John Cornyn Flip-Flops on GI Bill, then Takes Credit for It

[babylonsister]

John Cornyn Flip-Flops on GI Bill, then Takes Credit for It
by: Brandon Friedman
Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 22:20:54 PM EDT

Draft-dodging Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is a real asshole. First off, he refused to support the troops by refusing to support Jim Webb's new GI Bill. So we ran a TV ad against him:

Then, when it came time for the vote two days later, Cornyn still chose to vote against the amendment--and against the troops.

After the vote, Cornyn was taken to task by his Democratic opponent--Afghanistan veteran Rick Noriega. This is what Noriega had to say in the Houston Chronicle:

Today is Memorial Day, and I can think of no more fitting tribute to commemorate those who serve in the armed forces than the ratification of this new GI Bill.

Unfortunately, my opponent, Sen. John Cornyn, failed to stand up for our troops. Cornyn was one of only 22 senators to vote against the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act, continuing his history of turning his back on veterans. Adding insult to injury, Cornyn went so far as to condone and encourage a presidential veto of the bill. Webb's GI Bill passed with the support of 75 senators, including Texas' senior Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Texas needs two senators fighting for our veterans and our families. It is reprehensible that Cornyn supports keeping our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan but refuses to provide for our soldiers once they return home. As a public servant, as a soldier and as a Texan, I am ashamed of Cornyn's continued efforts to deny our troops the benefits they earned defending the United States.

Sen. Cornyn argues that financing higher education for veterans would encourage soldiers to leave the military to attend college. The notion that we should limit benefits to force our troops to stay in the military is morally repugnant. The knowledge I gained while attending college is instrumental in the work I do as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and as a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard. I believe that higher education should be a reality for any American who wants it, and I am disheartened by Cornyn's desire to deny this valuable right to the honorable men and women of the armed forces. A stronger GI Bill will help military recruitment, attracting America's most capable and gifted volunteers to the military during a time when we need more troops than ever.

Senator Cornyn then tried to weasel his way out of it by responding in a letter to say that he voted against the Webb-Hagel bill because he instead supported the largely-ignored-sham McCain bill--a bill that

would help in retaining volunteers, while the Webb bill would undercut that effort. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Webb bill would cause a 16 percent reduction in re-enlistment rates, seriously depleting our trained forces and overtaxing further those who remain.

This statement was total spin on Cornyn's part, and it was completely debunked by none other than the Congressional Budget Office. Nevertheless, many chickenhawks like Cornyn promoted the false idea that the Webb bill would somehow hurt retention.

more...

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1482

[tbyg52]

1. What a jerk. But we knew that.... nt

[MagickMuffin]

2. Well if you haven't voted in Barbara Boxer's PAC the I urge you to do so

Rick could use your help, and get the benefit of $5000. It ends tonight, and Al Franken is gaining on Rick.


http://ga4.org/pacforachange/challenger_open_vote.html

[Vogon_Glory]

3. John Cornyn Is a Gramm-Stander

John Cornyn is a Gramm stander. His predecessor, Phil Gramm, was famous for fighting progressive measures, then taking credit for them when they passed over his efforts to stop them.

What we progressives need to do is remind the ADD-possessed corporate media that Cornyn's actions don't match his words.