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A group of local Republican leaders said Saturday some local Democrats have “twisted” John McCain’s position on this year’s GI Bill to make it appear as if the Arizona senator and Republican presidential hopeful does not support veterans.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said
La Crosse County Republican Party Chairman and Viet-nam-era veteran Tom Lynch. “John McCain has served this country admirably and with great sacrifice. He has proven himself as a noble and confident leader.”
McCain didn’t agree to the first draft on the bill introduced to the Senate in May because of $21 billion in pork spending attachments, a pre-set date to withdraw American troops from Iraq and the absence of a provision for transferability of veteran GI benefits to spouses and children, Lynch said.
McCain signed onto the bill when the withdraw deadline and a majority of pork spending attachments were removed and the transferability clause was inserted, Lynch said.
“He protected the taxpayer,” he said. “He got the best for the veterans and positioned the military for the best and most experienced leadership for the future. … We must have John McCain lead this country at this most crucial time.”
Dave Drewes, La Crosse County chairman for the Wisconsin Veterans for McCain and a Vietnam veteran, said the United States needs a commander in chief who will “stand strong against the enemy.”
“How in the world could you say anybody has stood stronger without bending than McCain when he was a prisoner in North Vietnam?” Drewes said.
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