On September 27, I wrote a story, “McCain on Veterans–Fact Check.”
In it, I quoted a comment from a “Timr,” who claims to be a 100-percent-disabled veteran—a claim we have no reason to doubt. The quote was:
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.
The story went on to discuss Senator McCain’s votes–or lack thereof–on Veterans’ related bills and issues, and included examples provided by 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.
While we have no reason to doubt the authenticity or the sincerity of the person who posted the comment, The Moderate Voice has received the following correspondence from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
Dear Editors:
Dorian De Wind’s Sept. 27 piece entitled, “McCain on Veterans—Fact Check,” used an anonymous comment by “Timr” that is false.
Excerpt:
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.
To set the record straight, the Veterans of Foreign Wars does not rate politicians. Here’s a link to a similar piece on Annenberg’s FactCheck.org:
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/does_mccain_have_a_perfect_voting_record.html
Regards,
Joe Davis
Director of Public Affairs
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
Washington Office
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.