Support the Troops?

Not long ago, I went off on McCain and his failure to back the G.I. Bill, claiming it was too expensive and it would hurt military retention rates. I'm still fuming about this and wouldn't you know it, I just stumbled upon an article that goes into some pretty good detail about McCain's voting record when it comes to helping our soldiers. You know, the one's he claims to care so much about that he's willing to continue getting them killed for no reason for the next 100 years. Here is the article, and below are some highlights:

Why would a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war join President Bush in opposing a popular bipartisan bill to support the troops? Isn't fixing the education benefit in the bill -- one that has shortchanged far too many veterans for years -- a political no-brainer in an election year? The 75 senators who recently voted for it certainly thought so. The media and pundits seem perplexed.
If the media weren't so mesmerized by the McCain image they have long promoted and instead got to know the McCain record, they would realize that there is nothing inconsistent about his position on the GI Bill. For years he has opposed legislation that veterans and their advocates deem vital...

McCain's rationalization for opposing the bill may not hold water, but his stance makes perfect sense in light of his record. From 2004 to 2006, the Disabled Veterans of America gave him annual scores ranging from 50 percent to 20 percent on supporting the group's legislative priorities. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a grade of D in its most recent analysis of voting records. The American Legion says he is dead wrong on the GI Bill, as does the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
When Sen. Barack Obama (who has averaged an 86 percent rating from the Disabled Veterans of America) criticized McCain on the GI Bill, the Arizona senator angrily suggested that Obama's status as a nonveteran rendered his opinions on military matters worthless (this standard would also discount the opinions of 85 percent of American men, 98.8 percent of American women and two-thirds of Congress). Then he invited a look at his own record by asserting, "I take a back seat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans."

So let's take McCain up on his invitation. Here is how he has stood on recent legislation supported by major veterans organizations:
-- On Webb's GI Bill, he expressed opposition, and he was AWOL when it was time to vote on May 22.
-- In September, 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 $20 billion for expanding swamped veterans medical facilities.
-- In March 2004, he voted against and helped defeat a $1.8 billion reserve for veterans medical care, also funded by closing tax loopholes.

With friends like this guy, who needs enemies?