Top Iraq/Afghan Vets Group Gives McCain a 'D' for 2008 -- Obama a 'B'

While John McCain often argues that no one is a bigger friend to our veterans -- and it would seem logical, on the surface -- some veterans groups argue otherwise. In fact, today a leading nonpartisan organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has issued a congressional scorecard that gives McCain a big D -- and his opponent, Barack Obama, a B.

Only nine members of Congress earned a D or less. McCain was found to vote favorably only three out of nine times on key measures for vets. He missed six of the votes. Obama missed four.

The report card places McCain on what it calls "the D team" and explains, "These legislators must improve their voting records if they are to legitimately claim that they support our troops and veterans."

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America (IAVA) Fund released its 2008 Congressional Report Card. It grades every Senator and Congressman on his or her leadership and voting record on key Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' issues including the GI Bill, V.A .funding and mental health care. A searchable version of the Report Card can be found at www.VeteranReportCard.org

"IAVA Action's 2008 Congressional Report Card reveals which lawmakers took a stand on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and which ones failed to truly support the troops," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). "From their leadership on the GI Bill to their support of increased VA funding, IAVA Action holds lawmakers accountable with this campaign. Now every American can find out who in Washington really supports Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and who is just full of hot air."

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Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher and author of the new book on Iraq and the media, "So Wrong for So Long," which features interviews with Paul Rieckhoff and several chapters devoted to vets' concerns.

Comments

[2bad]

I'm waiting for someone to ask Sen. McCain why the DAV an IAVA have given him such a poor rating. And, why has the National League of Families for POW/MIA banned him from their conventions? You have a lot to answer for Sen. McCain!

[vegas9999]

Sen. John McCain enjoys overwhelming support from the military’s professional core, though race appears to be a decisive factor for career-oriented black service members, a Military Times survey of nearly 4,300 readers indicates.

McCain, R-Ariz., handily defeated Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., 68 percent to 23 percent in a voluntary survey of 4,293 active-duty, National Guard and reserve subscribers and former subscribers to Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.

The results of the Military Times 2008 Election Poll are not representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The group surveyed is older, more senior in rank and less ethnically diverse than the overall armed services.

But as a snapshot of careerists, the results suggest Democrats have gained little ground in their attempts to appeal to a traditionally Republican voting bloc in campaign messages and legislative initiatives, such as the recent expansion of GI Bill benefits, experts said.

[sticksnstones]

I agree. My dad was a Mustang LCDR and submariner in the 60's. His last duty in the Navy was aboard a submarine tender in San Diego, and was the only Democrat of all officers on board the ship. My point being that the officer corp in any branch of service has been Republican since the Civil War.
However, the inlisted ranks represent the vast majority of the voting members of the military, an under-surveyed group. I believe this group will be more inclined to support the candidate who will lead this country away from the strategic mistakes of the current administration. McCain is viewed as supporting those same strategic mistakes.

[jadeba]

Vets are waking up and getting more involved. I volunteer for Sen. Obama in Colorado and there are lots of vets who are phone banking, canvassing and telling people the truth about mc. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have donated to Sen. Obama by a 6 to 1 majority. The repubs cannot count on the military vote anymore. It's easy to find information (such as the IAVA report) and discover who really does support vets (and it's ntot the repubs). Just a snapshot, but I think it's happening all over.