Archives » Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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David Botti
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Feb 19, 2008 11:20 AM
As the only combat veteran among the remaining presidential candidates,
John McCain has a unique relationship to the current generation of vets
cycling home from the fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan. What do veterans
think of McCain? Are they inclined to hold him in higher respect, or
follow his candidacy with a more critical eye? Can he count on their
vote, or does he need to work twice as hard to assure them his plan for
Iraq is the right one?
VoteVets.org (which lists Gen. Wesley Clark on its board of advisers) has a prominent feature linked off the homepage titled "Senator McCain's Real Record on the War in Iraq."
The gist of their bullet-pointed argument is that Sen. McCain's policy
toward the Iraq war is too closely aligned with President Bush. Among
other points, VoteVets.org maintains:
McCain echoed Bush and Cheney’s talking points that the U.S. would only be in Iraq for a short time.
McCain said winning the war would be “easy.”
Senator McCain has constantly moved the goal posts of progress for the war – repeatedly saying it would be over soon.
Senator McCain opposed efforts to end the overextension of the military that is having a devastating impact on our troops.
In January VoteVets.org chairman Jon Soltz addressed the issue of Sen. McCain's military service:
John McCain is a true war hero, and we all respect his service. I don't
doubt for a second that he cares for our troops. But, every time he
opens his mouth, I'm less and less convinced that he realizes how
dangerous his off the cuff words would imperil our men and women in
harm's way, and our national security, if he said them as President.
Earlier this month the San Jose Mercury News took a look at a group of veterans
gathering at a California American Legion hall to cheer on Sen. McCain.
Doug McNea, a 60-year-old Navy veteran, told the paper he admires the
connection Sen. McCain can make with veterans of all wars:
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