Webb GI Bill Passes Senate, McCain Skips Vote

*** UPDATE BELOW ***

The Associated Press reports that the Webb GI Bill has passed the Senate:

Senate Republicans have broken with President Bush to help Democrats add support for veterans and the unemployed to a bill paying for another year of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The 75-22 vote also added billions of dollars in other domestic funds such as heating subsidies for the poor and money for fighting wildfires to the $165 billion for the military operations overseas.

...The huge tally in the Senate was driven by $15.6 billion over two years to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks and more than $50 billion over the upcoming decade to provide returning Iraq war veterans with sharply increased college aid.

Both Sens. Obama and Clinton voted in favor of the bill. Sen. McCain skipped the vote (as did Sens. Tom Coburn and Ted Kennedy).

Howard Dean released a statement criticizing McCain for skipping the vote:

"America's veterans and military families deserve better than a candidate who is willing to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years, but refuses to take care of them when they come home. The men and women in who volunteer to put on the uniform of the United States of America risk their lives to defend our freedoms, and we should do everything we can to help them be successful when they come home. While Senator McCain talks about supporting our troops and veterans on the campaign trail, his real record tells a much different story. While we honor his service to our country, Senator McCain's double talk on veterans' benefits is one more reason he is the wrong choice for America's future."

Obama also responded to McCain's absence:

I respect sen. John McCain's service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the President in his opposition to this GI bill.

I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the President more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them.

And McCain hammered back in a particularly harsh response:

"Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully. But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions. If that is how he would behave as President, the country would regret his election."...

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Senator Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of. Let me say first in response to Senator Obama, running for President is different than serving as President. The office comes with responsibilities so serious that the occupant can't always take the politically easy route without hurting the country he is sworn to defend. Unlike Senator Obama, my admiration, respect and deep gratitude for America's veterans is something more than a convenient campaign pledge. I think I have earned the right to make that claim."

UPDATE: Obama has responded to McCain, calling him out for making 'schoolyard taunts':

I am proud to stand with Senator Webb and a bipartisan coalition to give our veterans the support and opportunity they deserve. It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign used this issue to launch yet another lengthy personal, political attack instead of debating an honest policy difference. He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama - it's about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention. Senator Webb's bipartisan bill will do this, and the bill that John McCain supports would not. These endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts from the McCain campaign do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people.

Comments

[mac725]

Don't you just love McCain's response - he attacks Obama and does not provide any answers - no information regarding why he does not approve of this bill - he just attacks. Temper, temper. If this is how he will deal with people who disagree with him, he will be a worse president than Bush.

[liberalrebuttal]

You noticed that too? That's how his whole campaign has been. Hes a loser.

[ajax2]

McCain again strong on not supporting the troops, but he wears a flag pin, Nash.

[KSH]

And after all that talk in the response to Obama he NEVER explained why he didn't agree with the bill. I guess he is like his wife - there are some things they simply will NEVER do.

Obama/Webb 08

or

Obama/Biden 08

or

Obama/Hagel 08

or

Obama/Nunn 08

[ddee]

Where Oh Where are all the McBush supporters now?? They are usually up here busting our b*lls about how much we are going to regret voting for a dem. Now that their guy has shown his true face not the duel side of it they are no where to be found. Be afraid Rep's be very afraid this guy is going to lose the election for you. I myself are VERY VERY happy about it. Welcome President of the United States Barack Obama wooohooo!!!!




Obama/Webb 08

[tinarm]

If any veteran or military person is considering to vote for McCain in the fall, they should think about it very hard. My dad is livid over this, as a vietnam vet he considers it disrespectful that McCain would not even show up to vote, but instead hold a fundraiser. No, Senator McCain a president shows up and puts his ideas on the line. They don't hide and cower under the premise of a damn fundraiser. You sir are the most dispicable person to ever wear the uniform.

[KSH]

The difference McCain has on the bill is that he thinks that the military should reward people who stay in a long long time. I am sure that evvery 19 year old that went to Iraq straight out of boot camp would have something different to say about that. Benefits should not only be for those West Point Grads with well connected parents - they should be for those who sacrificed their lives for 4 years also.

[Mike169]

I hope Bush vetoes this bill. It would underline his incompetence and disregard for the only group that wouldn't boo him when he spoke in front of them. If he vetoes the bill maybe the soldiers will see just what a boob George the Small really is.

[JLee]

I can hear them already when he speaks to a group of veterans: Booooooooo­b....

[paganmist]

Don't forget that McCain also voted against funding for the National Endowment of the Arts, as well as providing funding to survivors of Hurricane Katrina (both of these passed by large margins.)

What else... He's voted consistently against reauthorizing SCHIP despite the bill being passed by large margins, now he votes NV ("present") on that issue.

Looovely. Give the money for kids and humanities in school to companies in return for oil. Take away the options these kids have until they grow up to become perfect targets for military recruiters.

[CTmom13]

"I think I have earned the right to make that claim." Sen McSame, NO YOU HAVE NOT. You served your country but how you treat those that have served after you is DISGUSTING.

[lochnessmonster]

Here is how your Senators stack up on voting:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

And these people want to be my president??? How about you all get back to DC and EARN YOUR SALARY???

[paganmist]

Candidates running for President right now only started missing votes when they began campaigning.

Go to VoteSmart and you will see a graph of all of their voting patterns, the missed votes begin to spike when the election season begins and continues upward from there.

[lochnessmonster]

Maybe I misunderstand you. So that males it acceptable that they don't do the job they are being paid for right now? If so I disagree. I would be more likely to vote for one of them that bothers to earn their pay. Why should they wait to do what is right for the country? They all should be in DC making a difference right now.

[cinnysmom]

My Sen. Russ Feingold hasn't missed any votes. Thanks for that link, pretty interesting.

[LouisPWu]

McCain is just another Republican - Love war, hate the soldiers. Use them up, discard them. Republicans are such good people....­..

[GolfingDevil05]

If the Democratic Party manages not to get the presidency, Jim Webb should be our standard bearer in 2012.

[1LTUSMC]

That McCain would rather be grilling hamburgers in Sedona than voting on this bill is just disgusting. If he would show half of the courage he displayed in Hanoi, he would have been in Washington leading the support for the GI Bill.

Really he shouldn't be a Senator right now. When Bush used the signing statement to authorize torture, McCain should have resigned in protest.

[NoahVail]

Two points:

1st- Its very appropriate that the erstwhile "flip-flopper in chief" is flipping burgers.

2nd- PW Songbird was not as tough in Hanoi as most people think.

http://www.usvetdsp.com/smith_mc.htm

[filo]

Here's another. This would be swiftboating except it's Republicans in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g&feature=related

[w8aminute]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going...to fundraisers.

[the964kid]

America meet the real John McCain. The McCain who is in lock-step with the perpetual american embarrassment George Bush. What does it say that McCain thinks that tax cuts for the rich are a bigger priority then taking care of our nation's brave men and women who have done everything they were asked to do? McCain should be ashamed of himself, and he'll have to answer this question from now until the November elections.