McCain sticks to his guns on Memorial Day
done
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Sen. John McCain used a Memorial Day speech before a friendly audience to defend two politically unpopular positions he has staked out on veterans benefits and the war in Iraq.
The presumptive GOP nominee first stood by his opposition to the Jim Webb GI bill, which offers college tuition to servicemen after three years, arguing that it will hurt military retention and instead talking up his less generous bill that seeks to reward troops on a graduated scale based on their length of service. McCain has been taking heat from Sen. Obama and others for opposing the veterans legislation, which passed the Senate last week by an overwhelming margin.
McCain shot back today, saying he would take a “backseat to no one” in his commitment to the troops, adding that “by hurting retention we will reduce the numbers of men and women who we train to become the backbone of all the services, the noncommissioned officer.”
“At a time when the United States military is fighting in two wars, and as we finally are beginning the long overdue and very urgent necessity of increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps, one study estimates that Senator Webb’s bill will reduce retention rates by 16 percent,” McCain told more than 1,000 New Mexicans at an event commemorating Memorial Day.
McCain also used the occasion to defend the need to maintain troops in Iraq until the country is stabilized and though he did not mention Sen. Obama by name, he rebuked those who support withdrawal from Iraq.
“We must give General Petraeus and the Americans he has the honor to command adequate time to salvage from the wreckage of our past mistakes a measure of stability for Iraq and the Middle East, and a more secure future for the American people,” McCain added. “To walk away now — before the Iraqi government can fully protect its people from ruthless enemies — would strengthen al Qaeda, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq that could quite possibly provoke genocide there, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. The consequences would threaten us for years, and I am certain would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us.”
Tags: barack obama, Jim Webb, john mccain, Memorial Day, Oinounou, veterans
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“We must give General Petraeus and the Americans he has the honor to command adequate time to salvage from the wreckage of our past mistakes a measure of stability for Iraq and the Middle East, and a more secure future for the American people,” McCain added. “To walk away now — before the Iraqi government can fully protect its people from ruthless enemies — would strengthen al Qaeda, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq that could quite possibly provoke genocide there, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. The consequences would threaten us for years, and I am certain would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us.”
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so true!
sorry liberals…johnny boy doesn’t want to play “paddy cakes” with al qaeda, we are going to continue to play offense!
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!
ExT
so true!
sorry liberals…johnny boy doesn’t want to play “paddy cakes” with al qaeda, we are going to continue to play offense!
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!
ExT
sorry liberals…johnny boy doesn’t want to play “paddy cakes” with al qaeda, we are going to continue to play offense!
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!
ExT
obamma for all American McCain just for Jews,with American live and money
spot the differnce DOD BLASS AMERICA
McCain has always been consistent with his strong support for the military, any attempt by the Dems to politicize the military, Iraq or troop strength, benefits, etc. will only backfire on them. Instead, what the media needs to focus on is what Obama and his surrogate, Jimmy “Peanut” Carter is doing in the Middle East or put another way, “what harm he is doing to our efforts” in the Middle East. Recent news of Carter’s comments on Israel’s nuclear capabilities is a good example of a loose cannon with contempt for Israel.
In fact, he should be tried on Treason with his recent disclosure of Israel’s nuclear arsenal, something he wouldn’t have known had he not been privy to it and something I’m sure Israel wouldn’t want known and I’m sure shared in confidence that it wouldn’t be divulged. This has done tremendous harm to both countries and I, for one, would like to see him face consequences for divulging states secrets.
I would think someone who served so faithfully as did Mr. McCain, would know what is the best solution in balancing the rightful rewards to our military and maintaining that military. Obama, a snot-nosed whose never served anything but himself, should keep his mouth shut! People need to listen to what McCain is saying on this matter. He makes a very valid point.
McCain’s assessment of the situation is correct.
Doesn’t McCain ALWAYS stick to “guns.” We dems have taxes, you republicans have war. And the beat goes on… ba dum.
Sen. McCain was on the wrong side with summer gasoline tax decrease. He is on the wrong side again denying educational benefits to veterans. His concern is potential harm to retention rates, but why does he not think these benefits might also significantly increase new enlistment rates?
I’m a disabled veteran(democrat/florida), and I am very disappointed that a former POW, regardless of the political party affiliation, would not do anything to help a veteran who served this country. The length of sevice should not be a factor, because the fact of the matter is, we serve knowing full well that we’re doing so with the possibility of going to war and may lose our life or be harmed or injured. Most service men and women will not become POW’s these days because of the nature and evolution of the way we fight, yet we serve. No service member is going to enlist thinking they won’t possibly be in harms way in this worlds current affairs. We should kiss every service member and veteran just for stepping up to the plate to do what is honorable for our country. Unfortunately, this country has lost the very ideals which made us the nation which so many of us still try to honor. We are being kicked to the curb because honor is lost in our gov’t., and the whole world sees this, that’s the real reason we are threatened on the soil we call home. A UNITED NATION IS HARD TO BRING DOWN, but a nation devided….. is in trouble!
out of iraq!now!mccain will lose so bad!
“McCain - Good for Veterans Because he’s a Veteran,”
BS. These veterans need to wake up before it’s too late and their ARE NO benefits.
Dont’ forget Sen. McCain opposes the “21st Century GI Bill” (S.22) and also don’t forget this:
— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain “Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
While I respect Sen. McCain for his service to our country and voted for him in the primaries based solely on this reason; it is apparent he does not understand the needs of an average veteran.
“McCain - Good for Veterans Because he’s a Veteran,”
BS. These veterans need to wake up before it’s too late and their ARE NO benefits.
Dont’ forget Sen. McCain opposes the “21st Century GI Bill” (S.22) and also don’t forget this:
— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain “Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
While I respect Sen. McCain for his service to our country and voted for him in the primaries based solely on this reason; it is apparent he does not understand the needs of an average veteran.
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BOB BARR ‘08. THE ONLY TRUE CONSERVATIVE.
Why do you headline McCain’s stands as “politically unpoplar” when polls show he is dead on at 46% to 46% with Obama. I think his stans resonlate with voters and will continue to do so enough to win in ‘08.
It was good to see McCain spunky and determined.
His patriotism shone! He is a decent man!
Gotta give it to him. I like a person that stands by his guns on what he believes and not how the political wind blows.
McCain makes sense. Obama does not. Period.
Wow - his statements are absurd. Perhaps addressing the reason why troops leave service in droves is better than blackmailing them to stay.
As much as I hate to admit it, I gotta side with McCain on his opposition to the GI Bill. Though I appreciate that they serve and would not denigrate them for their reasons for joining the Military Services (WHATEVER those reasons may be), the fact remains that many join SPECIFICALLY for the educational benefits they can/will receive; which leads me to believe that if they will ETS as soon as those benefits become available. That would do nothing for the strength-in-numbers our Armed Forces need these days!
“McCain - Good for Veterans Because he’s a Veteran,”
BS. These veterans need to wake up before it’s too late and their ARE NO benefits.
Dont’ forget Sen. McCain opposes the “21st Century GI Bill” (S.22) and also don’t forget this:
— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain “Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
While I respect Sen. McCain for his service to our country and voted for him in the primaries based solely on this reason; it is apparent he does not understand the needs of an average veteran.
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I ask everyone here if obama has a right to say those thing,s about McCain, when all obama did as a senator was vote persent when a bill would come up for a vote. Also I wonder if obama would take a drug test? Every time obama is talking on T.V he is pinching his nose and I know that when a person does cocain their nose becomes to dry so they pinch their nose, I think every candidate should take a drug test, that is what happen,s when someone hire,s you for a new job
We need a President and his wife that are proud to be American,s all there life. I do trust obama I have his book and that make,s me think that he has a score to settle with white American,s. That is why if Hillary is not elected than I will vote for McCain but no obama
I can’t believe that conservatives have been able to brainwash this Manchurian Candiate, a veteran himself, to rebuke giving veterans benefits.
I hope they saved the Mission Accomplished banner–if McCain is elected, he can use it for his own Iraq debacle.
check
I cannot believe there is no blog topic specifically about ‘Trottagate’
In an appalling gaffe Sunday, journalist Liz Trotta made a distasteful joke and lumped presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama in with United States enemy Osama Bin Laden, saying she wished them both dead.
Trotta was discussing Obama opponent Hillary Clinton’s citing of the RFK assassination during the 1968 Democratic primary contest as a reason for her staying in the race.
“And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama, um uh, Obama - well, both if we could.” she said laughing. The hosted merely joined in the joke with her, saying “talk about how you really feel,” and quickly moved on.
Why are there no responses when they are sent in?
McCain sides with BUSH on the new GI Bill.
McCain attends a private fund raiser with BUSH.
McCain is looking even more like a 3rd term BUSH candidate
McCain is the worst candidate ever. I can’t believe he is actually running for president and people are considering voting for him.