If You Support The Troops, Don't Vote For McCain

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has ratings for all members of congress. Obama got a B+. McCain got a D. Wonder why? There's a difference between being a veteran and supporting our veterans -- and our troops. McCain does not support our troops.

April 2003 Voted to table (that means kill the bill, or in this case amendment) that would have appropriated over a billion dollars for procurement of equipment for the National Guard and Reserves in Iraq.

October 2003 Voted to table an amendment that would have provided an additional $322 million for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq.

March 2004 Voted against an amendment to increase Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes.

April 2005 Voted against a bill to provide $2 billion for medical care for veterans.

November 2005 voted against legislation that would have provided $500 million a year for readjustment counseling and mental health services for veterans with mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder.

March 2006 voted against an amendment to increase Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.

April 2006 voted against an amendment to provide an additional $430 million for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. Was one of only 13 senators to vote NAY.

May 2006 voted against an amendment to provide $20 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Medical Facilities.

March 2007 didn't show up to vote on a resolution to start redeploying combat troops from Iraq.

September 2007 voted against an amendment to require minimum rest periods for armed forces between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

May 2007 A spokeswoman for Senate majority leader Harry Reid commented to The Hill, "[McCain] has only managed to show up for four of the last 14 Iraq votes."

June 2008 Along with President Bush, McCain opposed the new GI bill -- which passed in a veto-proof bipartisan majority. McCain didn't bother leaving the campaign trail to vote against it. The GI bill gives veterans who have served in the military for at least three years since 9/11 full tuition and other expenses at a four-year public university.

I couldn't help but notice that McCain voted for corporate tax loopholes over veterans healthcare not once, but twice. Nice.