McCAIN & THE VETERANS?

I don't suppose McCain would be all that popular with them after he spoke out against Sen. Webb's new G.I. bill and that seems to be the case. You won't hear about this on FAUX News or wingnut radio.

McCain can't be sure veterans will fall in behind him
At a major Las Vegas convention, some veterans express concern about his positions on veterans' benefits.
By Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 10, 2008

But Fred Bristol, who has attended the Disabled American Veterans convention for the last 55 years, marveled at his fellow veterans' reaction to Sens. Barack Obama, who sent a video, and John McCain, who addressed the group in person.

"I think there's an unusual split in the group we haven't seen in the past," said Bristol, 81, of Sarasota, Fla. "I'm hearing that from a lot of friends."

The 1.4-million-member group said that in 2006, he voted for only one of the five spending bills the group considered most important -- 20%.


"It's a pretty low score," said David Autry, spokesman for the congressionally chartered nonprofit group. The group rated Obama (D-Ill.) at 80%.

The Vets also didn't care for McCain's attacks on Obama.

McCain’s attacks on rival fall flat with vets group
Republican offers plan to let some get care outside VA
By J. Patrick Coolican, Michael Mishak
Sun, Aug 10, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Las Vega Sun

Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the Veterans Affairs Department.

The veterans, at Bally’s for their national convention, gave him a tepid reception, especially considering McCain’s life story.

Just one of 14 veterans interviewed by the Sun after his speech said he is a certain McCain voter, and the nonpartisan group’s legislative director expressed concerns about McCain’s proposed “Veterans’ Care Access Card.”

Here's a great example that you won't hear about on FAUX News:

Duke Hendershot, a double amputee retired Marine who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s run for president in 2000 but is undecided this year.

“John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” said Hendershot, who lives in San Antonio, Texas. “A lot of that has to do with how he’s wanted this job so bad for so long that he’s tied himself to President Bush.”

He said McCain’s embrace of Bush, whom Hendershot called a “draft-dodging coward,” is even more perplexing because of the rivalry between the two candidates during the 2000 campaign.

Hendershot also criticized McCain for taking swipes at Obama in his speech. “He should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent,” he said.