My grandmother had some thoughts she wanted to share with you all after the debate last night, but she doesn't have an account yet. So I'm posting this for Gerry Eckber:
How frustrating it is to be home listening to the political debates by Obama and Biden and have a key education issue go unaddressed, a perfect opportunity bypassed.
Last evening when vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin brought up the subject of education, Joe Biden, running on the Democratic ticket, should have denounced the fact that Senator John McCain voted against the new GI Bill of Rights which provides education benefits to veterans, so vital for establishing pathways to future security for them and their families. After WWII, people who otherwise would not have had the financial resources to go to college, were able to because of education benefits through the GI Bill. It made a life enhancing difference to veterans, veteran families, communities when higher educated residents reaping the benefits of education became better employed, many entering the professional ranks.
The anti GI Bill of Rights vote by McCain shows his lack of good judgment, his hypocrisy when he talks with such feeling about how magnificently the troops have performed and then denies them this education benefit. And why did he say he voted "Nay"? Because the education benefit, he said, would persuade men and women not to reenlist and the armed services need the troops. Can you believe that McCain takes out of the hands of citizens who have already served their country the option to better themselves for life through all the advantages that come with higher education?
Senator Obama needs to highlight this issue on the stump and in the next two debates and voters across the land need to get this "telling" issue spread far and wide.
Gerry Eckber
UPDATE:
Grandma in her first blog diary wants to be fully accurate so here's a follow-up on the issue of Senator John McCain and his Senate vote on the new GI Bill 2008 which provides to veterans education financing and all the potential advantages that come with higher education. While openly, strongly, opposing the new GI Bill, a definite nay, he actually did not show up to vote. A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he nevertheless was one of three senators who did not show up on May 22, 2008 for the final Senate vote on S22, the new GI Bill. The vote was 75 yeas, 22 nays, 3 not voting. All 22 senators voting against the measure were Republicans. The three not voting were Republican McCain of Arizona, Republican Coburn of Oklahoma, and Democrat Kennedy who was absent from Washington due to illness. Senator Obama voted yea.
Senator McCain also did not show up for the vote on June 26, 2008 on HR2642, which included the new GI Bill, Post--9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The vote was 92 yeas to 6 nays, the nays all Republicans, and 2 not voting--Republican McCain and Democrat Kennedy, still ill back home in Massachusetts. Senator Obama voted yea. President Bush signed HR2642 into Public Law No: 110-252 on June 30, 2008. On record, John McCain let down the men and women who have served their country and look forward to finding ways through education for new opportunities.