Cindy Mccain's vicious attack on Obama offends the troops

At a rally in Bethlehem, Pa. last week, Cindy McCain spoke about having two sons serving on active duty: "I'm proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body. I would suggest that Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means."

The fact is -- many military spouses support Obama-Biden, and they were deeply offended by Mrs. McCain's outburst. Cindy McCain was referring to a single 2007 Senate vote: Obama voted for a war-spending bill that included language calling for withdrawing troops from Iraq; but later he voted against a version of the same bill because it no longer included the withdrawal language. "We must fund our troops, but we owe them something more," Obama said at the time. "We owe them a clear, prudent plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war."

In other words, Sen. Obama wanted to fund the troops, he just didn't support the flawed military strategy this particular bill would enable. (Previously, Obama had voted YES on at least 10 other war funding bills. For a lengthy list of John McCain's NO votes on military funding, click here.)

"It ruffles our feathers when someone claims that Barack Obama doesn't support the troops, because the Obamas have gone out of their way to understand the military, its families, and its veterans," Stephanie Himel-Nelson, deputy director of outreach for Blue Star Families for Obama, told OffTheBus. "In fact, Michelle Obama has adopted military families as one of her causes...When millionaires such as Cindy McCain act as if they understand our lives, and the lives of everyday military families and veterans, we get upset," said Himel-Nelson.

The number of Navy and Air Force vets re-deployed to fill gaps in Army units on a one-off basis -- with just a few weeks of combat training -- continues to grow. "The Navy is providing manpower because the Army doesn't have enough troop strength for our front lines," said Vivian Walker, a Navy veteran and military spouse who is using her GI Bill benefits to earn a Ph.D. in public administration and urban policy. "...the list goes on, but I'm not complaining. The only time I get upset is when I feel I have to defend my patriotism if I vote for Obama. I live this war daily. My support for the troops is all-consuming."

"We want to know that the sacrifices we make are for a reason. That when our family members are in harm's way, they are protected as much as possible. That the leaders who deploy them will bring them home as soon as possible," said Bella Harris, Chesapeake, Va. She is married to a nuclear power officer on board the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier based in Japan. Harris told OffTheBus she admires McCain, but is voting for Obama because "he has a better plan for health care reform, and a more experienced running mate."

Kathy Roth-Douquet, Beaufort, S.C. has lived in six places on three continents since she married a marine corps officer 11 years ago. "Our fourth-grader has attended six schools because of all the moves, but it's a source of pride that we were asked to do something difficult and found the resources to do it," she told OffTheBus. Roth-Douquet is the author of AWOL, a book about the unexcused absence of America's upper classes from military service and how it hurts the country. Recently she co-produced a video featuring military wives for Obama, after co-founding (with Laura Dempsey) a grassroots organization of military families called Blue Star Families for Obama.

All of these women respect McCain for his Vietnam-era service, but they believe Obama has the temperament to safely lead the United States out of the quagmire in the Middle East. "One doesn't have to join the military to serve their country -- nor does serving in the military necessarily qualify one to be president," said Walker. They trust Obama to use diplomacy, not just military might.

For The Record, Mrs. McCain...The non-partisan group Disabled American Veterans gives John McCain a 20 percent rating for his voting record on veterans' issues. (It gives Barack Obama an 80 percent rating.)

The non-partisan group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gives McCain a "D" grade for his voting record on issues such as additional funding for combat body armor, and additional funding for post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical treatment. (Obama earned a B +.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/the-big-chill-cindy-mccai_b_134068...

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[blsed1]

Yeah BEEEEYOTCH, where are you now?

[chucknchar]

speaking as veteran, this bitch has her head up her ass. i'm tired of chickenhawks getting kids killed for the military industrial complex. let her phucking ass inlist, lol, can you picture cindy with a helmet and weapon in combat situation? me neither.

[longfootbuddy]

joining the military proves that you are either stupid, insane, or lack morals completely...want to defend your countrymen and family? stay home and out of the u.s. military

[crsbt]

why is it when someone talks sense they get ridiculed?

its time for new minds in the government,,ie sack them all,then bring charges to the lot of them for this mass murdering spree they have been on for years !.

[dh03grad]

Cant you just tell that absolutely nothing's going on in Palin's head?

[nolajasper]

bill clinton said worse things about nobama than cindy mccain.

[chuckbyf1]

Get us the fuck out!!!!!

[LordKaisen]

theyre all white lol. Still a strong point but misguided.

[1971Goldtop]

@aagraber45 you're more of a Hillary & Napolitano kinda guy huh? name any good looking Democratic woman? hehe.

[averagejoe040]

Obama is piece of crap and Chris Mathews and the Mainstream Media just love him to pieces. This country and our soldiers deserve so much better.

[royaladam]

I CAN'T NOT BELIEVE THAT MCCAIN GRANDFATHER & FATHER WAS A FOUR STAR ADMIRAL!!!!

[TheDwortham]

id hit it