Tell John McCain to Stand Up For Our Troops and Veterans

It may surprise you to learn that the current G.I. Bill has depreciated so much that it doesn't even cover half the cost of an in-state public university. When I joined the Marines in 2002, I didn't rely on the educational benefits as advertised because I knew Congress has yet to fulfill the original promise of the G.I. Bill in modern-day terms - to provide full educational benefits to every service member. But many veterans did take that promise to heart, and today they have the debt to show for it.

Today, the Senate voted on a bipartisan bill written by Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel that fulfills the original promise of the G.I. Bill to our veterans. A bipartisan group of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives supported the bill, but unfortunately John McCain was not one of them. Though both Democratic candidates took time out of their campaigns to vote for this important piece of legislation, John McCain didn't bother to come back from the campaign trail to stand up for our troops. Not that he would have voted for the legislation had he been in Washington -- McCain has refused to support the bill.

Now, my words are my own and I surely don't speak on behalf of all veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan or the U.S. Marine Corps. But I can tell you this: when I returned from Fallujah to complete my senior year at Bowdoin College, the current G.I. Bill provided me with enough to cover my textbooks and meals, that's it. The actual college tuition turned into college debt, and as a recent graduate five months removed from college that reality of decades of paying back my college loans is sinking in - hard.

Many of us knew this reality was coming. But as I watch this debate play out, the most frustrating part is watching Senator McCain repeatedly say that he will not support the new G.I. Bill. While I rarely agree with him on political issues, I've always admired his service to our country. But I just can't understand why he doesn't support this bill - a bill that can make the lives of millions of veterans easier during tough economic times. Instead, John McCain supports a watered-down version of the bill that is backed by the Bush Administration. It is really disheartening to watch McCain cozy up to President Bush at the expense of my fellow veterans.

The difference between the two bills is clear: one honors the commitment to our veterans to provide full educational benefits, and one is a political tool that does not. The McCain-Graham-Burr legislation only boosts most monthly veterans' benefits by $400 and does practically nothing to support the National Guard and Reserve. McCain's bill will do nothing for the over 160,000 Reserve and National Guard members who have served more than one tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The 21st Century G.I. Bill will provide full educational benefits to veterans equal to the highest tuition rate of a public college in their state and provides a monthly stipend for housing based on the geographic area. In addition, the bill will match the amount a private institution provides in scholarships. In my case, this means if Bowdoin College covered half the cost of my education, the G.I. Bill will cover the rest.

For Senator McCain to say the new G.I. Bill is too generous and expensive is morally reprehensible. Two weeks in Iraq will cover the cost of the Webb-Hagel Bill and, like the past bill, it's an investment in our economy. McCain also argues that the bill will hurt retention rates, though the Congressional Budget Office says otherwise. Living up to the promise of the original G.I. Bill can only encourage retention and recruitment.

When our grandparents came home from World War II, we made a sacred promise to provide for their education. 51 percent of World War II veterans took advantage of those educational benefits, and by 1947 veterans enrolled in the G.I. Bill accounted for 49 percent of all students. In many ways, the G.I. Bill gave birth to a new middle class in America. At the time, the program cost about $10 billion, or about $50 billion in today's dollars. Due to the increase in graduates' earning power and their addition to the national economy, these veterans returned $350 billion to the economy - nearly a seven-fold return.

When Franklin Roosevelt signed the original G.I. Bill, I could have attended almost any of the top private universities in the country in exchange for my service. In December, I graduated with almost $19,000 in debt.

The 21st Century G.I. Bill is not a handout; it's a long overdue promise to our veterans to give us the opportunity to succeed when we come home. It's about time for Senator John McCain to understand that, do the right thing, and tell President Bush to sign it into law.

Comments

[OldBlackVet]

It is now time for all Vets to finally speak out in one voice and help this country move in a different direction. We are where we are and need to deal with it. If we are going to do this War then let"s do it right and start the draft, we then draft as many of our boys and girls that we need to go in and pacify the whole region. We also offer any one from Mexico, Central America and Canada citizenship if they serve. This will help make up for any shortfall to the draft. Or LET"S GET OUT OF THERE. If that"s not possible, lets at least take care of the kids we are sending in harms way to protect this countries concerns. We must remember that these kids may make the ultimate sacrifice, and it doesn't matter how safe you think you are, it could still happen. McCain has forgotten what that means. He forgets that a person can know what the problem is even if he or she hasn't served. McCain has turned his back on us and sold out to those conservatives that have assured him that they will put him in the White House. When will he stop his rush to embrace the very positions that he just a couple of years ago denounced, Shame on you John McCain.

[navalflightofficer]

I beg to differ. The promise was never to fully fund an education. And your choice of college is your own. Who should pay for your very expensive private college education? The current GI bill was never intended to pay for a fully funded education. Period. Kudos on your success in getting into a very exclusive private college. But don't expect me to pay for it!
There are other education benefits available. If a service member stays in, they have Tuition Assistance also. There are Academy and ROTC scholarships, commissioning programs and many other forms of education assistance. The GI Bill is just one of many.
If you want to help veterans, focus on medical and post service support. I'm not a big fan of Senator McCain either, but he's pretty right on for this one. Oh, by the way, good job by Senator Obama sliming Senator McCain with that old style political rhetoric. Talk about disrespecting his service. Change indeed.

[iamvalid]

Like so many fellow veterans that have left comments on this forum, I also wish to register my total lack of respect and utter contempt for this abomination of human DNA, who goes by John McCain. As a four year veteran honorably discharged from the military. I also have fought the VA for health benefits and lost. I also have left the VA administration feeling like dog who has shit on the living room carpet of the VA's bureaucrats. John McCain is not fit to comment of the treatment of his fellow vets because he is not one of them. He gave up that right when he sold out the American vet and will continue as long as he lives.

John McCain is here at last.....John McCain can kiss my A..

[ellawensmom]

What it all boils down to is this...If veterans go to college, and become something else, alot of them won't sign up again. McCain wants alot of folks available to spend alot of time in Iraq. (About a hundred years, right?) This should get to veterans everywhere, including those still serving.

[BethStuart]

Does anyone seriously believe that McCain understands much of anything that's going on? Everything he says appears to be position papers that have been prepared for him and that he simply reads aloud. Given that his handlers are neo-cons, this is frightening indeed.

McCain graduated 894th out of a class of 899. It's seems clear there wasn't a lot of smarts there to begin with.

[rudiy]

My biggest problem is McCain's not voting. If you are against a bill this important, you should appear for the vote, and place on the record your specific objections. Not voting and not giving specifics and then complaining about others is jusy plain wrong.

[bbbear]

John McCain sold his soul and became the caracature who eventually morphed into wanna be POTUS, John McBush. But don't be fooled. It wasn't a recent change. His devolvement took years. It began in Vietnam when he was shot down, tortured for 4 days, spilled his guts, signed his captors papers vilifying the USA and admitting to be a war criminal. When he returned to the USA he was welcomed as a hero. He ditched his first wife, and parleyed his "heroism" into the bed of his millionaire second wife, and has been living very well while also eating the fruit of Senate. Stained because of his involvement in the Keating 5 scam, he again hid behind the sheild of "National Hero." In fact hiding behind the hero facade is now his signature MO, warding off the slightest critizism with his insanely explosive anger.
Let's face it folks, this guy is one big phony. An old jet jock looking for a target to Bomb, Bomb, Bomb/Bomb Iran!

[NotFooledByDistractions]

McCains reaction to Obama's comments didn't help him one bit. He exposed himself as a hot headed and confused old man. Instead of explaining why he didn't support the Webb bill and expanded benefits for the soldiers - he went off on a irrationally ridiculous diatribe. So much for the straight talk express. Boy, it's a shame to watch a man forsake his principles like McCain has. I hope one day he realizes the error of his ways.

[Reine]

First of all, there was alot of pork in that bill. Congress is constanly doing that so they can spend more money than needed, it's no wonder we pay so much in taxes. McCain also thinks that those who have been in the military longer, should get more. Others, might join the service, get the goodies & then leave. We call it seniority.

[OldBlackVet]

Don't just say there was a lot of pork. Tell me what was so bad that it would stop him for supporting our troops. He is full of bull. I can talk about his service. I can truly judge whether he has the military experience that he wants everyone to believe. Believe me when I say that even if it was three times that amount, many of our Boys and Girls would not only re-enlist, but would make it a career. Our Boys and Girls are a lot smarter than everyone gives them credit for. They are finally going to speak and when they do, McCain and the rest of the country will have to listen.

[ez14livin]

As someone who has never served, let me be among the first to say: If a soldier has served a tour of duty in a combat zone I have no problem with a portion of my taxes going toward medical expenses and college tuition.

My gripe is with the US government who got us into this stupid war under false pretenses.

Our founding fathers did not envision career politicians (feeding themselves at the public trough). Therefore we need an amendment to our constitution: If an elected official votes for war, his/her children of age to serve are automatically and immediately enlisted for combat duty. No exceptions, or the civil 'servant' forfeits the position.

What's in an education anyway? We currently have a C student from Yale in the WH and a D student running on the GOP ticket... Maybe our COC and COC wannabe are too stupid to understand the benefit of an education...

[Indoboy7]

The refusal to treat our veterans with dignity and honor is nothing new. The only difference is that now we can put John MCCain's head atop the body of a decades (at 40 yrs) old monster.Over all those decades, one could hear all our legislators spout around how proud "we"are of our men and women in uniform""..yet they have always turned their back on those they procliamed to be so proud of...They never acted to pay every service man/woman a living wage.Shameless is the only way to describe the neglect paid to all those men and women. The fact that the GI Bill "costs too much"should show every american how totally out of whack the "thinking(?)"in washington DC has become...The Iraq war doesn't cost "too Much"because that is what his Imperial majesty G.W.Bush wants to do.After all, "Dubbya"can't possilby be expected to admit his boneheaded idea of going into Iraq andÖFF Sama Hussein was a mistake.?..NNOOOooooo, it was the ÏNTELLIGENCE"that is to blame for going to war in Iraq..!!!.Dubbya doesn't even know how to SPELL that word, let alone KNOW the meaning of THAT word....

[Norbrook]

I joined the Army after graduating college, so I didn't have the experience with the modern version. I did get to experience the decline in benefits for active service members. When I first joined, I could take any course I wanted, and the Army would pay 100% of the tuition. Then things began to change. First came the cut in tuition payments, from full to 80%. Then it was only if you were going for a degree you didn't already have. If you'd decided to pick up a second bachelor's you were SOL.

At the same time, I saw the ever-declining value of the GI Bill benefits. Not only were the benefits unlikely to cover attending college, they were capped - and you had to contribute to that fund, with the military "matching" some of it. Oh, you could get extra if you were willing to go for something hazardous.

It seems to be a Republican habit. Praise the soldiers, demonize your opponents as "not supporting the troops" if they don't vote your way, and screw the soldiers over when it means actually doing something meaningful for them.

This administration started a war that should never have been started. The soldiers have borne the brunt of that failed policy. They've served admirably, and suffered through many long tours in a place that most of them would rather not be. It's not too much to give them a free college education when they leave the service. They've paid for it.

[mamacat]

John McCain's opposition to extending traditional GI Bill rights to returning veterans does not make any sense.

Why should anyone have to serve more than one enlistment during wartime to earn funding for college? His argument is that it would make it too easy for soldiers to leave at the end of their enlistments, and go to college. Puhleeaz! We aren't talking about endentured slaves, we are talking about our own citizens, who volunteered for military service. If there are not enough citizens willing to go to Iraq to fight Bush's war, maybe the problem is that the American people don't think the war makes any sense! If, on the other hand, if Americans felt threatened by the insurgents in Iraq, no doubt we would see the enlistment offices of all the branches of service flooded with recruits, as they were in World War II.

McCain's argument boils down to the fact that this war in Iraq doesn't make any sense, and in order to maintain enough soldiers in the army, we mustn't make it too easy for the soldiers to get out of the service. That may be his argument, but it is not the Democrats', and now it is also not the argument of many Republicans in Congress.

[overclocker1980]

As an former Navy service member, the situation fucking sucks. I left the service thinking my GI BILL would pay for school, shocker, it did not! I had to leverage the security clearance to land a good job, and got sucked back into the crap through it. Now I work for a non profit, which is paying for my IT certifications, but I don't feel like going into debt to get my degree when I make way more then enough right now... but I do want it. And I do... and this will sound bad... feel it's owed to me. I gave my 4 years, prior and after 9/11. I came from a wealthy family in Potomac MD and signed up as enlisted, family has a history of military service, you do what's right for you country, and they will do you right.


So why the hell can't my GI BILL cover costs a community college? I could transfer to a state school but iI'd be racking up more debt. This blows. Plus having to go through VA and that beuracrtica pile of shit, ugggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.

I served, and I'm proud to have. I don't ask much in return. I just want the system to work, ie I don[t want to wait months to get money back. Granted it doesn't cover the cost, but still. Let's get to the point where you can get that 40k in cash check, and drop it on school.

[DownwithFearMongers]

Damn straight.John Mcain acts like he's got his fellow soldiers in mind but it seems like he only has Goerge Bushes agenda in mind.Damn him to hell!

[DoTheMath]

Thank you for the valuable first-hand account. Maybe Senator McCain can explain to you why he doesn't think you deserve a college education in return for your service to our country. When Senator Obama wondered why McCain wouldn't support the bill, McCain accused him of "impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions."

Obama didn't impugn his motives, but I will. Maybe McCain has figured out that educated voters are a threat to his political agenda. Nah. I doubt it.

[tea in the harbor]

Little Johnny isn't going to stand up for troops at the cost of valuable cannon fodder. The gutless geezer has sold his soul and will never again be the man I once respected. He has become the fatted cow, the sacrifice of a republican party that has known since 2006 that this election is lost. Yet he still feeds happily at the trough, seemingly unaware of the coming sword of an American electorate that has finally awakened from it's slumber.