McCain Lies to Vet About Voting Record

At a town hall meeting in Denver on Monday, John McCain was called onto the carpet, by a fellow Vietnam veteran, for his poor voting record on veterans' issues.

What was McCain's response? To ignore the man's question (twice), lie about his own record, and tacitly accuse his fellow vet of lying.

Here's the video, with commentary by Rachel Maddow. After the jump, a transcript of the exchange, and McCain's real record with veterans' groups.



Here's a transcript of the exchange: (from The Washington Independent)

The first question from the audience came from a Vietnam veteran, who challenged McCain's record of supporting health care for veterans. It was followed by this testy exchange, during which McCain fell back on his endorsements from veteran groups:

McCain: "I don't know what bill you're referring to...and I'll be glad to have you refer to it. The reason why I have a perfect voting record from organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and all the other veterans' service organizations is because I support them."

Audience Member: "You do not have a perfect voting record with [Disabled American Veterans] and VFW. That's where these votes are recorded. The votes were for proposals by your colleagues in the Senate to increase health-care funding for the [Veterans Administration] in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. You voted against those proposals. I can give the numbers of those Senate votes right now."

McCain: "I thank you and I'd be glad to examine what your version of my record is. Again, I've been endorsed in every election by all of the veterans' organizations that do that. I've been supported by them and received the highest awards from all of those organizations, so I guess they don't know something you know. I thank you very much and I will continue to be proud of my support for the veterans of this country."

Has McCain never heard the old adage, "Never try to bullshit a guy who's clutching a sheaf of papers?" I think it was Mark Twain.

I really loved this part: "I'd be glad to examine what your version of my record is."

I bet he would, since the man apparently had the version that was true. From The Independent:

Disabled American Veterans gave McCain a dismal 20 percent rating, out of a possible 100 percent, during the second session of the 109th Congress, which ended in January 2007 -- their most recent rating. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of 'D.'

Vietnam Veterans of America does not offer a rating or grade, but they do provide a chart that compares McCain's vote to their preferred position. Since 2001, McCain voted with VVA nine times and against them 15 times. He also missed eight votes.

In the words of Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much!"

The McCain campaign is clearly unprepared in this area, and it could cost McCain dearly. His image as an honorable warrior is the biggest of his few remaining assets. He runs the risk of eroding that with things like this, or his hiring of a Swift Boat Veteran for his "Truth Squad." Both of these hits were self-inflicted, and McCain should make sure that, the next time one of his brothers in arms wants some answers, he is ready with some true ones.