By Denise Ross

My expected dispatch and photo from a friend aboard the Straight Talk Express with McCain and Thune on Monday must have hit a glitch in the matrix, so I started clicking around to see what I could find about John McCain and the vets who love him and those who love to hate him.

It’s one way to kill an entire evening. But I bring a summary of a few things to the Hoghouse after McCain rallied rally-goers at Sturgis Monday evening.

First, Democrats tried to counter McCain’s appeal to veterans by holding a press conference and issuing a press release listing their objections to his record on veterans’ benefits. Full press release on the jump (not for the faint of heart); here’s an excerpt:

Time and again in the U.S. Senate McCain has stood with President Bush, not our nation’s veterans, by under funding VA health care.  And now McCain says he wants to ration treatment for service members and veterans by providing health care only to soldiers injured in combat. 

Elsewhere, there are Vets For McCain, who - if you scroll down - stray into Grover Norquist and James Dobson territory. But they start out their list of why they back McCain with the need for a strong national defense.

And they post this video of McCain explaining a bit his position on the new GI bill.

Then there is/are Vietnam Veterans Against McCain, which Wonkette noted is really just “A Vietnam Veteran Against McCain.”

Then there’s McCain’s official campaign site’s section on veterans’ issues.

John McCain believes that America’s veterans who dedicated themselves to protecting our country deserve the highest quality health care. He is committed to ensuring that veterans’ health care programs receive the funding necessary to provide the quality health care our veterans need and deserve. He has worked to ensure that the Veteran’s Affairs provides care for all eligible veterans, no matter where they live or what they need. In addition, John McCain has fought to ensure that retired servicemen and women have meaningful access to affordable health care.

That does seem to run counter to what McCain said in this video, which was featured in the Dems’ press release Monday:

Here’s the full press release the SD Democratic Party issued in advance of McCain’s appearance Monday at the Buffalo Chip:

South Dakota Veterans Highlight McCain’s Weak Record on Veterans’ Care,

Call on McCain to Abandon Suggestion to Ration VA Care

Sturgis, South Dakota—With John McCain in Sturgis today for an event in honor of our veterans and service members, South Dakota veterans gathered at the Freedom Memorial at Sturgis City Park to call on John McCain to abandon his suggestion that we should ration VA Care.  The veterans will also highlight McCain’s weak record on veterans’ issues including his votes against funding for service members and veterans and his opposition to the GI bill. We all honor and thank John McCain for his own service to our country.  But when McCain talks about caring for our veterans, his rhetoric just doesn’t match his record. 

Time and again in the U.S. Senate McCain has stood with President Bush, not our nation’s veterans, by under funding VA health care.  And now McCain says he wants to ration treatment for service members and veterans by providing health care only to soldiers injured in combat. 

When it comes to education, McCain opposed the 21st Century G.I. Bill to help our service members and veterans pay for college. Instead, McCain supported a weaker bill that would provide far less benefits to our troops.  McCain falsely claimed that the GI Bill would hinder the military’s ability to retain troops, but refused to discuss how the failure of the bill would have left veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars saddled with $30,000 of college debt.

Rick Hauffe, Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said, “We all honor John McCain’s service to our country,”.  “But when it comes to our nation’s veterans, Senator McCain has consistently turned his back on them.  It’s time for John McCain to explain his weak record on veterans’ care, and abandon his suggestion to ration VA health care benefits.  Americans have already had eight years of a president who has turned his back on our veterans, and we don’t want four more years with John McCain.”

To see the video of John McCain suggesting that VA care should be rationed for combat-injured veterans only, click on the following link.  In the video at minute 2:49, McCain says, “So here’s my idea…Look, we need to concentrate our efforts to handle those wounds and those disabilities that are directly the result of combat.” 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNkvIxCEc4

MCCAIN SUGGESTED RATIONING VETERANS HEALTH CARE:

Army Times:  McCain Suggests Rationing Veterans Health Care.  Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain appeared Tuesday to suggest rationing of veterans’ health care may be needed so combat veterans can receive the care they deserve.  Army Times, 7/23/08]

McCain: “We Need To Concentrate Our Efforts To Handle Those Wounds And Disabilities That Are Directly The Result Of Combat.” During a town hall meeting in Rochester, New Hampshire, McCain spoke about healthcare for veterans and said, “So here’s my idea, and it’s not originated with me, but I’ve consulted with so many … others who are here. Look, we need to concentrate our efforts to handle those wounds and those disabilities that are directly the result of combat. We need to expand our ability to treat PTSD. PTSD is going to be tough in this war, you know that. And we need to treat the combat wounds. We need to increase that ability to do so.” [CNN Live Feed, Town Hall (Rochester, NH), 7/22/08]

Lt. Gen. Robert Gard Jr. (USA, Retired): McCain’s Idea Would Shortchange Other Combat Veterans.  “These wars are the first to be waged in large numbers by a new generation of brave women - but 15 percent of our women soldiers that served on the front lines who walk into a VA facility screen positive for military sexual trauma. Is Senator McCain suggesting that we can’t afford to give them benefits? Senator McCain’s campaign did not return calls for comment about his statement, but these arequestions he must answer. All veterans respect John McCain’s service — if he too respects ours, the our soldiers with non-combat injuries who have served with such honor and dignity.” [Huffington Post, 7/24/08]

MCCAIN TRIED TO WATER DOWN THE 21st CENTURY GI BILL:

Bush and McCain Opposed GI Bill, Then Tried to Take Credit. “The Bush administration, and Sen. John McCain for that matter, initially opposed passage of the legislation, which was supported overwhelmingly by both Democrats and Republicans…McCain, campaigning last week, used language suggesting he supported the bill. In fact, McCain did not even cast a vote on the final measure. For Bush and McCain to try to claim credit now for a bipartisan effort they both opposed is a plain attempt to hoodwink the American voter.” [Las Vegas Sun , 7/3/08]

Bipartisan GI Bill Covers The Full Cost Of Attending Public University;

Under Alternative Offered By McCain, Vets Must Serve For 12 Years To Receive $2,000/Month. “Under the Webb bill, veterans would receive maximum educational benefits after 36 months of service and those benefits would be tied to the full cost of public school tuition and expenses in the veteran’s home state. The Graham bill would require 12 years of service to garner a maximum benefit of $2000 per month, with increases in that figure tied to the consumer price index. Critics point out that the CPI has been steadily outpaced by tuition increases.” [CQToday, 5/14/2008]

McCain Admitted His Plan Was Designed To Keep Troops Serving Longer. “My proposal and others, Senator Graham, Senator Burn, is we’ll place incentives for people to stay in the military.” When O’Reilly said, “So the longer you stay, the more you get” McCain responded, “Yes, the more you get, because we want people to stay in…. We have to increase the benefits for the men and women who are serving and motivate those to serve.” [Fox News Transcript, “The O’Reilly Factor,” 5/8/08]

MCCAIN PUT TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH AHEAD OF VETERANS BENEFITS

McCain Has Voted 29 Times Against Veterans’ Health Care Needs. 

[HR 4939,Vote #111, 5/4/06][HR 4939, Vote #98, 4/26/06][SCR 83, Vote #70, 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #67, 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #63, 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #41, 3/14/06][HR 4297, Vote #15, 2/13/06][HR 4297, Vote #7, 2/2/06][S 2020, Vote #343, 11/17/05][HR 2863, Vote #251, 10/5/05][HR 2528, Vote #242, 9/22/05][HR 2361, Vote # 165, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote #166, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 168, 6/29/05][HR 1268, Vote #90, 4/12/05][HR 1268, Vote #89, 4/12/05][SCR 95, Vote #40, 3/10/04][S 1689, Vote #379, 10/14/03][SCR 23, Vote #81, 3/25/03][S 2168, Vote #185, 7/7/98][S 936, Vote #168, 7/10/97][HR 3666, Vote #276, 9/5/96][HR 3666, Vote # 275, 9/5/96][HR 2099, Vote #466, 9/27/95[HR 4624, Vote #256, 8/4/94][HR 1335, Vote #97, 4/1/93][S 2884, Vote #226, 8/4/90][HR 2519, Vote #132, 7/17/91]

2006: McCain Voted Against Adding $1.5 Billion In Funding For Mental Health Services For Veterans By Ending Some Corporate Tax Breaks. In 2006, McCain voted against adding $1.5 billion to pay for veterans mental health care, readjustment counseling, rehabilitative care, and lowering fees for veterans. The funding would have been paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. [2006 Senate Vote #41, 3/14/2006]

2005: McCain Voted Against At Least $500 Million For Vets Mental Health

Services To Keep Tax Cuts For Millionaires. In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment to authorize $500 million a year for veterans’ mental health, to be offset by deferring tax cuts for those making at least $1 million a year. [2005 Senate Vote #343, 11/17/2005] 

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