|
||
Cindy McCain's Attack On Obama's Record Offends Military Spouses
At a rally in Bethlehem, Pa. last week, Cindy McCain spoke about having two sons serving on active duty: "I'm proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body. I would suggest that Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means."
Never mind how many drinks are needed to erase the mental image of Barack Obama wearing Cindy McCain's stiletto heels. The fact is -- many military spouses support Obama-Biden, and they were deeply offended by Mrs. McCain's outburst.
Let's fact-check her remark, shall we?
Cindy McCain was referring to a single 2007 Senate vote: Obama voted for a war-spending bill that included language calling for withdrawing troops from Iraq; but later he voted against a version of the same bill because it no longer included the withdrawal language. "We must fund our troops, but we owe them something more," Obama said at the time. "We owe them a clear, prudent plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war."
In other words, Sen. Obama wanted to fund the troops, he just didn't support the flawed military strategy this particular bill would enable. (Previously, Obama had voted YES on at least 10 other war funding bills. For a lengthy list of John McCain's NO votes on military funding, click here.)
"It ruffles our feathers when someone claims that Barack Obama doesn't support the troops, because the Obamas have gone out of their way to understand the military, its families, and its veterans," Stephanie Himel-Nelson, deputy director of outreach for Blue Star Families for Obama, told OffTheBus. "In fact, Michelle Obama has adopted military families as one of her causes."
Would Cindy McCain "Change Shoes" With These Military Wives?
"When millionaires such as Cindy McCain act as if they understand our lives, and the lives of everyday military families and veterans, we get upset," said Himel-Nelson.
Today the number of service men and women forced to deploy over and over again is unprecedented. Loneliness is leading to frayed marriages. Toddlers are just getting to know their parents when -- poof! -- mommy and daddy disappear to serve overseas again. Career paths are falling off track. Household budgets are in disarray.
Imagine what parenting must be like when one spouse keeps bouncing in and out of the picture. "It's a delicate dance," Heidi Goeman, Beaufort, SC told OffTheBus. "Kids change, rules change, and perspectives change while my husband is away. When he returns home, the lay of the land isn't the same." Goeman and her husband have endured four deployments together.
Many children are too young to articulate their response to repeated separations. "Our seven-year-old thought he was at fault for his dad's going away, despite our best efforts to prepare him," said Goeman.
Deployments Are Lasting Longer, Coming Closer Together
Casey Spurr's husband has been deployed three times. "Mostly I find myself saying 'I wish your daddy was here' when I really, really need to take a break, or when our son lets out a big belly laugh -- he has the best laugh," said the Virginia Beach, Va. resident. Spurr told OffTheBus, "Obama proposes a Military Family Advisory Board, which I think is long overdue."
The number of Navy and Air Force vets re-deployed to fill gaps in Army units on a one-off basis -- with just a few weeks of combat training -- continues to grow. "The Navy is providing manpower because the Army doesn't have enough troop strength for our front lines," said Vivian Walker, a Navy veteran and military spouse who is using her GI Bill benefits to earn a Ph.D. in public administration and urban policy.
Walker confesses she forgot her wedding anniversary amid the chaos of managing work and family by herself. "A big paper was due, I was trying to find a Halloween costume for our four-year old, my mother was visiting...the list goes on, but I'm not complaining. The only time I get upset is when I feel I have to defend my patriotism if I vote for Obama. I live this war daily. My support for the troops is all-consuming."
Maria Arwitz's husband is a Navy dentist who was onboard the USS Comstock when it delivered a marine corps unit to Afghanistan in 2002. Three years later he was sent to Iceland for 11 months, something that "probably would not have happened if Navy Medicine wasn't stretched so thin," Arwitz told OffTheBus. "He left right after one of our 10-month-old twins underwent heart surgery. It taught me a lot about how strong a military mom has to be with no family around."
Arwitz likes that Obama believes all Americans are entitled to quality health care. "The conditions at Walter Reed Hospital really infuriate me. I feel connected to these troops when they return home -- I shop with their wives at the commissary, my kids play with their kids on the playground. You wouldn't believe what some families are going through," said the Beaufort, SC resident.
The Rub: A Lack Of Honesty From The Bush Administration
Obviously there is a need for some level of military secrecy. But to what degree should families allow themselves to be kept in the dark?
"We want to know that the sacrifices we make are for a reason. That when our family members are in harm's way, they are protected as much as possible. That the leaders who deploy them will bring them home as soon as possible," said Bella Harris, Chesapeake, Va. She is married to a nuclear power officer on board the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier based in Japan. Harris told OffTheBus she admires McCain, but is voting for Obama because "he has a better plan for health care reform, and a more experienced running mate."
Kathy Roth-Douquet, Beaufort, S.C. has lived in six places on three continents since she married a marine corps officer 11 years ago. "Our fourth-grader has attended six schools because of all the moves, but it's a source of pride that we were asked to do something difficult and found the resources to do it," she told OffTheBus. Roth-Douquet is the author of AWOL, a book about the unexcused absence of America's upper classes from military service and how it hurts the country. Recently she co-produced a video featuring military wives for Obama, after co-founding (with Laura Dempsey) a grassroots organization of military families called Blue Star Families for Obama.
All of these women respect McCain for his Vietnam-era service, but they believe Obama has the temperament to safely lead the United States out of the quagmire in the Middle East. "One doesn't have to join the military to serve their country -- nor does serving in the military necessarily qualify one to be president," said Walker. They trust Obama to use diplomacy, not just military might.
For The Record, Mrs. McCain...
The non-partisan group Disabled American Veterans gives John McCain a 20 percent rating for his voting record on veterans' issues. (It gives Barack Obama an 80 percent rating.)
The non-partisan group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gives McCain a "D" grade for his voting record on issues such as additional funding for combat body armor, and additional funding for post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical treatment. (Obama earned a B +.)
Follow Diane Tucker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dianetucker
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
who is she?
Ms. Cindy should take the money that she spent on her Jimmy Choo shoes to buy some body armor.
I don't get it. The GOP can make these half truths and no one calls them on the half truth. When she made that statement someone should have called her on it.
I was completely offended by her false proclamation. My son is on his 2nd tour and after his 1st he visited Walter Reed to see injured soldiers from his unit and it was deplorable. No thank you Cindy your husband did not vote for more protective equipment or improved programs. And dont you dare call me unpartriotic or unamerican.
Now our troops are in grave danger in Baghdad I feel with the protests of the laws we are negotiating for. They will end our current rights to troops subject to Iraq 3 judge court system. This is disgusting and I cant be angrier or more frieghtened for our troops and my son right now. Iraqi war is unraveling as our economy has under Bush/Cheney.
Now I live in a small square mile city just outside the detroit metro area and the signs I see are Palin/McCain her name first. Then veterans for McCain signs too?? These people have no clue on the voting records. They think they are voting patriotic How sad the ingnorance of some americans today. Voting again for all the injustices you've experienced the past 8 years.
Obama/Biden 08 Why are they not talking about this? Another bomb for the Republicans?
On August 23, 2008, a NY Times article reported that Cindy McCain's liquor distributorship, Hensley & Company, blocked an increase in Arizona liquor tax (now 16% below national average) to fund early childhood education and pediatric hospital beds. It further reported that Mr. Delgado, head of Hensley, is pressing the Arizona legislature to insure that the liquor tax will never be increased by requiring that a majority of REGISTERED voters would have to approve such a referendum, not just a majority of the voters who voted on the referendum. Cindy clearly isn't concerned about other people's children!
And, oh yes, just before Sarah Palin was introduced as the VP candidate, she stayed at the Delgado home where she met with McCain campaign people.
Just wondering: There have been numerous references, in magazines and newspapers, to Cindy McCain (then Cindy Lou Hensley) being voted Junior Rodeo Queen of Arizona in 1968. Does anyone out there have an original news source, such as a 1968 Arizona newspaper article, that is viewable online? Those of us who have been attempting to independently verify McCain's claim are having no luck locating a 1968 news source.
Cindy McCain needs to know the facts before she opens her mouth, or just simply stop lying. The McCains are off the chain, and will do whatever deems neccessary to win this election. They are horrible people, that will stoop to any level to win. I do wonder what they see when looking in the mirrow, do they see what the public is seeing?
She didn't offend this military spouse!
So falsehood doesn't offend you? Misleading an audience isn't offensive?
Misleading an audience, huh? Did you click on any of her references? The very first - she referenced an article that she wrote herself generalizing about military family’s support for Obama. The reference next to the “lengthy list of John McCain's NO votes,” I was hoping for maybe some type of government website actually showing the voting records – nope, another Huffingtonpost article.
The last part gave a reference to “the non-partisan group Disabled American Veterans ratings.” Skim down that list and just have a quick look at how many Democrats got 100% ratings from this non-partisan group, and how many they gave to Republicans. I counted one, for republican Christopher Shays, although I think that was a typo because just below it they gave Biden a 75% - the lowest rating they gave the Democrats on that site. Other than that no Republican got more than a 66% rating.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, also “non-partisan,” referenced grade list is from 2006. There is a big note on the page saying ‘not our 2008 ratings.’ But it doesn’t matter, its the same as the DAV, Democrats get A’s and B’s, Republicans C’s, D’s, and F’s.
It’s kind of like Siegel/Shuster (if they were alive) saying ‘Superman’s real, check this article’ and the article connects to a comic book. And people would say things in response like “Amen!” and “The truth will prevail!’ By your own reasoning you should be offended by her article.
Than you're either not very smart, or you're extremely gullible.
PBS has an online poll posted asking if Sarah Palin is
qualified. Apparently the right wing knew about this
in advance and are flooding the voting with YES votes.
The poll will be reported on PBS and picked up by
mainstream media. It can influence undecided voters
in swing states.
Please do two things -- takes 20 seconds.
1) Click on link and vote yourself.
Here's the link:
[ http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html
]http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html
The last thing we need is PBS saying their viewers
think Sarah Palin is qualified.
I went to site and voted and poll stands at 49% for qualified and the same for not qualified. More people need to vote on this. We can not let this woman any where near Washington.
The worst part of all about this comment by Mrs. McCain is that it's dishonest.
Half-Truths and "lies of omission" are lies. When someone fabricates a story for personal gain by creating innuendo out of pieces of the ENTIRE story, it's a lie.
So let's just call this one what it is. Cindy McCain was lying.
It did not EVER send "chills down her spine," because I sincerely doubt she was even aware of the vote(s) as they occurred.
Cindy McCain was lying - let's all say it together. CINDY MCCAIN WAS LYING.
...well said. The truth will prevail, Americans are SMART!
Did it send a chill through Cindy McCain when her own husband voted against funding "her son in Iraq". So, if it was so chilling, why didn't she just write a check and send her son some "funding".
Cindy McCain is repugnant, I'm sorry to say. The thought of the ice queen in the White House is chilling.
The current administration has failed to provide proper safety equipment, that has given "no-bid" contracts to cronies and political supporters, contracts which have resulted in our troops recieving contaminated drinking water, inadequate ground equipment and terrible tactical support- Haliburton and Blackwater are probably responsible for as many US soldiers being injured or killed as roadside bombs.It's a bloody mess and it gets no better when they do come home- VA hospitals and clinics are underfunded and no longer staffed, in the majority, by veterans, so these men can recieve neither good medical care nor the comfort of speaking confidentially to someone who has "been there". Funding for mental health care is virtually non-existant and in a classic catch 22, a soldier must be diagnosed before he can recieve what care is available, but can't get diagnosed because he can't access the mental health services.
I don't have enough room here to comment on the GI Bill.
The entry into Iraq, the decision to remain there without a clear objective, the sweetheart contracts, the inadequate equipment and the lack of funding for veterans programs are all things John McCain has voted for- obviously, he's not the only one, but he is the only one who consistently cast such votes that now wants to be Commander in Chief.
For more about John McCain's record on military/veterans issues, you can check out
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3483
http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list
It was embarrassing as a women to watch Miss. Cindy morph into a child as she pouted, cocked her head, and nearly, if not actually whine as she suggested that, “…Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means." I was fully prepared for her to stomp her foot, do an abrupt about-face, and march off to her bedroom slamming the door closed for extra effect.
That's exactly what I saw.
Only the children of us rich white people matter--and in fact, it matters so much I'm going to come up here and show fake outrage by misstating and misleading people about Obama's record versus my husband's.
Disgusting.
And duh...it's not "change shoes with me", but rather, "walk a mile in my shoes". Spoken like a true (filthy rich) shopaholic. What a joke.
Almost nothing in this campaign has sickened me quite as much as Cindy McCain's hypocritical attack on Obama, when the record clearly demonstrates that it is her husband who has deserted the troops, failing to vote for their interests and their needs time and time again. But here is an open letter to her from a woman whose son died in this misbegotten war, and she says everything far more eloquently than I can hope to do: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/15-5
May her voice be heard on November 4 and may we never again allow young Americans to be put in harm's way to satisfy the ambitions and power fantasies of greedy, arrogant men.
Change shoes with Cindy McCain? Hand them to ME. She's worth $100 million dollars and an heiress, fabulous liar too. How many houses do they have in three different time zones, and eleven cars. Seems all the candidate have sons who "willingly" have gone to war while their parents campaign for the presidency/VP. I wish everyone well and safety and good health--gosh I hope they wanted to go and did not feel forced or were asked (for appearances). I would never want to win that way, right? Cindy McCain's chill down her spine should be from her talking to FOLKS that are making maybe 7 an hour (no healthcare), as she stands worth 100 million dollars. John McCain actually lost count of how many homes he has, and said this on TV. Cindy's chills could be from her own guilty conscience, and, standing and lying about Barack's voting record--which is such an insult to him, and that she could LIE like this is disgusting.
Lying to these people is like breathing-the don't even think about it, it just happens.
Because they are so insulated inside their right-wing propaganda spin machines that they actually begin to believe that the "talking points" they get are true. The sad thing is that Cindy saying this and the quote ends up on the "news" but this type of counter information does not.
I'd like to change shoes with her. I'd sell them on e-bay and pay my rent this month.
Troop parents were profoundly offended as well! I was incensed by Cindy McCain's atrocious comments. Ever since she made it, every time McCain appears on my Tv news in the evening, talking at some rally, my eyes straight go to his wife and remain there. A cold shudder runs through my body at the mention of her name. As the saying goes, I wish she would make her claims to my face. Never happen, of course! A coward's place is at her powerful hubby's side, speaking into a microphone, before a safe, worshipful mob of like-thinkers.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
