What Sen. McCain Doesn't Seem To Understand

Thanks to the modern miracle of the virtual community, I was able to meet with a feisty, funny, great group of military families via liveblogging, during the Foreign Policy debate between Barack Obama and John McCain that just wound down.

I'm referring to Blue Star (and Gold Star) Families for Obama. They've got a great website available at www.bsf4o.com .

The motto of the organization is "Pro-Military, Pro-Obama," and what I found so, well, COMFORTING was being able to converse via the Internet with active-duty military families--many of whom had loved ones currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan--and the veterans who were watching with them. (I've got one of my own here, who was also watching.)

What I mean by "comforting," is that if you live in a conservative Red-state area, as I do, you are used to gritting your teeth into powder while being surrounded by a bunch of flag-wavers who seem to think that if you don't vote Republican that you hate the troops, or that if you are from a military family, well you MUST hero-worship the war-hero.

I can tell you that there are many military families who not only DON'T hero-worship John McCain, but resent deeply his seemingly endless ability to play on his war service and navy family for political purposes while, at the same time, voting against veteran's benefits time and time and time again.

As one said, "I'm glad he keeps bringing up his support for veteran's issues. That only gives us an opportunity to point out the facts of his record."

And so "GoldStarLMW" did just that. Among the statistics she posted were that, among every major veteran's group you can mention, McCain's voting record in support of their interests virtually never went above 25%, although once or twice, he went along with their needs maybe half the time.

"Militarywifeobamamama" typed, "Veteran sitting beside me says McCain supports Bush; he doesn't support veterans."

When it came to McCain's sad, sentimental, soaring story about wearing the bracelet of the war dead to remind him that he never wanted to see another soldier die in vain, "GoldStarLMW" immediately posted:

"NO soldier EVER dies in vain."

The rest of the bloggers were outraged at the whole bracelet story. To condense what several said, "We're all wearing bracelets, John. You don't have a corner on the market on that one."

One simply typed, "This is shameless."

There was laughter, too, when Militarywifeobamamama proposed a new "drinking game," wherein we all took a swig of whatever we had handy whenever McCain said, "What Senator Obama doesn't seem to understand..."

A few moments passed, then one wag typed, "I'm gonna have to get another bottle of wine."

And when Obama said, "We have to use our military wisely," a blogger calling herself "Lawyer Mama" blogged that the group of veterans in the room watching the debate with her broke into applause.

If Obama had a mis-step, at least from the perspective of the Blue Star families watching, it was at the very end, when McCain said, "I love the veterans, and I will take care of them. They know that I will take care of them."

So many military family bloggers hit the keys at that one that the system was clogged up for a moment. I may have actually used the term LYING BASTARD in my comment, and yes, I did use all caps.

Most of them were upset that Obama failed to take the moment to reveal the truth of McCain's DISMAL track record in support of veterans. He doesn't take care of them AT ALL, as I pointed out in a previous post, "Bikers May Love Obama, But Veterans Do Not."

One said, "WHY WHY WHY didn't he go after his record?" Another said, "I cannot believe he didn't go after McCain's record."

I pointed out that it was the very end of the debate, and Obama had a few seconds to wrap the whole thing up. There just wasn't time, and McCain KNEW that. He always wrings out the emotional rag when he knows he's short on facts or truth.

And when he mentioned, at the very end, that he'd been a prisoner of war, "Militarywifeobamamama" who was also watching with a group of veterans, wrote, "Veterans abuzz here. Some had a bet on when he'd mention it. I won!"

Among those troops currently deployed, according to non-partisan statistics, support for Barack Obama outnumbers support for John McCain SIX to ONE. Veterans groups, as well, routinely rate his voting record as poor. When both candidates recently addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one vet in the crowd commented that all McCain did in his speech was criticize his opponent, whereas Obama had spelled out his vision and program and funding ideas for their needs.

"I'd've liked to have heard what McCain was going to do about all these problems," he said.

McCain has always acted as if he takes the military and veteran's votes for granted. That they would automatically support him just because of his war-hero narrative. This is every bit as insulting as the idea that most all women will vote for him because he chose a woman for a running mate.

He seems to think if he just tells a tear-jerker story, waxes patriotic, waves the flag a time or two and says things like, "Veterans know that I will always take care of them," that somehow they will believe him even though they know better.

It's not the case, and I've met many troops and veterans who not only don't support McCain, but are angry at him for his policies and outraged at some of the things he says that they know are not true.

And they fully support Barack Obama.

But I'm afraid that's just something that Sen. McCain doesn't seem to understand.

Comments

[DFC2008]

Just wanted to point out that there's a typo in the reference to your past post Deanie. You said:

Most of them were upset that Obama failed to take the moment to reveal the truth of McCain's DISMAL track record in support of veterans. He doesn't take care of them AT ALL, as I pointed out in a previous post, "Bikers May Love Obama, But Veterans Do Not."

The post is actually titles "Bikers May Love McCain, But Veterans Do Not."

Just don't want you to be misrepresented.

[bonitatortuga]

Soldier's mother came out SUPPORTING Obama's mention of her son at the debate!

http://www.nbc15.com/state/headlines/29864149.html

[BarackMarley]

Are any military families angry with the fact that McCain called Bin Laden a freedom fighter in the debate.? Or that he was proud he helped them?

Read About it Here
http://www.newsone.com/elections/article/mccain-called-bin-laden-a-freedom-fighters

[kawika]

Nam Vet...I'm for Obama!

[LemJ]

One question for you guys. If McCain is so patriotic why wasn't he wearing a flag pin at the debate? I only heard one moderator mention it. When Obama didn't wear a flag pin he wasn't patriotic or loved his country. And it was blasted over every network for weeks!

[LemJ]

McCain mentioned the heights of the people in North & South Korea and also about his pen being old, on Friday night.. What did that have to do with the debate?

[Liberoservative]

I am Active Duty and soon to be a Veteran.... after 20 years of service.....

I support Obama completely because, as an officer, I know what Leadership looks like.....

Leadership is exhibited when you have a Vision and a Mission

Leadership is exhibited when you care more for your troops than for yourself

Leadership is exhibited when you can take the opinions of those who disagree with you or have a different opinion and either agree with them or incorporate what they say by modifying your own opinion because what they had to say had relevance to your overall goal....

Leadership is being able to inspire your troops to perform beyond what they thought they were capable of......

I can name more but will run out of letter space... :)

Senator Obama exhibits all of these.... and if you want to know what a leader really does.. look at what Colin Powell's definition of leadership is....

http://www.governmentleaders.org/powell.htm

[musselmanm]

It is us the people that must tell the unvarnished truth about our war hero. If Senator Obama attacks, the MSM will drive him lower than Dukakis as an angry black man.
As the Japanese war hero pilots said, Tora, Tora, Tora, ATTACK good people.
The japanese war hero pilots are different from the people of Iraq that believe they are heros for driving out the occupier Christian Crusaders once more.
Do you see that many people around the world believe themselves to be war heros just like John McCain does.

[suemag]

I heard once that the reason McCain ended up being shot down and taken prisoner was because he took a plane without permission (for the 5th time) and ended up being caught and imprisoned. I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is, I guess being a 'maverick' isn't always a good thing!

[TJane]

My Niece and Nephew are graduates of Annapolis and they swear they don't know how he could get 5 planes. After you crash a couple you are grounded. I told him it was probably the same way he got in to Annapolis (where he graduated 894 out of 899 Students) HIS DADDY!

[HowietheScreamer]

And grand daddy. Both were Admirals. Yea... Johnny got a LOT of free rides.

[Ron1951]

www.Factcheck.org notes that this is not true. McCain has done plenty of other bad things, but this one is not one of them.

[Ron1951]

I am not a veteran of the armed services. As I have watched this campaign unfold I have seen various vet groups on MSNBC criticizing McCain, but I never really understood how widespread the dissatisfaction and disgust were for him. I sat in awe when McCain not only refused to support Senator Webb's new GI Bill, and was shocked when he could not find it in himself to even vote for it.

I have just read every one of the 3 pages of comments on this article, and I am extremely impressed with those of you who see through his BS and are actively trying to let the voting public know that he does not have the military vote in his back pocket--even though he treats it as such.

Those of you who have served in the field and those of you who have served by supporting those in the field have my deepest admiration, and I hope that your voices get heard. I hope that you can organize and get a viral e-mail or viral video campaign going so that your voices are heard by as many voters as possible.

Thank you very much for your service in protecting our country.

[Gould123]

my uncle had the purple heart for his face being blowen half off in viet nam! He died before I was born.My mom sadly says that mccain use's that time like a dirty Political stunt, and tarnish's his service an his heroism,therefore tarnish them all, and that they were hurt enough back then!

[RaineyDay5]

I was honestly hoping Obama would go after his record for supporting the vets.... missed opportunity there. I'm sure we can all be absolutely certain, that Obama won't make that mistake again!

[LynndaMaree]

I think Senator Obama knew exactly what he was doing in not going after McSames record of not supporting the vets. I think he's waiting for the Town Hall meeting to spank McSames buns real good. I think Senator O is going to get tougher and tougher. He's going to bring up the vets, just wait and see. I don't think is was a mistake. He knows what he's doing. I'm sure he's watched that video numerous times of the debate in Mississippe and he knows what he did. His advisors told him I'm sure, but like I say, he knew what he was doing. He's going to rip McSame a new one.

[CitizenKane16]

Unfortunately, I don't know that that is true. I don't know that Obama can go after McCain's record with Vets the same as someone who has served...even when Wesley Clark mentioned it, he was lambasted in the MSM. That may be a situation that Obama has to stay away from. It needs to come out but I believe that the media needs to do their job and bring it out themselves.

[susie1776]

You know what impressed ME about the bracelet business?? Barack Obama actually knew the NAME of the soldier on his bracelet!!! McCain didn't have a clue! Now, what that said was that Obama saw that soldier as an individual life, an important life, not just as another soldier. I'm old enough to remember well the VietNam war and I CRINGE every time I hear McCain talk about his POW status like he was the ONLY guy at the Hanoi Hilton. Seems to me there were about 700 guys who came home in 1972. McCain's problem is that military action is his ONLY solution to international disagreements. Eisenhower commanded more than a million men on DDay and he bent over backward during his Presidency to keep America out of war. what does that tell you? He didn't glorify war..he hated it because he knew firsthand the horrible cost. McCain will never understand that!! Obama.Biden 08

[papapj]

It's there for all to see. The assumed Repugnican stance of 'standing up for our troops' is nothing but a sham.

The narcissistic waxing about his 'war hero' status' in all of McCain's stump speeches is not only insulting to the intelligence and sensibilities of the American population, it's also a LIE.

McCain - AKA 'Songbird'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvXEsW4Fgg


McCain is no 'Hero POW'
http://www.usvetdsp.com/mcianhro.htm

Yet the 'third rail' that is McCain's military record goes untouched by a timid media, unwilling to tell the American people the truth. Well, there's nothing new in that, one could state, but surely his interminable pity-seeking and ad nauseum recitation of LIES and personal aggrandisement shows nothing but cynical disprespect for those who do honorably serve this country.

The TRUTH needs to come out, so the American people can make informed decisions....

[UCSD101]

McCain and POW's

http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/schanberg09182008pt1

Greg Palast: ROVE Has Already Fixed the 2008 Election

http://www.truthout.org/video/greg-palast-rove-has-already-fixed-2008-election