And why does McCain appose the new bill? Because it would expand educational opportunities to GIs, thus possibly leading them to leave the military and pursue an education ------------------ Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, seemed to give a thumbs down to bipartisan legislation that would greatly expand educational benefits for members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan under the GI Bill. McCain indicated he would offer some sort of alternative to the legislation to address concerns that expanding the GI Bill could lead more members of the military to get out of the service. Both Democratic presidential candidates — Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., — have signed on as co-sponsors, and the bill has gained bipartisan support from 55 senators on Capitol Hill. A vote on the proposal is expected before the summer. But the bill, which would dramatically increase educational compensation for American troops, has run into some unexpected resistance, both at the Pentagon and now from McCain, who has remained silent on the issue, saying he had not studied the bill close enough. Pressure had mounted on McCain to support the bill — a veterans group, which backs the legislation, delivered a petition to McCain's Senate office, signed by 30,000 veterans. Officials in charge of Pentagon personnel worry that a more generous and expansive GI Bill would create an incentive for troops to get out of the military and go to college. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=4652517&page=1
Support the troops unless it involves helping them get an education in return for all the service they've given the nation. Let's see how the usual lip service troop supporters respond to this one.
Mark: While I do not agree with your comments, this definitely is another example of the Republican sham of "supporting the troops".
The implication of your comment is that smart people don't join or stay in the military. I don't think that's necessarily accurate. Although data indicates recruits are not as likely to have college degrees, they do maintain a significantly higher high school graduation precentage than the general population. Moreover, the criteria is inordinately subjective. You don't need a college degree to be smart. None of this changes my opinion that McCain is being two-faced.
McCain was being tortuned by the Viet Cong while Obama was studying in a Muslim school in SE Asia. NUFF SAID
I apologize if my post insinuated that military people were not educated or smart. My point was that McCain is refusing to sign off on the bill because of the possibility that people in the military would have a choice in the matter and choose not to remain in the military.
Obama was supporting bills to help provide a college education for GI's who've honorably served this great nation, while McCain was opposing giving the troops this benefit. NUFF SAID (furthermore mine was actually on topic) It's interesting how your support for the troops is so paper thin.
Let's see how you talk as if there is no current GI Bill...The fact is there IS support for the troops involving helping them get an education in return for all the service they've given the nation...In other words, what you said is the sky is red...Believe your lie at will.... In addition, McCain is not wholesomely against expansion of the current G.I. Bill, he wants an alternative to the proposed expansion in such a way that it promotes incentive to stay in the military...That is absolutely valid and I support that!
Fair enough. I don't think the article you linked specifically states that McCain is not supporting for this reason, but it would seem a likely motivation.
There is a bill, that a bi-partisan majority feel could be improved on. Members of both houses support it, while McCain doesn't. The facts are there for all to see. Using your logic why get the military new armored vehicles. Afterall they've had tanks since WWI. They've even gotten new ones since then. So if they already have something, but people want to improve it, and others oppose those improvements it doesn't really mean they aren't supportive.
Once again, you completely ignored the part of the article where it said McCain was looking for alternatives. You continue to ignore important details in order to support your candidate
It could be improved on, there is no denying that, but McCain has agreed with some military leaders that the proposed bill should be improved on in such a way that it promotes incentive to stay in the military...What is wrong with that?
Good from this bill: Raises maximum benefit from $1100/month to $1900/month, in line with tuition, fees, books, and housing at more expensive state schools. Opens GI Bill money to a wider range of programs including apprenticeships, part-time college, and flight school. Eliminates distinctions within the current GI Bil among active duty, Guard, and reserve. Bad from this bill: Adds a very expensive housing allowance, even though housing is supposed to already be covered. Opens the program to large segments of the military and veterans who put nothing into it. The bill is good in spirit, but McCain is probably right to be against this version.
Nice breakdown, but I can't help thinking that if Obama, and not McCain, had said no to this bill, the conservatives here would blow their gaskets.
