WASHINGTON — John McCain defended his plan for veterans’ college benefits Monday, as both he, and Barack Obama spoke to veterans on Memorial Day. Hillary Clinton campaigned Monday in Puerto Rico. Obama and McCain have sparred from a distance recently over the bill, sometimes with what the MSM calls “heated words.”
In his comments on Memorial Day, McCain did not mention Obama by name, such a clever fellow, but it was clear he was talking Obama. McCain said his was the right position rather than “the politically expedient one,” suggesting Obama was on the wrong side of the Jim Webb bill, which passed the senate last week. The bill will substantially increase educational benefits for service members. A more limited version that McCain had supported, was blocked.
McCain: “I am running for the office of commander in chief. That is the highest privilege in this country, and it imposes the greatest responsibilities. And this is why I am committed to our bill, despite the support Senator Webb’s bill has received. It would be easier, much easier politically for me to have joined Senator Webb in offering his legislation.”
Umm. . . So you support your own bill because you’re “running for the office of commander in chief”?? You can’t join with the twenty-five members of your own party and support the Webb bill because— it’s not yours?? Isn’t this the same moronic partisan-think that has created the most polarized government in our history?
Because McCain said Webb’s measure would give the same benefit to everyone regardless of how many times he or she has reenlisted. He said he feared that would depress reenlistments by those wanting to attend college after only a “few years in uniform.” McCain said the bill he favored would have increased scholarships based on length of service.
Now remember, McCain, despite his whoring around for fringe religionists like John Hagee and Rod Parsley, portrays himself as a conservative, mainstream, unbaptized Baptist. One must assume that somewhere along the way, he’s heard the parable of the vineyard workers. All but you heathens will recall, that’s the one where the vineyard owner hired workers at a denarius a day, or roughly $20 bucks; bottom line, it was a fair wage for a day’s work.
Anyway, the guy— let’s just call him Vino— goes out to the market for his morning cappuccino, and seeing laborers standing around, says, ” Go work in my vineyard, and I’ll pay you whatever is right.” And the same thing happens at lunchtime, and at three in the afternoon, and yep, again at five as well; and Vino, generous vintner that he is, gives them all the same offer.
But when the men who had been slogging grapes since nine in the morning saw these guys dragging in after five, they imagined they should get more than the promised denarius. But when Vino pays up, the bitching started: “These guys who were hired last worked only one stinkin’ hour, and yet you paid them the same as us, who have worked the entire day in the frakkin’ scorchin’ sun.”
But the Vino, stoked on his own juice, was ready for them. He says: “‘My friends, I’m not doin’ you wrong. Didn’t each of you agree to work a day for a Jackson? So take your Twenty and hit the road! It’s my business to give to those who came last just as much as I gave to you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my own money? Or do you begrudge my generosity because I desire to be good and to show mercy?”
Well, long story short, McCain doesn’t understand the common generosity of the American people’s wish to compensate our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines— those who step into harm’s way to defend our nation— with a decent educational opportunity wherewith they can become productive citizens with a good life like, ahem, the rest of us.
On Saturday Barack Obama told veterans while campaigning in Puerto Rico : “I don’t understand why John McCain would side with George Bush and oppose our plan to make college more affordable for our veterans. George Bush and John McCain may think our plan is too generous. I could not disagree more.”
McCain says: “I take a back seat to no one in my affection, respect, and devotion to veterans.” Well. A back seat to no one— besides the senators, congressmen and women, and citizens who stepped up to support the troops by paying them the Jackson they’ve earned whether they served little, or much. That’s generosity. That’s American.
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