Veterans -- Missing In Action

May 23, 2008

by Faiz Shakir, Amanda Terkel, Satyam Khanna, Matt Corley, Ali Frick, and Benjamin Armbruster

VETERANS

Missing In Action

On Monday, the nation will join its nearly 24 million veterans in remembering the American heroes who have lost their lives in war. Yesterday, the Senate honored U.S. troops by passing a 21st Century GI Bill, expanding educational benefits for veterans who joined the service after Sept. 11, 2001. "Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future," said Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who sponsored the legislation. Seventy-five senators voted to fund veterans yesterday, providing a veto-proof majority. Yet not only did Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) not vote for the bill, he didn't even show up to vote (the only other senators missing were Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), for health reasons, and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who had to attend a funeral). In the past, McCain has promised to "do everything" in his power to look after the nation's military. But a look at his record on veterans issues shows that he has unfortunately favored conservative pandering instead.

A COMPREHENSIVE NEW GI BILL: Yesterday's vote on the 21st Century GI Bill was 75-22. The legislation garnered wide bipartisan support, including Republican cosponsors Sens. Chuck Hagel (NE) and John Warner (VA). Under the bill, members of the military who have served on active duty since 9/11 are eligible to receive education benefits equaling the highest tuition rate of the most expensive in-state public college or university, along with a monthly stipend for housing determined by geographical area. It would also "create a program in which the government would provide a dollar-for-dollar match to contributions from private educational institutions with higher tuition rates than those covered under the bill." Despite claims by McCain and the White House, Webb's bill would help the military's enlistment rate. The new GI bill "is projected to cost about $2.5 billion per year," roughly the cost of U.S. operations in Iraq for one week.

DASHING HOPES AND DREAMS: McCain, however, opposes these generous benefits for troops' education. He instead signed onto a watered-down, Bush administration-approved version offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This legislation would exclude many servicemembers by reserving the most generous benefits for soldiers who have served at least 12 years. It would also shortchange National Guard and Reserve members, offering them fewer benefits. McCain likes to say that as a former soldier, he understands what is best for veterans. But his version of the GI Bill was opposed by the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and the American Legion. More than eight in 10 members of the American public also support a comprehensive GI Bill. Kristofer Goldsmith, who served in Sadr City and was stop-lossed after returning home, testified to Congress on May 15 that he had attempted suicide and was discharged. Because he couldn't serve a second term, he had to forfeit his "one hope and dream" to go to college under the GI Bill. "And currently there is a Senator in Congress currently running for president, who is fighting to kill our Webb GI bill," said Goldsmith. "And I'm one of the soldiers who will never get that money."

FAILING GRADES: McCain's record on supporting veterans is one of the worst in Congress. IAVA has given him a grade of a "D" for voting against veterans' priorities so often between 2000 and 2006. A scorecard of roll call votes compiled by the Disabled American Veterans found that McCain has voted for veterans funding bills only 20 percent of the time. For example, in May 2006, he voted against an amendment providing $20 billion to the Department of Veteran Affairs's (VA) medical facilities. In April 2006, he was one of just 13 senators to vote against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care "and treatment for veterans." McCain has railed against comprehensive universal health care and wants to give veterans the "freedom to choose to carry their V.A. dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location." But as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman notes, "[T]he Veterans Health Administration is one of the few clear American success stories in the struggle to contain health care costs. ... [I]t's an integrated system -- a system that takes long-term responsibility for its clients' health -- to deliver an impressive combination of high-quality care and low costs." McCain's plan, however, would "privatize and, in effect, dismantle the V.A." In his narrow-sighted focus on eliminating earmarks, McCain may also cut funding for military housing.

MILITARY -- PETRAEUS A 'HAPPY' PARTICIPANT IN PENTAGON SPIN EFFORT: Yesterday, as the Wonk Room reported, documents in a recent Pentagon document dump reveal that Gen. David Petraeus was a "happy" participant in the administration's military analyst propaganda program. When asked by Bryan Whitman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, to contact several retired generals scheduled to appear on "several Sunday Shows" in August 2005, Petraeus replied, "Will do, Bryan, thanks." Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's spokesman Larry Di Rita complained to "Dave" at the time that "some of these retired military analysts are trying to have it both ways," by supporting generals like Petraeus but criticizing the "secdef" -- Rumsfeld -- and "his supposed bad plans." In his calls, Petraeus evidently painted a rosy picture of his mission to train Iraqi forces, apparently prompting the analysts to boast of American successes during media appearances. For instance, Gen. Wayne Downing told NBC's Tim Russert on Aug. 28, 2005 that "in another year or 15 months, we're going to be able to start taking the U.S. forces down somewhat, because I think the Iraqi forces are going to be in strength of about 150,000 of both police and army."

IRAQ -- MOST INFLUENTIAL SHI'ITE CLERIC IN IRAQ SAYS RESISTANCE AGAINST U.S. IS 'PERMISSIBLE': The AP reported yesterday that Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has been issuing religious edicts, known as fatwas, "declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible -- a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad." The edicts suggest that Sistani "seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia." The news of Sistani's shift is significant because he has been a "key stabilizing force in Iraq for refusing to support a full-scale Shi'ite uprising against U.S.-led forces or Sunnis." The AP also reports that Sistani's position "underlines possible opposition to any agreement by Baghdad to allow a long-term U.S. military foothold in Iraq." The Wonk Room's Matt Duss adds, "I think it's possible that Sistani is responding to pressure from Sadrists who condemned him for his silence during the U.S. and Iraqi army siege of Sadr City."

CIVIL RIGHTS -- CALIFORNIANS LEAN TOWARD REJECTING GAY MARRIAGE BAN: Following last week's monumental California Supreme Court decision overruling the state's ban on gay marriage, a new poll indicates that California residents are leaning toward rejecting a ballot initiative amending the constitution to permanently ban gay marriage. Californians were split almost exactly evenly when asked if they approved of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) vow to uphold the court's ruling. Only 51 percent of respondents said they planned to vote for the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Notably, only 39 percent said that same-sex relationships were morally wrong. A conservative group favoring the amendment, SaveCalifornia, compared granting gay couples marriage licenses to Nazis gassing Jews during the Holocaust. Additionally, "[m]ore than half of Californians say gay relationships were not wrong [and] that they would not degrade heterosexual marriages, according to the survey.

The Senate passed a bill yesterday "prohibiting federal contractors from avoiding Social Security and Medicare taxes by hiring workers through offshore shell companies." Earlier this week, the House "also voted unanimously to ban the practice, used by former Halliburton subsidiary KBR" and others to avoid payroll taxes for thousands of American workers in Iraq.

In order to justify the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program in 2001, then-Justice Department lawyer John Yoo argued that FISA was not the "exclusive means" by which the U.S. conducts electronic surveillance. "The statute must be construed to avoid [such] a reading," wrote Yoo, claiming that Congress had not “made a clear statement,” despite the "exclusive" language in the bill.

"In her most extensive public comments" on the matter, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “defended tough interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects." "The fact is that after Sept. 11...we were in an environment in which saving America from the next attack was paramount," Rice said. She "said America was safer because of interrogation conducted on al-Qaeda detainees."

Former Alabama governor Don Siegelman "asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to toss out his conviction, saying prosecutors confused campaign contributions for bribes." Siegelman also "argued that the trial judge improperly sentenced him to more prison time because Siegelman publicly declared that Republicans were behind his prosecution."

According to projections the Department of Energy issued yesterday, "crude oil prices would probably drop by an average of only 75 cents a barrel" if Congress were to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The report found that Artic refuge oil production "is not projected to have a large impact on world oil prices."

And finally: "Barack Obama wags the dog." In a forthcoming book entitled "A Rare Breed of Love," which offers advice on how to "raise awareness, make a difference, and stop animal suffering," Obama appears holding a three-legged poodle rescued from a puppy mill. "Lest his presidential campaign ever end up in the doghouse, Sen. Barack Obama has decided to go ahead and appeal to the mutts," writes the Washington Examiner.

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The House overwhelmingly approved an amendment introduced by Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH) that forbids "the Defense Department from engaging in 'a concerted effort to propagandize' the American people over the war." The move comes after revelations that the Pentagon sought to use military officials as media mouthpieces for the administration.

UTAH: Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) "said Utah's gasoline prices are outrageous, but suspending the state's gas tax is a bad idea."

WOMEN'S RIGHTS: "[C]onservative activists are renewing a drive for regulations that would deny federal subsidies to clinics that provide abortions or counsel women about the option."

ECONOMY: The cost of rebuilding homes damaged from Hurricane Rita has soared.

THINK PROGRESS: Methodist ministers launch PR campaign to stop Bush presidential ibrary at SMU

WONK ROOM: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on poverty: Culturally inferior blacks should learn from my success.

SLOG: Anti-gay group compares marrying same-sex couples to helping the Nazis.

NUKES & SPOOKS: State Department employees deface portraits of President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with "fake mustaches."

MSNBC: Will Karl Rove agree to testify if Congress issues a subpoena to him as part of an investigation into the [Don] Siegelman case?.
LUSKIN: Sure.
-- Karl Rove attorney Robert Luskin, 4/7/08

VERSUS

"Mr. Rove is not a free agent. ... The decision about when, where, and what a former assistant to the President may testify about raises issues of Executive Privilege and a separation of powers that Mr. Rove does not control."
-- Luskin, 5/21/08, rejecting a House Judiciary Committee's subpoena

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