Posted on 05/26/2008 10:10:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After this, I cannot WAIT until McCain gets to actually debate Obama in front of a live audience. Obama's gonna get schooled, son!
First, Obama tried to make McCain look like he didn't care about veterans. Bad move number one. Here's Obama's statement:
"I respect Sen. John McCain's service to our country," Obama said on the Senate floor this morning. "He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the president in opposition to this GI Bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue."
He's referencing Sen. Webb's GI bill, which passed with a majority of 75 - 22.
McCain wasted no time in firing back:
"It is typical, but no less offensive that Sen. Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of," McCain said in the statement. "Let me say first in response to Sen. Obama, running for president is different than serving as president. The office comes with responsibilities so serious that the occupant can't always take the politically easy route without hurting the country he is sworn to defend. Unlike Sen. Obama, my admiration, respect and deep gratitude for America's veterans is something more than a convenient campaign pledge. I think I have earned the right to make that claim."
I would highlight my favorite parts of that statement, but the whole thing is just so damn awesome. McCain spoke some more about his family's military service, and his alternative to Webb's GI bill. He praised Webb for his military service and called him an honorable man. Then, he offered us us another Obama smackdown:
"[I] take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."
Good stuff. McCain then goes to explain how Webb's bill will hurt retention rates, and as we are fighting two wars right now, that would be a bad thing. Unlike many Washington politicians, McCain's support for our troops and veterans is heartfelt and genuine, and not just political, like some (like, maybe, Obama?). McCain pointed out the importance of increasing benefits to those who reenlist, rather than just giving the same benefits to everyone regardless of time served. He also gives a nice nod to the importance of NCOs (non-commissioned officers), which I thought was good to hear.
Then, McCain finishes with one last bang:
"Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully. But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions. If that is how he would behave as President, the country would regret his election."
My advice to Senator McCain: keep saying stuff like this. You've got experience that Obama could never even fathom or begin to comprehend. Use it. You'll win a lot better by doing that, then you would by continuing to fight conservatives on issues like amnesty.
I'm talking to a brick wall here, but oh well. At the very least, this statement is near perfect. Interesting to see how Obama can come back from that.
For McCain's statement in full, visit the Politico, where Jonathan Martin has the entire thing.
Don’t insult tools.
I’m no fan of McCain generally, but I heartily approve of his position on this issue, and with his willingness to punch Barry Milhouse Obama square in the mouth on the Senate floor.
I can appreciate that.
Whose spine did McCain borrow for THAT?
Maybe his own that was beaten so often in the "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp?
NEW OBAMA GAFFE:
[Obama does not know what Memorial Day IS. Since he has probably never cared a bit about it before this year, he has not noticed that it was instituted after the Civil War to honor our “fallen heroes” - but Obama thinks he sees them in his audience today - he does not know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day]
[OBAMA]: “On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today — our sense of patriotism is particularly strong.”
McCain’s temper and frank style will do GOOD! GO MCCAIN! Wooot!
Yeah, no one would dare mess with America with McCain in charge. He doesn't think Americans would pick lettuce for even $50 an hour though, which shows he is out of touch with regular Americans. Way out of touch.
In the interest of schooling fools, McCain’s invited Obama to tour Iraq with him. No doubt Obama will turn him down.
Even though I don’t agree with McCain on the subject of the GI Bill. I actually believe it will help bring people into the service now that college will be free. This will be a great recruting tool. However, I am glad that he slapped down Obama. I am just glad that it passed with a veto proof majority. Senate actually gets something right...who knew???
So, Obama’s seeing dead people in his audience? Usually Democrats only see dead people on election day when they vote.
I was pleasantly surprised to see McCain have a spine. He needs to do more of this.
Best case scenario: Old folks line up behind McCain. Young folks line up behind Obama. McCain bitch-slaps Barry a few times like this and Obama’s poll numbers fall. Young people get disillusioned and Obama’s poll number fall even more. Faced with a hopeless cause, the Left stays home on election day.
But we are already meeting recruiting goals. And by offering free college after only 3 years of service, it will encourage a DIFFERENT group of people to sign up, people who want to come in, serve their minimum 3 years, and quit.
That could displace some who would have joined for a longer haul, which is better for the military and our country.
I don’t understand though why, if we just want to pay them more, why not just pay them more? Why do we think that even our veterans should have to bow to the will of the state in order to receive all the compensation they deserve?
The dems are on the way to a train wreck with this guy as the candidate..mark my words.. this guy will not only not get spanked beyond believe for the white house, the crap that comes out of his mouth will wind up destroying their expected undercard advancements as well.
I cannot believe the leadership of the democratic party is so transparently stupid as to truly want to run this guy.
Rank and file sure, but the party leadership? They have to know this guy is DOA.
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