McCain Bails on the Troops

by Taylor Marsh

This is strictly CYA for John McCain, his boss and the Republicans. It will not go unnoticed.

John McCain is in favor of escalation. McCain has walked in lock step with Bush for a long time. Now he's decided to desert the troops and walk away from the Webb amendment, offering up a non-binding version that protects none of them. Evidently former Navy secretary and retiring Senator John Warner has been pressured by the White House to join McCain, and he buckled.

Via Think Progress who also has the video of John McCain.

I have just learned from Sen. McCain's comments that Sen. Warner will be offering a side-by-side amendment that goes to the sense of the Congress rather than the will of the Congress. And I would like to state emphatically at the outset that this is a situation that calls for the will of the Congress. - Senator James Webb

The Webb amendment is supported by the Military Officers Association of America, which numbers 368,000 strong. Webb's legislation is simple, direct and more importantly it's binding.

Senator Webb this week plans to reintroduce his amendment to support our nation's troops through responsible deployment cycles. The measure requires that active duty troops have at least the same time at home as the length of their previous tour of duty overseas. After four and a half years of occupation in Iraq, it is time for the availability of troops to dictate the operational tempo, and not the other way around. Politics aside, Senator Webb believes we need to be proper stewards of our men and women in uniform. His amendment seeks to do that.

Webb to Reintroduce Bipartisan, Pro-Troops Amendment on Responsible Deployment Cycles

The McCain-Warner CYA legislation is not binding, but it's being put together as a cover their asses alternative for obvious reasons. What McCain's efforts amount to is providing cover for Republicans so they can say they support the troops while actually walking away from legislation that actually does support the troops. McCain's legislation, joined by John Warner, would actually make sure that the continued redeployment of back to back tours continues, as will the strain on our forces, their families and our ability to make sure we can continue the all volunteer force. McCain is also standing against MOAA, which is in full support of the Webb amendment.


This is what Republicans mean when they say they "support the troops." They'll talk about it. Take pictures showing it. But when it comes down to signing on to policies that actually do support the troops even Republicans like John McCain and John Warner desert their comrades when they're in need. It's a betrayal of trust. It's choosing politics over protecting our troops. It's choosing to protect a president and his failed policies over the men and women in uniform.

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Comments

[FlowerGirl]

This is not the first time McCain has sold out. In fact his political career since 2000 has been nothing but sell outs.
It makes one wonder what kind of hero he really was. Does getting captured make a soldier a hero?

[Johnson55]

The next time you hear a Republican say they "support the troops" laugh right in their face.

Just off the top of my head in the past 6 years Republicans have: sent our troops into combat without proper armor or armored vehicles, increased the length of combat tours, extended enlistments past their exit date, eliminated combat pay for troops serving in Afghanistan after the Iraq war started, threatened to veto a pay raise over 1/2 of a percent, increased their medical costs, failed to plan for casualties especially head wounds, lowered recruiting standards, and then of course there is Walter Reed.

Still the Democratic leaders run like scared rabbits every time a Republican threatens to say they don't support the troops. It's time to get some new leaders with both guts and communications skills so the military knows who really supports them

[commonsenselives]

Excellent comment, Johnson. You listed everything the repubs have done to prove they don't support anyone other than themselves.

I'm going to go cry now.

[mamadeus]

It is time to pull the covers off of the GOPers and expose their dirty butts. Hagel tells it like it is!! As a ground soldier he truly knows the stress on our troops. McCain somehow forgot what it is like to suffer. Perhaps he needs to go back to the Hanoi Hilton and refresh his memory.

[Qbear]

McBush and Warner and Sessions and Specter

Out of Iraq
Out of Congress


pick one

[Iownpeterbilt]

why pick one, both look damn good. More names could be added to your list.

Lieberstien

Orin H.

John K.
xxxxx

add some of your own choosing.

[stlrfan]

Is John McCain the real Manchurian Candidate?

[Scarabus]

I'm not an insider. Honestly, though, based on their public statements most politicians seem to live in a state of permanent cognitive dissonance. Yes, it's good to admit that one was wrong, to say why, and to say why one has changed position. But it's definitely not good to lie (even by implication), and to present diametrically opposing affirmations without any acknowledgment or apology. McCain is a liar. A contemptible liar.

I recently read an article about how political ads can soon be tailored for individual households. Thank goodness the internet will allow us to show the public when these ads present doubletalk rather than straight talk.

[SBL]

If you heard John McCain on the Diane Rehm show last week, responding to a military wife's phoned-in question, you already knew McCain's attitude toward the troops and their families: Suck it up.
Thanks, Taylor Marsh, for keeping the REAL story on troop support front and center where it belongs.

[Ani]

In my state ... McCain Country ... folks support the troops with yellow ribbon magnets on the back sides of their Hummers. Support our Troops, they scream from their pulpits. They set up little voter registration booths in the lobbies of the churches, and pass out American flag stickers along with their admonitions to vote for the "Family Values" (God, Guns and no Gays) party.

In my state ... McCain Country ... folks enjoy their wars and all the cowboy, shoot-em-up image that's attached. It doesn't occur to these folks that they're supporting our troops to death.

Yellow magnet ribbons are fine, but NOT when they are a substitute for sound foreign policy, truthfully engaging the American public, and reasonable Congressional legislation.

I'm of the ilk that maintains that supporting our troops actually means not plopping them down in the middle of a civil war ... in another country ... that WE started and continue to inflame. I prefer to support our troops with proper equipment and a common sense plan. If we're going to send them into battle, we ought to at least be certain that SOMEONE has thoroughly provided for their success, and that the reasons for that battle are sane, legal and truthful.

I find it so ironic that an American war hero who was horribly tortured as a Vietnam POW now blindly follows a president who supports and arguably orders torture of his own captives. How ironic, indeed!

[newpantaloons]

I meant to say, in addition to the two laws listed above; they pertain to:

Article 1, Section 1:
"All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives".

[Hastings]

The Webb Amendment is a dangerous, unconstitutional,cynical, and dishonest piece of legislation designed to give the illusion that the Democracts support the troops. ANY Senator who backs this Amendment should be recalled or forced to resign.

[BBackSoon]

You intrigue me. In some quaint way I can understand your calling it dangerous but please explain Unconstitutional, cynical and dishonest.

Are you sure you are on the right site?

I have read some of your past posts and it seems to me that your point of view is decidedly neo-con and you spout a lot of Bushco talking points. You attack the Dems when they do anything, or nothing, but defend Bush for at least having a plan, no matter how disastrous it is.

Yes I agree that a bunch of the Dems are playing politics and it does make me sick but how, prey tell, is that any different from what the Repubs did with 911 or the reasons we got into or continue this war?

[Hastings]

Hi BBackSoon. Sorry not to get back to you sooner. The Webb Amendment failed yesterday. Thank goodness. However, I will try and explain my reasoning for my comments stated above.

Cynical and Dishonest-
"In blocking this bipartisan bill, Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more commited to protecting the president than protecting our troops." Harry Reid 9-19-07

Unconstitutional-
This amendment was a direct assault on the role of the President as Commander and Chief and would have been quickly struck down by the Supreme Court.

Dangerous-
I am unaware of anytime in the history of this country when the Congress has tried to dictate troop stength, movements, and general strategy during a time of war.

The bottom line is that this was a PR stunt to make it appear that the Republicans are against the troops and the Democracts are their great protectors. In otherwords, it was total BS.

PS - BBackSoon, if you would read the totality of my comments concerning Iraq I believe you would get a better sence of where I stand on the issue. It would also give you an idea as to why I think that the Democracts and most of those who oppose the mission in Iraq are disingenuous phonies.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I think if you REALLY 'support the troops', then push to have a Congressional hearing about whether or not the 'war' will be allowed to continue, and provide positive and unwavering direction. If you were driving a car, you wouldn't have a conference about whether or not to turn the steering wheel because the car would go careening off the road and your debate would be resolved by a crash barrier or something while you were busy agonizing over which direction and how many degrees etc.

I think the war's gone on for over 4 years, and
should be ended, now as an unsustainable expense against the public. Oil's been acknowledged to have been at the heart of the decision to go to war to begin with, and we note that it's only gotten more expensive. Maybe, to 'win' in Iraq, is to advocate public regulation of the oil industry at-large, at least to the extent that is necessary to keep
gasoline at affordable prices, and to prevent profiteering and the invasion of other countries under false pretenses. Putin put his oil mogul in the Gulag, we put ours in the White House, decisions, decisions...

[PADDYWHACK]

really Putin's idea is better

[freedomis]

All enablers of this whole mess deserve no brake.
HEART OF AMERICA

Where is thy heart oh land steeped in symbols of freedom and justice for all ?

Is this freedom and justice only for those who can afford it and the others thru the cracks fall?

Where is the patriotism in this act patriot that would make fascist the land for problematic safety and foster fear eternal ?

Can we not find this heart because it has turned to stone and we just walk over it with no thought that false compassion to the world will not channel?

Why oh why oh heart of this land does the Lady with the torch that is a beacon for much why does she hide her face in shame?

Are the tears of shame shed for acts committed by her land on her own and on lands and sands afar off that we would claim ?

The Lady of justice had the one breast exposed; Is this not the open symbolism of truth, that was then secreted, and that justice for all is from the transparency of truth that all can see?

Restore the heart oh land in humility and hope for pride leadeth to the fall and fear will lead to tyranny and the heart of America would cease to be.


Will this heart beat with life or will a Medusa reign over this heart?
Maybe this will create a swell that will challenge the status quo and also wake up demo's who act like repub's. Glad to see these people heed the call.

The crisis is real, how much time is left? 7/23/07 Tony

[fetchezlavache]

The real tragedy is that far too many retired military men are still blindly supporting their
"commander-in-chief" (amd no one ever deserved that title less) instead of thinking about their brothers and sisters on active service.
I am heartened by the number of them who do see the quagmire with clear vision, but I wish the rest would step back and take another look.

[PADDYWHACK]

McCain is driven by a messianic need to avenge his experiences in Vietnam,he suffered a great deal but has avoided becoming a statesman who could speak out against this travesty.Instead the nobility he might have achieved is replaced by ignoble revenge on the people of another defenseless 3rd world country.The people of America stopped the illegal war in Vietnam,and will stop this one to their credit.Those jingoistic morons who can't stand to withdraw from another failed misadventure make us all look bad.

[rcozad]

Remember how we learned the lessons of the Revolutionary war . The best trained and best equipped army in the world landed and marched toward Concord. They were well led and marched in steady, straight lines while a rabble of non- uniformed rebels fired upon them from behind walls , and trees!? The worlds' most powerful army lost to these rebels. Now today we have traded places with the British army, and we are learning ,somewhat slowly, but nevertheless we are learning, that the rebels will win and the Iraq war will end with the rebels in control.

[RickO]

This is just like the anti-antiwar protesters we saw in Washington last week. There was a guy up there saying "we want to send a message to our warriors in the field that we got your back, man!" Oh yeah? How's that? How do you got their backs? By having the appropriate ribbon sticker on the back of your minivan? By voting for those who will keep them in hell? By cheering for them when they get their legs blown off? By praying for them? You might as well write letters to Santa Claus for all the good that does.

Bring the troops home, from an undeclared immoral and basically someone else's civil war, to their families so they don't bleed to death on some godforsaken killing field on the other side of the planet. That's how you got their backs, man.