military stuff is pretty impressive---if you''re eight years old.

[rowdywicca]

Who cares whether Obama served or not. You can''t put the button to the atomic bomb into the hands of a first grade politician who''s been in school 143 days.

It makes no sense at all!

[not4either]

Ostensibly John McCain, who no doubt deserves the military hero moniker more than anyone in this race, feels that one must have served in uniform before adding meaningfully to discussions on military scholarship.

Does one need to have traveled in space before he is considered qualified to discuss the physics of astronomy or space travel? I think not.

Does one need to have been a trader before he is considered qualified to discuss the social science of capital markets? I think not.

This is a complete nonsequitur if I have ever seen one.

He never states in uniform service makes one qualified to lecture him on military policy.

What he does do is quite interesting: While backhandedly chiding Obama for not serving, he simultaneously denies much needed benefits to those that did serve.

America, we are in deep %^$&!

[riptide213]

Presidents do not need in uniform time to objectively reevaluate our national mindset on why we go to or stop a war.

Common sense thinking and robust actions are not exclusively guaranteed or required military traits.

Proudly Operation Enduring Freedom may still be a just cause since a belligerent foe did bring a fight to our shores.

If our enemy is no longer active in Afghanistan, pull out the troops and bring them home. Engage targets of opportunity as they arise.


Sadly Operation Iraqi Freedom is now embarrassingly exposed as an avid fool%u2019s errand to pursue a political agenda cloaked with propaganda infused with deceit and fear.

Arabic proverb. We blame our times when we should blame ourselves.

Pull out now and let the new Iraqi government sink or swim.

Who or what is left after the dust settles deserves their chance to survive and rebuild a new nation on their own at their own pace based on their own resource capacity and most importantly their own unequivocal values.




The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastxrd die for his.

George Patton

[riptide213]

Thanks patriot12436

QT it is.

[patriot12436]

jack3213
Did obama ask clinton to join his ticket ? If so what was her answer ?

[patriot12436]

riptide
It is spelled QT not quit.

[patriot12436]

pr+boxer
I went to work at the age of 11 and didn''t stop till i was 56. I am retired military and also retired law enforcement. I went back to college and completed my degree in criminal justice, own my own home free and clear, have a great retirement and do the things i like to do. The only bill i have is a truck payment which i did to keep my credit status activce, i could''ve paid cash for it. So much for your theory lifers couldn''t make it on the outside. I made it in both worlds.

[patriot12436]

pr_boxer
Glad you got out and raised the standard

First, it appears that McCain''s real support is for the MILITARY as such, not the veteran specifically. His emphasis upon the needs of the establishment, the production of non-coms for the benefit of the chain of command, etc., does not translate to "benefits" for individual combat veterans. Second, I would hope that "understanding the issues" would include recognition of the sufficiency of three years of service in combat conditions in Iraq or Afghanistan, with moment by moment concern for that object by the side of the road, what deadly device might be under the flowing robes of the Iraqi approaching, whether that speeding vehicle is going to slow to a stop or just crash and explode in one''s gut, etc. I am not one who holds that just being in the military entitles one to an opinion about the military any more than one is required to go to prison to have an opinion about prison or frequent prostitutes to have an opinion about STDs. That would require that I hold the opinions of Timothy (OKC terrorist) McVeigh or Spc. Charles Graner and Spc. Sabrina Harmon of Abu Ghraib torture fame in higher regard than Obama''s, for no other reason than he did not wear the uniform and they did. Barack may not have worn the uniform, but he has been to college; it''s not worth more than three years of combat service.

[riptide213]

President elect Obama can be a hooah CINC without having served in uniform.

Troops to Obama. Respectfully, as our new CINC could you.

Reconsider our mission and objectives which necessitate keeping us full bore in unpopular wars?

Halt Stop Loss and In Lieu of Taskings which we know are code words for turning an All Volunteer Force into a backdoor draft force by stealth?

Allow us when tasked to just get on with our military missions without a clutter of tax paid contractors in the mix? This on going corporate US Defense Inc. mania is not the way to run a DOD.

Equal medical treatment that is triage based not rank dependent?

Fenced infrastructure funding for improved barracks and facilities?

Abolish 15 month combat zone tours?

As our CINC be a real inspiring leader like they teach us in military school to muster support and lead from the front with a fervent rally cries for bigger pay rises and entitlements for us the ones that serve, since we can%u2019t get too involved in politics?

21st Century up to date modern day genuine GI Bill educational benefit to better ourselves when we become civilian citizens again?

Legislation to clearly protect us by law to prevent humiliating harassment against military members in life and death?

As veterans depend on our VA to provide honest medical diagnoses free from political influence or statistical number fiddling?

Obama to troops and veterans. Yes We Can, hooah. Message received. Understood. Roger.

[riptide213]

President elect Obama can be a levelheaded CINC without having served in uniform.

American citizens to Obama. Our troops are a precious national resource. They serve proudly now and were always faithfully there defending the free people of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. Please as CINC can you change for the better both respect and support for our troops and veterans?

Obama to staff. Change starts here and now, we will do better because its right and what the people demand.

Get me the best and brightest defense and veteran folks from all corners of this great nation to give me the no BS options on how to make this happen. One issue at a time we will ethically change transgressions.

Obama to citizens. Yes We Can.

Obama to troops and veterans. I have not served in uniform, but that does not keep me from working tirelessly to provide you a better standard of living for the arduous duties you are or may have to perform.

Thank you troops and veterans for your service. We will never forget your triumphs and sacrifices.

You truly do deserve the best facilities and entitlements our nation can provide before, during, and after war.

P.S. Respectfully, on the quit can you just teach me how to salute smartly so I can look cool boarding Air Force One, Marine One, Army One, Navy One, and Coast Guard One. Thanks.

[realhdvideo]

Obama Did Not Serve In Uniform? He hasn''t done anything and he never will. The man is a dreamer. In 6 months from now it will be Obama who? No one wants a terrorist lover.

[patriot12436]

Mcvet
I had to change from ranger1948, they screwed up my password and i couldn''t get it straightened out.

[patriot12436]

skyk and McVet
I agree nothing is too good for our vets. It is time we started taking care of them as well as they have defended this country.

[veteran72]

ptsdveteran - typical liberal democratic *********.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by guyfrompa45 at 10:37 AM : May 23, 2008
+ report abuse

retarddfrompa = 59 IQ Neocon Cheerleader and Apologist

[veteran72]

Obama wasn''t involved in the Keating 5 Scandal either.
Does that mean he isn''t qualified to free perks and favors like vacations in the caribbean and private jet rides???.......By the time November rolls around, McBush will be ready to go hide under a rock.....
WAY too much baggage to start yelling and pointing fingers at anyone else for anything.....
(PS, it''s all on video, Pappy,....sorry....) LMMFAO