The Vote is Now
Submitted by Wes Clark on May 20, 2008 - 6:05pm.
Veterans | Veterans & Military
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VoteVets has just released a TV ad demanding that John McCain vote for the New GI Bill. |
This week, our veterans are counting on us more than ever.
Senator Jim Webb's New GI Bill, which would give our returning soldiers the education benefits they need, is up for a Senate vote this week. We're so close to reaching that critical 60-vote majority to overcome unprecedented filibusters and the opposition of President Bush and John McCain, but we need your help. That's why VoteVets has just released a TV ad demanding that John McCain do the right thing and vote for the New GI Bill.
The original GI Bill transformed American history, providing an education for returning soldiers and helping to create America's middle class. But today, the standards of the original GI Bill are failing to keep up with rising tuition costs to the point where the average benefit doesn't even pay for half the cost of an in-state student's education at a public college.
The White House has voiced concern about the bill, arguing that if returning troops are offered a good education, they will choose college over extending their service. It's offensive to suggest that we should fix the system so that civilian life is unappealing to service members, thereby forcing them to stay in the military.
Moreover, failing to provide adequate education benefits for our returning soldiers will only dissuade a large number of our best and brightest from choosing military service over other career options. The armed forces will remain strong only if we attract the most talented Americans with a promise of a bright future after they have served our country.
Now is the time. We must come through for our veterans and ensure that they can obtain a quality education after serving our country.
President Bush has led our country into a disastrous foreign policy, and continues to ask our troops to pursue his failing strategy. The least we can do now is honor the service of those who have put their lives on the line and have courageously done everything that has been asked of them.
After you've emailed your Senators, please forward this message to everyone you know.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
P.S. Our soldiers have fought hard for our government, and it's time our government started fighting hard for them. Click here to watch VoteVets' new TV ad, and then urge your Senators to vote for the New GI Bill!
Heard Sen. Webb on NPR this morning talking about this. He was great! It's hard to understand how McCain, a veteran himself, could oppose this bill.
Thank you for your continued work for us, our veterans, and our country!
And a huge Congratulations to Hillary for tonight's amazing win in Kentucky!! ;-)
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CH_305MJQwQ&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YLA5o6dgR1A&feature=related
The San Diego Police Department in 2003 served with honor and distinction, on the border, and kept the faith while Randal 'Duke' Cunningham and the San Diego City Council were selling out their futures. Those men are behind bars now, thanks to Carol Lamb, who was summarily dismissed by the Bush Administration. The Bush Administration will be gone in January.
The San Diego Police Department will still be walking the beat on the streets of San Diego.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AYSDN4OY9dA&feature=related
There is one telephone call you can make in the United States that will bring highly trained, self-sacrificing, armed men and women to your aid. Anytime. Day or night.
That number is 9 1 1.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lb5VjPq5Uqk&feature=related
On September 11, 2001, New York City was attacked by international criminals. The first responders on the scene, and the ones who died defending the innocent were not soldiers.
They were cops.
Long live the crimefighters.
General Wes.
Thank you and VoteVets and Senator Webb for always being there for our troops and veterans. Boy. Do they ever need you all right now. :)
I SALUTE Senator Webb and the 75 Senators that voted yea this a veto proof vote go ahead King George and veto it and show the troops how much you care abouth them, you should have been supporting it unlike John Mccain and my South Carolinians Senators Demint and McCains shadow Lindsey Graham sorry pieces of work
statement on the passage of his Bill today:
“Today, the Senate took a historic step toward a modern and fair educational benefit for the men and women who have served honorably since 9/11. This bill properly responds to the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country—those who moved toward the sound of the guns—often at great sacrifice.
“Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future. This is a bill that is equal to the first-class service that they have given to this country.
“I am gratified by the substantial support we received today in the Senate for this new, robust GI Bill. The effort was only made possible by the solid investment and leadership of my chief cosponsors, Senators Hagel, Lautenberg and Warner, in addition to the unwavering support of our nation’s leading veterans’ organizations. We were able to forge consensus with four veterans at the helm: two from WWII—Senators Warner and Lautenberg—two from the Vietnam War—myself and Senator Hagel; two Democrats, two Republicans.
“There are no politics here. This is about taking care of the people who have taken care of us.
“This measure has been passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress. But, our work is not done here. I call on the President to put politics aside and do what’s right for our nation’s newest ‘greatest generation’ by signing this bill into law.”
http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=298313
:)
Thanks again, General Clark, for giving us the opportunity to speak out.