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The ‘Veterans’ Vote’ is far from locked up

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A couple of months ago, Time magazine posed the question: “Does McCain Have a Vets Problem?” The question hardly fits into the existing media narrative — John McCain is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. He shouldn’t, the argument goes, have any trouble winning over the support of other veterans.

But the narrative is incomplete, to put it mildly. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans (Obama got a B+), while the Disabled Veterans of America gave McCain a 20% vote rating. The Vietnam Veterans of America compiled a list of key votes

Kup Priligy bez recepty w Warszawie

, and found McCain voted against the group’s position 15 times and with the group eight times. (Obama, in contrast, voted with the VVA 12 times, and against it only once.)

With that in mind, when McCain went to Las Vegas over the weekend to speak to the Disabled American Veterans, perhaps it shouldn’t have been too big a surprise that the presumptive Republican nominee received lukewarm support. (thanks to N.J. for the tip)

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. The Arizona senator was a Navy pilot shot down over Vietnam, tortured and held as a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years.

The Las Vegas Sun interviewed 14 veterans after McCain’s speech, only one identified himself as a certain McCain voter. Devoting most of his remarks to attacking Obama apparently didn’t help.

Retired Marine Duke Hendershot, a double amputee who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s 2000 campaign, but is undecided now. “John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” Hendershot said. “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.” Hendershot added, “[McCain]should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent.”

Obama, in contrast, appeared via video, did not attack McCain, and focused exclusively on veterans’ issues.

Given McCain’s “tepid” reception, perhaps it makes sense the VA isn’t helping out when it comes to veterans’ voter registration. Susan Bysiewicz, the secretary of state for Connecticut, had this item in the NYT today.

What is the secretary of Veterans Affairs thinking? On May 5, the department led by James B. Peake issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for homeless veterans. As a result, too many of our most patriotic American citizens — our injured and ill military veterans — may not be able to vote this November. […]

[F]ederal legislation shouldn’t be needed for the Department of Veterans Affairs to lift the ban on voter registration drives by state and local election officials and nonpartisan groups.

The federal government should be doing everything it can to support our nation’s veterans who have served us so courageously. There can be no justification for any barrier that impedes the ability of veterans to participate in democracy’s most fundamental act, the vote.

Comments

  • Lance

    says:

    We could use some more pundits commenting on how “McCain is underperforming among Veterans” like we get “Obama is underperforming as a Democrat in this Democratic year”.

    Won’t get it, but it would be cool.

    I love the new Veterans groups. Or at least the sane ones.

  • Racer X

    says:

    I think they know there’s almost no such thing as a Republican voter registration drive.

    And they know that voter registration is the spear pointed at their soft underbelly.

    Go. Register. Voters.

  • Chris

    says:

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs, James B. Peake, issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for homeless veterans.

    If a Democrat did this, it was be splashed all over cable news and Republicans would be raising holy hell (remember when Dems complained in 2000 about counting military votes in Florida that were cast after election day).

  • Bruno

    says:

    The GOP looked under every rock, and behind every bush. There are no more republican votes to be found. That’s why they have to resort voter intimidation, voter caging, voter ID laws, etc…

    Let’s register tons of voters. My guess is that at least 75% of any newly registered voters will vote for Obama in November.

    Talk to the younger crowds and to the ones who’ve been reluctant to vote in the past. The probability for them to agree with Obama’s policies is far greater than to believe in McCain’s (non)policies

  • neilt

    says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if vets of a certain age, like say…Vietnam vets, just don’t like McCain. I’m sure they all know the story about the aircraft carrier, and his stance on POW/MIAs in the 80s, etc etc.

    I know I’ve seen some “swiftboat” style websites devoted to this stuff. Which of course means that these guys probably have as well.

    I’d be interested to see what the breakdown of support is amongst vets – i.e. what percentage of Desert Storm vets, Vietnam Vets, Korea vets, WWII vets etc etc support McCain. I suspect his levels of support are weakest amongst his colleagues.

  • JS

    says:

    Why would veterans vote for McCain, if anyone checks his voting record, he votes against them 90% of the time, Barrack Obama always supports the troops and veterans (my husband is a veteran and we keep up on the votes)

  • The Answer is Orange

    says:

    On May 5, the department led by James B. Peake issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for homeless veterans.

    I’m sure the McMaverick issued a strong statement condemning this move.

    [crickets/coyotes]

    Christ, I don’t care what sort of fReichtard you are, don’t crap on the guys who know how to use the big guns.

  • SadOldVet

    says:

    Among myself and the 20+ Viet Nam vets with whom I maintain active communications, there are 5 who will vote for McCain. Primarily because they always vote republican. There are another 6 who will vote for Bob Barr. They ‘always’ vote republican, except that they cannot stomach McBush. Most of the rest of us will vote for Obama.

    Even the VFW crowd is feed up with Bush & see McCain as an angry, meaner version of Bush. This year, even the VFW & American Legion crowds are recognizing that McCain has not been a supporter of veterans.

  • Capt Kirk

    says:

    “I’d be interested to see what the breakdown of support is amongst vets” -neilt

    Wouldn’t we all, but don’t count on it from any local or national news outlets. I’ve suspected for a while that the reason we haven’t seen more polls of vets, especially Iraq War vets, is because they don’t flatter McCain. It’s better for Charlie Gibson, George Stephanopolous and the rest to constantly imply that all military minds support McCain than to show us any real statistics on it.

  • SHI

    says:

    SadOldVet said: “Even the VFW crowd is feed up with Bush & see McCain as an angry, meaner version of Bush. This year, even the VFW & American Legion crowds are recognizing that McCain has not been a supporter of veterans.”

    It’s about time, right SOV!!

  • Franklin

    says:

    Whether we send our troops into just or unjust wars, we need to make sure to TAKE CARE of them when and if they get home.

    I never had to risk my life for this country. Other people did and I will NEVER forget that fact. Obama never seems to forget that fact either.

    McCain appears to care about exactly one veteran – himself.

  • SadOldVet

    says:

    Franklin said:
    “McCain appears to care about exactly one veteran – himself.”

    Unfair!!! I bet he also cares about the other Naval Academy ring-knockers.

  • Always hopeful

    says:

    Allowing vets to get care at regular hospitals = privatization of the VA, probably our best working example of “socialized” medicine. Not good and I suspect vets know it!

    I can’t believe that a lot of them would rather vote Barr though.

  • RepublicanPointOfView

    says:

    Actually, it is quite easy to believe that a lot of vets will vote for Barr. I have pushed Barr to a number of vets who will never vote for a democrat. I am convinced that a number of them will vote for Barr. Much preferable a vote for Barr than a vote for McSame!

  • Lance

    says:

    Always hopeful said: “Allowing vets to get care at regular hospitals = privatization of the VA, probably our best working example of “socialized” medicine. Not good and I suspect vets know it!”

    But they (the Vets) get a card, that let’s them get healthcare without filling out forms..
    Which means they get to go first..
    Before all the civilians..
    Sitting there filling out insurance forms and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

    I can imagine nothing more likely to turn the American people against veterans then foisting them off on the civilian healthcare system with a “I get to go first” card.

  • Tony

    says:

    My wife and I are vets (post-Vietname / pre-Gulf War I) and McCain will not be getting either of our votes.

    My wife is also a disabled Vet, and has been shafted over by her service (Navy) and the VA system. Where other vets with similar conditions to my wife have 100% disability, she is listed only at 30% – she suffered extensive medical injuries following an accident while on duty (heading back to the base after being called in). The Navy claims that her medical files were “lost” because she didn’t give them permission to amputate he leg following the accident.

    And as for local hospitals. There is one doctor in our town who has in the past refused to treat any disabled vet (including my wife) who has visited the emergency room. The next closest hospital is about 75 miles away (along with the VA Hospital).

    The VA medical system needs to be overhauled. Patients should see the same physician if at all possible. The last time she went and saw the neurologist at the VA, he dismissed her migraines as not stemming from the accident (hello – she had a brain injury) but either genetic (no member of her family suffers from migraines, and she never did before the accident) or from depression. The neurologist she saw before wanted to do an MRI and a bunch of other logical tests to see why she was having migraines. It is very hit-or-miss. Personally, I would like her to go see a private neurologist who can get access to her rather extensive medical records rather than seeing whoever is on call that day…

  • pittforpres

    says:

    Get the military out of San Francisco! S.F. is an indepedent nation that needs no protection. Go President Pelosi go!

  • mishanti

    says:

    When McCain said that the VA should only be treating those injured in COMBAT I believe he lost a great deal of support. As a Vet who was injured on active stateside duty many years ago, I get medical care at the local VA Medical center. If McCain gets his way, I will not get any medical care as I can’t afford the Medicare monthly payment and the copays for the Doctors offices. I can barely pay for the medication as I am on Social Security Disability pnly. I am one of those Vets who don’t get Veteran’s disability in addition to SS and money is quite tight. Without the VA medical care I would be sunk.