McCain on Veterans—Fact Check

In addition to foreign policy, last night’s debate focused on the very recent and very real economic crisis in our country. Several TMV contributors have already done an excellent job of analyzing how the two presidential candidates fared on those issues.

Another topic, and one that has been ever-present and gnawing at the American conscience for the past five-and-a-half years, was the never-ending war in Iraq. Both candidates forcefully expressed their widely differing views on this issue. Both praised the dedication, valor and sacrifice of our troops—as they should.

However, when Senator McCain, a hero himself, trumpeted his extensive support of our veterans, something did not sound quite right.

A comment in response to Michael Sticking’s September 27 post, “Initial Reflections on the First Obama-McCain Debate,” got my attention.

The comment by “Timr,” a 100 percent-disabled veteran since 1980, said in part:

Sorry, but when McCain said he supported Veterans, he flat out lied…I am involved in the DAV-Disabled American Veterans(life member) and the VFW(Veterans of Foreign Wars) and attended both conventions this year. Both candidates spoke…McCain got a D- grade on issues that Veterans feel are important from the DAV(the Webb GI bill was important, as were VA benefits-which McCain has pretty much voted against for 20 years-the VFW also gave McCain a D- on important issues while Obama got a B+ grade from both organizations.

While I would not say that McCain “flat out lied,” I would say that McCain at the very least has exaggerated and embellished the extent and vigor of his recent support for our veterans.

In a May 22, 2008, Senate vote on the Webb GI Bill, after having fought this more generous version of the bill tooth and nail, McCain was AWOL when 76 of his colleagues (including Senator Obama) voted in favor of the GI Bill.

When the Senate passed the final version of the GI Bill on June 26, by a vote of 92-6, only two Senators were absent: one was Senator Ted Kennedy who was recovering from brain surgery. You can guess who the other Senator was….

I have posted extensively on the GI Bill here, and here.

But do not take my word (or Timr’s word) for it. Take the word of Edward Humes, a journalist and prolific author who in 1989 received the Pulitzer Prize for specialized reporting for several investigative stories he wrote about the U.S. Military.

In 2006, he literally “wrote the book” on the G.I. Bill with his “Over Here: How the G.I. Bill Transformed the American Dream.” A book that tells how the post-World War II G.I. Bill “ revolutionized higher education, created suburbia, brought us the scientists, engineers, doctors, artists and teachers who built most of what is good in America today.”

While Humes mainly questions Senator McCain’s opposition to the G.I. Bill (“Why would a Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war, a man who is personally acquainted with the difficulties vets can face in returning to civilian life, join President Bush in opposing a popular bipartisan bill to support the troops?”), he offers many other examples of McCain’s less than stellar legislative support for veterans in a May 30, 2008 column in the Los Angeles Times, “McCain’s Attack on Vets– His respectful rhetoric isn’t matched by his votes”:

* On Webb’s GI Bill, he expressed opposition, and he was AWOL when it was time to vote on May 22.

* Last September [2007], he voted against another Webb bill that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.

* On a badly needed $1.5-billion increase for veterans medical services for fiscal year 2007 — to be funded through closing corporate tax loopholes — he voted no. He also voted against establishing a trust fund to bolster under-budgeted veterans hospitals.

* In May 2006, he voted against a $20-billion allotment for expanding swamped veterans medical facilities.

* In April 2006, he was one of 13 Senate Republicans who voted against an amendment to provide $430 million for veterans outpatient care.

* In March 2004, he voted against and helped defeat on a party-line vote a $1.8-billion reserve for veterans medical care, also funded by closing tax loopholes.

Again, Senator McCain is indisputably a war hero, but even war heroes can and should be fact-checked.