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October 2, 2008

McCain Kinda, Sorta Supports Veterans. Actually? Not So Much.

OK, I know it seems as if my writing has been consumed by the election as of late. I guess that's what happens when a political junkie finds herself suddenly, unexpectedly in a swing state. Colorado is currently being inundated by political ads, campaign stops, candidate appearances, pollsters and I find the process fascinating. Maybe it's because I feel that we finally, as a nation, have the opportunity to rise above the level to which we've descended over the last seven years. I feel so hopeful these days.

Well, today I feel less exhilarated and more sniffly. Quarantined in bed, as I have been for the last four days, has given me ample time to read on line and watch cable news programs (jesus, I had no idea the crap that passes for news on tv these days). Yes, I even read newspapers! All of 'em, any of 'em that, um, have been in front of me. The New York Times and the Boulder Weekly, just to name two.

My apologies to those of you who are sick of politics, sick of the news, sick of current events (as they were called in grade school), but this is the gear I seem to be grinding. It's better than smoking crack in a dimly lit stall of a gas station bathroom, that's for damn sure.

With that said, shall we move on to McCain? With the amount of tissues I am destroying and the red, raw look I am sporting, I have to cancel my jaunt this afternoon down to Denver to participate in John and Cindy's town hall meeting. I'll just have to rely on his Senate voting record to make an informed opinion about him.

Which leads me to today's episode of Liar, Liar Pants on Fire! If you watched the Presidential debates last week, you heard John McCain, just after reminding us of his POW experience (although, truthfully, it sounded as if he was just in prison), say the following:

"I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I'll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."

My husband is a Navy veteran. He served his country proudly and honorably and I admire the experience for which he volunteered during the first Gulf War. I would never presume to speak for him, but when McCain uttered the above words, my beautiful husband actually snorted and then laughed. Loudly. He continue to laugh as he muttered, "Bullshit!" and walked out of the room. Baby, when you've got veterans laughing, the very people you're pimping in your campaign, you've got a problem. So, I did a little digging.

Via Crooks and Liars, one of my favorite fact check websites, I found a GREAT web resource outlining exactly how McCain has voted on veteran and troop issues over the years. Vetvoice.com is a diary compendium edited by Army veteran Brandon Friedman that focuses on veteran and troop issues. The posts written by enlisted men are an incredible read and offer a perspective rarely heard in the mainstream media.

Friedman wrote an incredibly detailed post regarding McCain's voting record. This is not conjecture, opinion, or partisan politics. McCain's voting history is public record. It's fact. If you're voting for McCain based on the notion that he cares deeply for the American veteran, please read Friedman's post. It is an education regarding how McCain has truly treated our vets. McCain states that the vets know that he will take care of them. Based on what exactly?

For a detailed description of all the bills mentioned in the VetVoice's piece, or for any public record information regarding political officials' bios, party affiliation, speeches, issue positions, interest group ratings, committees, sponsorships, votes, and campaign finances, please visit Project Smart Vote. There you can search for your representatives and view their actual records. A little information is a powerful thing.

McCain's Miserable Record of Not Supporting America's Troops and Veterans - VetVoice.com
McCain’s Awful Record on Troop and Veterans’ Issues - crooksandliars.com
ProjectSmartVote.org

Posted by bethamsel at October 2, 2008 9:47 AM

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