Senate Passes 21st Century GI Bill While Sen. McCain Skips Vote

In an overwhelming show of support for our nation's veterans Thursday evening, 92 U.S. Senators voted in favor of the 21st Century GI Bill; also known as the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act. Perplexingly, 6 Republican Senators opposed the measure by voting "nay". There were only two Senators who were not present for the vote. One, Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy, is battling for his life against brain cancer after undergoing surgery to remove a malignant glioma. The other, Sen. John McCain, actually had the gall NOT to show up for the vote. He claims to support the 21st Century GI Bill, but never endorsed the bill in the Senate; even going as far as introducing a competing GI Bill that would have left the average veteran with $20,000 in student loans. It is certainly not the kind of behavior one would expect of a candidate for the United State Presidency, especially one who is a veteran himself.

The bill now heads to the President's desk attached to the 2008 war supplemental. Hopefully, the President will show up and support our veterans; unlike his elderly presidential apprentice.

Comments

[Liberoservative]

Kyl of AZ voting Nay
McCain of AZ just not there (as he has not been there since April)

Arizonans... time for you to elect some Democrats to the legislature, eh?

[keepemhonest]

McCain Unpatriotic & UnAmerican - votes AGAINST military everytime

5/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the GI Bill.

9/2007: McCain voted AGAINST bill to minimize periods of time between deployment of units sent to Iraq.
http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00341

5/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $20 Million to VA for health care facilities.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00111

4/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $430,000,000 to VA for Medical Services.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00098

3/2006: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical services $1.5 billion in FY2007.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00041

3/2004: McCainvoted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical care by $1.8 billion.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00040

10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment for $322,000,000 for safety equipment for USforces. "Table"= vote never hits floor.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00376

10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote for $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq dueto:shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, & tactical vests.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00116

[BEHM777]

As a disabled veteran, I can't begin to register my disgust at McCain for refusing to vote for this new G. I. Bill. It won't benefit me, but what about the new veterans from the two wars we are fighting now? They have made a major sacrifice and their sacrifice should not be treated as if it was a small thing.

[Gene1]

1) It takes moral courage to tell the truth, a candidate like Senator McCain with his Keating 5 scandal lacks that type of courage; and can"t be our president in today"s America.

2) Didn"t Cindy, Senator McCain"s wife plagiarize two times with her cooking recipes. Imagine the two being in the White House, Senator McCain dealing with Keating 5 scandal while his wife is compromised with plagiarism, how can they be effective leaders?

3) What the world needs in the United States presidency today is a peaceful one. Senator McCain hasn"t seen any war he doesn"t love, let"s elect Obama and give peace a chance. Our children deserve it.

4) The president says Senator McCain is the only candidate that has what it takes to defeat the enemy, that"s really wild. If that"s the case, shouldn"t the president as a patriotic act, switch places with Sen. McCain?

5) What is needed to defeat our enemies is the truth, with Sen. McCain doctoring the actual situations on the streets of Baghdad during his visit with his Keating 5 scandal; with all the lobbyists surrounding him, he is morally incapacitated to be commander- in- chief of USA in this 21st century.

6) The truth about Iraq war is yet to be told, and the last American citizen to tell that truth
won"t be a compromised candidate as Senator McCain. Don"t forget his Keating 5 scandal.

[suecr]

So why doesn't anyone make him answer for his actions?
The question is asked to him-he throws out one of his lame jokes to evade an answer-and then , nothing?
Why isn't he ever pressed?
Is it because he is old? A war hero (35 years ago)?
I just don't understand why...Obama s put under the spot light to answer for every little thing that he or anyone he has ever met (to an extent rightfully so) said. But McCain gets away with murder.
Look how the mainstream media never have covered the horrendous term that MCcain used refering to his wife...No self respecting women would consider that term to be used in any context (joke or otherwise). It would be like calling a black person the "n" word...the "n" word & the"c" word, no reason at all!

[AlteSoldier]

McCain's most horrendous loss occurred in 1967 on the USS Forrestal. Well, not horrendous for him. The starter motor switch on the A4E Skyhawk allowed fuel to pool in the engine. When the aircraft was "wet-started," an impressive flame would shoot from the tail. It was one of the ways young hot-shots got their jollies. Investigators and survivors took the position that McCain deliberately wet-started to harass the F4 pilot directly behind him. The cook off launched an M34 Zuni rocket that tore through the Skyhawk's fuel tank, released a thousand pound bomb, and ignited a fire that killed the pilot plus 167 men. Before the tally of dead and dying was complete, the son and grandson of admirals had been transferred to the USS Oriskany.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/6/27/131132/212

[BEHM777]

I meant conflagration, sorry.

[BEHM777]

We used to call the USS Forrestal the "Forest Fire". I had no idea McCain was the catalyst for the 1967 conflagrtaion. If this is true, he should have received a General Court Martial for this stunt. It pays to have Daddy and Grand Daddy as admirals, I suppose. No wonder he won't agree to release his active military records.

[JiminNC]

Thanks for another nail McCasket.

[smurphette]

Screw the MSM!!!

[Bobrobert]

ROFLMAO

They be stuck.

McDoodoo has no idea what voters want.

McDoodoo cannot remember being anything but a government employee.

McDoodoo is history - thank goodness.

Remember to vote all.

:-)

PS ***4110 killed in Iraq war, 30,333 wounded in Iraq war***

[PatriciaB]

He supports sending our troops to killed and injured but that is the end of his patriotism.
Horrible person of the decade award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Buddhabman]

Perfect John. Another Ad in the can against you Maverick. Let's ee him claim to support the troops.

Obama 08

[Cheryllou]

This man can do no wrong, none whatsoever. Good luck if he becomes president.

[demfriend]

McCain didn't support the new GI bill as he has spoken againest it in terms of the bill causing the military to "lose" soldiers in the war to their going to school instead of re-up. McCain might think he skated by the vote by not voting but he will be shown over and over as a non supporter ofthe bill and that is why he didn't even bother to vote. With his running on the "I am a true patriot and served in the Navy and was a POW" his lack of support for the soldiers of today is evident for all to see. What will be his excuse to not bothering to vote? How can he look at the soldiers of today and say he supports them?

[harriscrl3]

I really believe the GOP is going to pull a switcheroo at the convention and McCain wont be the nominee.

Carol

[RatgurlSD]

Any ideas on who will take his place?

[PatriciaB]

For what reason will they give??? DEMETIA?

[MissKaren]

I think that's possible. I didn't before but I think he is becoming so farcical and so off-the-reservation that the GOP won't run him. Conversely, they may want him to run to lose big so they have four years to purge the neocons and the religious right from their party. A crushing defeat at the polls in November would help the party rethink itself.

[obamagal]

That has been a concern of mine for a number of weeks now. With poll numbers showing support for Obama continuing to grow, this feeling the GOP will pull a fast one only increases.

[Gma11]

John McCain - MIA

Now watch him and his surrogates complain about Obama's "present" votes in Illinois!

[zippywpinhead]

thanks for doing your job and representing my state, John. As usual, you couldn't be bothered to even be there...