9-14-08, 9:12 am

John McCain says he supports veterans benefits, but his political record suggests, if elected, he would represent four more years of neglect of veterans issues, said Philip Carter, a US Army veteran and director of the Obama National Veterans Vote.

Carter spoke late last week on a teleconference with reporters to announce the opening of an Obama campaign swing through Florida with leading veterans leaders and former top military officials to discuss veterans issues and to meet with local veterans groups.

McCain's military record is honorable, Carter said, but his political record goes against veterans.

'The contrast is very clear,' Carter added. McCain offers 'four more years of underfunding veterans health care and four more years of neglecting our sons and daughters who go into harm's way.'

Barack Obama has a strong record on voting for veterans issues, Carter pointed out. The Disabled Veterans of America gave Obama an 80 percent voting record, while giving McCain only 20 percent. Likewise, McCain earned a 'D' rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America for his votes against veterans of those wars, he emphasized.

Obama joined with and led congressional efforts to fully fund veterans health care programs, many of which were met with Senate Republican filibusters, George W. Bush vetoes, and opposition from John McCain.

'This is something he has worked on with Senators from both sides of the aisle,' Carter went on. Obama has earned praise for his work from veterans groups like the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.

Carter highlighted the contrast between Barack Obama and John McCain, raising the issue of Obama's support for the bipartisan 21st Century GI Bill that expands educational and other benefits for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. John McCain opposed the bill.

'Sen. McCain stood with the Bush administration and opposed this until the very end. And even missed the last two votes on this bill,' Carter stated. 'In that instance, he showed that he does not stand with veterans.'

Carter told reporters that Obama will be raising this point systematically on the campaign trail.

The sharp contrast between the two candidates on veterans issues reveals which of the two stand for real change, said former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham, who joined Carter on the conference call. While John McCain stood with George W. Bush in weakening education benefits and restricting access to medical care, Barack Obama sees the need for 'investing in our 21st century veterans.'

Based on his service on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Barack Obama understands and the modern educational and medical needs of veterans, Graham stated. While Bush imposed a moratorium on building new veterans medical facilities in areas where veteran populations are growing, such as the South and the West, Obama fought for expanded funding for key medical services which modern service members need.

Graham pointed out that Bush administration policies led to the fiasco at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 'The challenge that Sen. McCain has is, with a voting record that has been 95 percent consistent with George Bush, how can he convince the American people that he is a real agent for real change?'

Carter talked about the impact of McCain's failure to side with veterans on key issues. 'Indications are that veterans are not siding with John McCain automatically,' he noted. Carter recalled the warm reception Barack Obama has received at major national veterans organizations and the serious thought and interest veterans leaders have shown for his positions on a range of issues.

Carter also highlighted recent data revealing that active duty service members strongly support Obama, especially from deployed troops who have given six times as much money to the Obama campaign as to the McCain campaign. 'With respect to currently serving military personnel, Senator Obama is actually running circles around Senator McCain,' he said.

'That is a massive paradigm shift over four years ago,' Carter argued. Veterans 'are not just voting their affiliation, they're making a reasoned, intelligent choice. And they're choosing the candidate who makes the most sense for them.'

--Reach Joel Wendland at