Why Won't McCain Support Our Vets?
Submitted by Wes Clark on April 3, 2008 - 12:53pm.
GI Bill | John McCain | Call to Action | Military Families | Veterans
| The original GI Bill transformed American history, providing education for returning soldiers. Not only was this our nation’s moral duty for the unbelievable sacrifices of our World War II veterans, it helped create America's middle class and spurred decades of economic growth for our country. Why then is John McCain silent on passing a new GI Bill for our 'new greatest generation?" Tell John McCain to do the right thing and co-sponsor the new GI Bill.  |
Robert Lopez served 8 years in our military, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tank commander. He was told he'd get his whole education bill paid for when he got out of the service. Mr. Lopez has fought and sacrificed for our country but like so many others, Mr. Lopez has faced the bleak reality of a government that has turned its back on its veterans.
That is why Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel proposed the new GI Bill, which would bring back WWII-style standards of providing vets with full tuition, room and board. And that is why 51 senators have signed on, including 9 Republicans like John Warner, giving this GI Bill tremendous bi-partisan support.
But it isn't enough. Faced with unprecedented filibusters, the only way to ensure Senate passage of the GI Bill is to get 60 co-sponsors. So far, John McCain has refused. The same McCain who insists he supports our troops. The same McCain who is voting lockstep with the Bush administration (who have also resisted this bill). We need to get John McCain to do the right thing -- to sign now and signal to other Republican leaders that we should be strongly behind our vets.
Sign the petition to John McCain!
The original GI Bill transformed American history, providing education for returning soldiers. Not only was this our nation's moral duty for the unbelievable sacrifices of our World War II veterans, it helped create America's middle class and spurred decades of economic growth for our country.
Why then is John McCain silent on passing a new GI Bill for our "new greatest generation?"
Robert Lopez thinks John McCain ought to stand in his shoes to know how difficult it is to be a vet and have to pay staggering education costs. THIS is your call to arms. Pass the video along and implore your friends to sign the petition.
Click here to watch the video and sign the petition today!
WesPAC, VoteVets.org and Brave New Films feel passionately about giving our veterans the support they rightly deserve. Our government owes our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan the opportunity to receive full educational benefits. These patriots have fought hard for our government; it's time our government started fighting hard for them.
Sincerely yours,
Wes Clark, Robert Greenwald, and Jon Soltz
Done.
The rich are getting richer off of this war and the people who are fighting it are getting poorer.
It's criminal.
just a big squeezy slow feeling in my chest.
It's a very well done & extremely heart wrenching piece (because, obviously of how heartbreaking the reality is).
Happy to see VoteVets working with Bravenewfilms too.
Many thanks, Wes, for always always trying to move mountains no matter what.
"I'm in tears as I sign this- tears of frustration at watching this all unfold. I feel our troops are being used almost as human shields to defend corporate interests. John McCain, you're a veteran- you oughta know better!"
At 12:53 PDT, 8244 signatures. Will forward the email I got to my list.
Thank you General Clark.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
If John McCain doesn't support this, he has no business even thinking of becoming Commander in Chief.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
So happy to see this at MyDD!! :D
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
And thank you once again, Sir.
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
It will be interesting to see if the person who potentially is our next president will cave to shame.
Proud to be an American.
This effort is above the Presidential campaign. Do what you can.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/3/165620/3406/505/489699
Started but then deleted about six comments there. Ugh. It's because for decades Illinois veterans were receiving lower disability payments than almost anywhere else in the country. It took a newspaper article to get Sen's Durbin and Obama to take action in 2005. I just have so little respect for the way our veterans are treated by both parties. We are being double taxed - first we pay our income tax, then we donate to veterans causes because our elected leaders aren't doing their jobs.
Excuse me while I go spit nickels for a while.
Proud to be an American.
Thank you, Gen. Clark. I'm also proud of my VA senators Webb and Warner. Wonder if the VFW and American Legion are on board for this?
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
anything on the American Legion's site about this. The VFW has an editorial by George Lisicki and Paul Rieckhoff here: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4526 .
the naysayers' questions effectively. Thanks so much for the link! But, of course this isn't a blanket VFW endorsement. Maybe those groups don't endorse legislation?
I did hear some comment yesterday on Dave Gregory's show suggesting McCain may get on board. That would be a very smart (not to say ethical) for him to do.
The General gets it right.
Competence--What a concept!
That was Rachel Maddow's comment I talked about.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Thank you, sir. I signed the petition as soon as this arrived in my inbox. McCain has some nerve!
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
Great, great way to spread the word on this very important bill. To co-sponsor and then vote to pass this bill is doing the right thing by our members of the military. The ROI will be huge (return on investment) and our nation will benefit for years to come from the education these veterans obtain.
Thank you Wes and VoteVets for putting your energy and force behind Jim Webb's bill. I'm thrilled to watch the number of signatures climb as the word is spread.
As always, you are inspiration to us all. I am certain your voice will be heard and respected by our next President.
Thanks for speaking out on this important issue, and doing all you do for the Democratic Party and America.
On MSNBC's "The Race for the White House," tonight Rachel Maddow said that there are 50 sponsors for the new G.I. Bill of Rights and predicted that John McCain would sign on to it. She mentioned VoteVets, but not Wes Clark.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
...of she didn't mention Wes it's because she is an Obama supporter.
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
And thank you, General and Votevets.
And as of 4/4/08, 8AM CST: 16,136 signers.
As of this evening, there were 20,309 signers. Several had signed less than a minute ago.
Yes definitely, the bill should be supported... How much more are our soldiers going to suffer?
-Maryann P.