Bush did his best to emphasize his record on helping veterans yesterday, but he left out some important details that military families probably should know.
Hoping to gather enough support in northwestern Wisconsin to turn the state his way in November, President Bush said Wednesday he will push for extra education benefits for National Guard members and reservists.
Here’s the specific pitch:
“Today, I’m going to announce a new proposal to help our men and women activated for duty in the National Guard and Reserves. These brave Americans put their jobs on hold and leave their family behind when we called. Yet, under current rules, their education benefits don’t reflect the high value of service we place on their time and duty. My proposal will help correct that by substantially increasing monthly education benefits for all Guard members and Reservists on active duty for more than 90 consecutive days.”
Sounds great, right? The troops families get a break, Bush gets to go to a swing state with a positive message, and he even gets a little news item about a new benefits plan. Fine.
The problem is it obscures a poor record on troop support that Bush should be ashamed of.
Let’s put aside, for the moment, the fact that a president who sends troops into battle under false pretenses and fails to equip them with the tools they need to protect themselves should find it difficult to describe himself as a “friend” of the military. Instead, just consider the Bush administration’s record on benefits for the troops, their families, and veterans.
From combat pay, to VA health care, to active members’ health care, to military housing, to schools near military bases, the Bush administration has been wrong every step of the way.
Note to Karl Rove: It’s too late to wrap Bush in the flag now.