The Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates on the behalf of returning military personnel and their families. It does not make endorsements or political contributions. The IAVA is "dedicated to educating American voters, pushing for solutions to troops' issues, and holding our elected leaders accountable for their actions."
The GI Bill was the major piece of veterans' legislation that the group worked for this year.
The group just released its 2008 report card, detailing which members of Congress are working for veterans, military members, and their families.
Here are the candidates’ ratings. Drum roll please....
Obama: B -
Barack earned 7 of 11 points, including 2 for the GI Bill. He was absent 4 times.
Biden: B -
Joe earned 8 of 11 points, including 2 for the GI Bill. He was absent 3 times.
McCain: D -
Mac earned 3 of 11 points. He was ABSENT for 6 votes! And most importantly, he was AGAINST the new GI Bill.
"There were 53 co-sponsors of the bill, from both sides of the aisle. Every major veteran services organization in the country supported it, as well as three-quarters of the House. This was kind of a legislative locomotive. One of the only blocks along the way, consistently, was Sen. McCain. It's not a partisan issue. The GI Bill had tremendous support. He was just really behind on this legislative issue..... being a veteran alone does not mean you are strong on veteran's issues. Dennis Kucinich got a good grade, and he's been against this war as much as anyone. It's about the votes, not about your veteran status, and we made it entirely transparent." - Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder of IAVA
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Comments: 10
Now you have Cindy the druggie McCain joining the pitbulls and talking about issues she knows nothing about.
How many remember the brief scandal several years ago with Bush, regarding the VA hospital just down some roads from the White House?
Aside from the obvious injuries of war, this current conflict has created a huge pool of PTSD-afflicted young people in America. It is estimated that some 25% of America's homeless have served in the military.
Nothing from war-veteran and prisoner-of-war McCain comes close to addressing those concerns.
Why is that?
Well, look at his real war record. He was simply in Vietnam to play in his father's big playground from off a ship.
Whatever your political persuasion, it's a sign of disrespect to these 'kids' and their families to condemn their personal choice.
I salute and respect them and their choice. They are performing their jobs to the best of their abilities, often under difficult circumstances, wherever they've been sent.
Apparently you are a conservative who sees liberal conspiracy everywhere. Facts that reflect poorly on Republicans, or your ideology, are simply dismissed at the dubious exaggerations of the left.
Unfortunately, this is another inconvenient truth.