McCain takes credit for GI bill he opposed

[Sinister]

At a town hall event in Warren, Ohio yesterday, Senator John McCain boasts about a GI bill that increased educational benefits for US troops after he not only opposed (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/26/mccain/) the bill, but also did not show up (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00162) for the vote in the Senate.

From the video that follows below:

"I'm happy to tell you that we probably agreed to an increase in educational benefits for our veterans that not only gives them that gives them an increase in their educational benefits, but if they stay in for a certain amount of time than they can transfer those educational benefits to their spouses and or children. That's a very important aspect I think of incentivizing people of staying in the military."

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1aJGaRxDCM

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_takes_credit_for_Gi_bill_0628.html

[pinky]

Looking at the breakdown of the vote, there were 92 for the bill, including all Democrats who voted, 6 against the bill, all Republicans, and 2 not voting, one of whom has inoperable brain cancer, the other being McCain.

[db44]

Maybe he invented the internet, too.

Being in the military may make you qualified to be president, and vote against pro-soldier bills. :o

[Venisenvy]

John McCain was never agains the GI Bill, the problem was that he thought it should be done differently. He thought the more service you gave the military the more you should get. I believe he said that 4 years should get you 4 years of college. And the longer you were there, the more they would give you.

[pinky]

Here's an article about what he said in April:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=4652517&page=1

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, seemed to give a thumbs down to bipartisan legislation that would greatly expand educational benefits for members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan under the GI Bill.

McCain indicated he would offer some sort of alternative to the legislation to address concerns that expanding the GI Bill could lead more members of the military to get out of the service......

Officials in charge of Pentagon personnel worry that a more generous and expansive GI Bill would create an incentive for troops to get out of the military and go to college.


And while that might be great for the individual troop, it could be bad for the military, which is already under stress after more than five years fighting two wars.

On his campaign plane this afternoon, McCain said he and allies in the Senate are working on an alternative to the bill, but would only support something that included incentives to stay in the military. Clearly, he didn't support THIS bill. To claim credit for it is disingenuous.

[db44]

I thought that was the purpose of the GI Bill to begin with: To offer soldiers a civilian life after they served their time.

[LesterX]

Here's an article about what he said in April:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=4652517&page=1

Clearly, he didn't support THIS bill. To claim credit for it is disingenuous.

Exactly. John McCain cannot claim that "we agreed to an increase in educational benefits for our veterans " when he opposed the bill and did not vote on it. The Straight Talk Express apparently needs to have the word "we" defined. Perhaps a definition of "Straight Talk" also is in order.

[Venisenvy]

But it is wrong to say that John McCain didn't care about our troops or that he didnt want a GI bill to pass. He liked the GI Bill but wanted it to add an incentive to stay in the military, the longer you serve the more you get, it is perfectly fair.

[db44]

He wanted to keep people in the military, to make it harder for them to leave or make incentives for them to stay. I can't say that's caring for the troops as individual people.

[LesterX]

But it is wrong to say that John McCain didn't care about our troops or that he didnt want a GI bill to pass. He liked the GI Bill but wanted it to add an incentive to stay in the military, the longer you serve the more you get, it is perfectly fair.


Nobody said he doesn't care about our troops prior to this post, although I do agree with Dave's response.

The issue at hand is that he lied when he said that "we" agreed to an increase in educational benefits. He did not agree to the increase. He opposed the bill and did not cast a vote. (Mr. Man of Principle didn't have the guts to cast a "no" vote.)

How about telling the truth on the Straight Talk Express? I guess he figures explaining his position wouldn't garner him votes, so lying was the better option.

[Venisenvy]

His position would not garner him votes because they would use it against him, it would turn to MCcain Doesn't support the troops, he doesnt support the GI Bill. But he does support the GI Bill, just not the version here. In the end he sure as hell is happier with any GI Bill than none.

And Dave he didnt want to make it harder for people to leave, he wanted to give an incentive to stay, they could leave if they wanted to but the longer they serve the more they get back. McCain did support the GI Bill. I'm not sure what kind of work he might have had behind the scenes, it is quite possible he did have a hand in this bill, and should claim credit.

[pinky]

That's a stretch, given his opposition to the bill as drafted.

Here are the only facts we have:

1. McCain opposed THIS bill.
2. McCain did not vote for THIS bill.
3. McCain is now saying "WE" passed THIS bill.

[LesterX]

His position would not garner him votes because they would use it against him, it would turn to MCcain Doesn't support the troops, he doesnt support the GI Bill. But he does support the GI Bill, just not the version here. In the end he sure as hell is happier with any GI Bill than none.

Ah, so now you're defending being a liar for political gain. Nice.

If he's happier with any GI Bill than none, then he should have voted for it. Do you think McCain is the first member of Congress not to be happy with exactly how a bill is drawn up? Members of Congress vote all the time for bills that they don't think are perfect but are better than doing nothing.

McCain did support the GI Bill. I'm not sure what kind of work he might have had behind the scenes, it is quite possible he did have a hand in this bill, and should claim credit.

Hello? Are you kidding? He publicly opposed the GI bill that went before Congress for a vote. He did not cast a vote. Therefore, he does not get to take credit for the bill in question. We're not talking about the general notion of a GI Bill that he may support in theory. We're talking about a specific piece of legislation that he did not support. Period.

Edit: Oops, I didn't see your post Pinky. You said exactly what I was trying to say, much more succinctly. ;)

[LesterX]

Meant to edit my prior post, sorry.

[db44]

By hook or by crook, he wanted people to risk their lives instead of heading off to college. Personally, I think if somebody did their time, they shouldn't have another sales pitch thrown at them to stay around more.