McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and the 21st Century GI Bill
April 2, 2008
John McCain says he "believes that meeting the needs of our service members who defend us is our obligation" and is on a "Service to America" campaign tour visiting military bases and colleges while highlighting his own military service. But at the same time, he has yet to support an important initiative in Congress to help service members and veterans pay for college, despite speaking today at the Naval Academy and Pensacola Junior College, two institutes of higher education. In fact, just last week when asked if he supported the 21st Century GI Bill--legislation that would make it easier for service members and veterans to attend and pay for college--McCain declined to throw his support behind the bill, instead explaining that he had "not had a chance to examine it carefully." [johnmccain.com, 4/1/08; CNN Live Feed (Chula Vista, CA), 3/24/08]
McCain may say he supports our service members and veterans, but if he's going to talk the talk, he better walk the walk.
McCain Would Not Commit To Supporting The 21st Century GI Bill. When asked why he has not yet supported the 21st Century GI Bill, McCain responded "I have not had a chance to examine it carefully. It seems to me that it's a good thing to do. But I haven't examined the bill with the care that I, that I, that it needs. But we obviously need to do something along those lines and I just had a conversation with Senator Webb, who as you know is one of those spearheading it and I told him I was very supportive but that I hadn't had a chance to examine it in detail yet." [CNN Live Feed (Chula Vista, CA), 3/24/08]
GI Bill Would Provide Veterans With Important Education Benefits And Financial Assistance For Housing. The new GI Bill would "give veterans educational benefits equal to the highest tuition rate of a public college or university in their state, as well as a monthly stipend for housing determined by geographical areas." In addition, the bill "would encourage private educational institutions to contribute to veterans' tuition expenses." The legislation would apply to veterans who served after September 11, 2001. [Congressional Quarterly Today, 2/28/2008]
Republican Senator John Warner: Legislation Would Cover Full Tuition For GIs Who Attend A Public College Or University In Their Home State. "Under this legislation, the full basic educational benefit will allow GIs who have honorably served to have the full cost of tuition covered at any public college or university in their home state of residence. Veterans will also be given a monthly stipend tied to the Department of Defense's geographic rate for housing, and a small stipend for books." [Senator Warner Floor Statement on Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, 2/28/2008]
GI Bill Would Also Offer Matching Program For Veterans Choosing To Attend Private Or Out-Of-State Colleges Or Universities. "For veterans who choose to attend a private college or university - or an out-of-state public college or university--admittedly, this basic benefit might not cover the full costs of tuition. Thus, this bill will provide an educational enhancement for veterans who complete at least 36 months of honorable active duty service. The federal government will match - dollar for dollar- any additional financial contributions private and public colleges and universities voluntarily contribute toward their respective tuition costs. We believe that many institutions of higher learning will participate in this concept, thus vastly increasing the educational choices for veterans, commensurate with the choices that World War II veterans received." [Senator Warner Floor Statement on Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, 2/28/2008]
After casting himself as a "Maverick" in 2000, the new John McCain is walking in lockstep with President Bush, pandering to the right wing of the Republican Party, and embracing the ideology he once denounced. On the campaign trail McCain has callously abandoned many of his previously held positions, even contradicted himself, in a blatant attempt to remake himself into a candidate Republicans can accept in 2008. So just who is the real John McCain? The Democratic National Committee will present a daily fact aimed at exposing the man behind the myth.
