07-29-2008, 10:59 AM
VoteVets, the pro-Democrat group of retired military personnel, counters McCain's Black Hawk down statement with some outrage from Col. Katherine Scheirman (Ret.), the retired Chief of Medical Operations for United States Air Force in Europe Headquarters at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany:
"John McCain's new ad is dishonest and shameful, and I say that as the former Chief of Medical Operations. Senators Hagel and Reed confirmed to Bob Schieffer yesterday that Senator Obama visited the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad as a part of their CODEL, with no media present.
"In Germany, Senator Obama made the right decision to respect wounded troops, and the doctors and nurses doing crucial and time-sensitive work, by not making a visit that was characterized as a campaign event by the Pentagon. Senator Obama should be thanked for putting our military above politics. And, I would hope that John McCain would think in those same terms, the next time he is put in a similar situation.
"Senator Obama has voted for the troops when John McCain has not, most recently on the new GI Bill. I am happy that Senator Obama puts the welfare of our troops above politics."
Also, it's notable that Obama's camp, quick to respond to most every charge and ever-conscious of not repeating the mistakes of Kerry, has yet to go on the air with a spot pushing back against McCain's charge on the troop visit. Apparently, they won't unless McCain puts real money behind his spot and goes beyond just gaming it for earned media.
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<a href="http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Former_Ramstein_medical_chief_denounces_McCain">
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5/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the Webb GI Bill.<----talked about this on TV.
9/2007: McCain voted AGAINST bill to minimize periods of time between deployment of units sent to Iraq. http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_c...vote=00341
5/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $20 Million to VA for health care facilities. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00111
4/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $430,000,000 to VA for Medical Services. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00098
3/2006: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical services $1.5 billion in FY2007. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00041
3/2004: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical care by $1.8 billion. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00040
10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment for $322,000,000 for safety equipment for USforces. "Table"= vote never hits floor. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00376
10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote for $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq dueto:shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, & tactical vests. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00116 http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=157301
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"John McCain's new ad is dishonest and shameful, and I say that as the former Chief of Medical Operations. Senators Hagel and Reed confirmed to Bob Schieffer yesterday that Senator Obama visited the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad as a part of their CODEL, with no media present.
"In Germany, Senator Obama made the right decision to respect wounded troops, and the doctors and nurses doing crucial and time-sensitive work, by not making a visit that was characterized as a campaign event by the Pentagon. Senator Obama should be thanked for putting our military above politics. And, I would hope that John McCain would think in those same terms, the next time he is put in a similar situation.
"Senator Obama has voted for the troops when John McCain has not, most recently on the new GI Bill. I am happy that Senator Obama puts the welfare of our troops above politics."
Also, it's notable that Obama's camp, quick to respond to most every charge and ever-conscious of not repeating the mistakes of Kerry, has yet to go on the air with a spot pushing back against McCain's charge on the troop visit. Apparently, they won't unless McCain puts real money behind his spot and goes beyond just gaming it for earned media.
source
<a href="http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Former_Ramstein_medical_chief_denounces_McCain">
<img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" alt="Digg!" />
</a>
5/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the Webb GI Bill.<----talked about this on TV.
9/2007: McCain voted AGAINST bill to minimize periods of time between deployment of units sent to Iraq. http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_c...vote=00341
5/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $20 Million to VA for health care facilities. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00111
4/2006: McCain voted AGAINST $430,000,000 to VA for Medical Services. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00098
3/2006: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical services $1.5 billion in FY2007. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00041
3/2004: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Vet-medical care by $1.8 billion. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00040
10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment for $322,000,000 for safety equipment for USforces. "Table"= vote never hits floor. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00376
10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote for $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq dueto:shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, & tactical vests. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...vote=00116 http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=157301
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