VoteVets.org (which lists Gen. Wesley Clark on its board of advisers) has a prominent feature linked off the homepage titled “Senator McCain’s Real Record on the War in Iraq.” The gist of their bullet-pointed argument is that Sen. McCain’s policy toward the Iraq war is too closely aligned with President Bush. Among other points, VoteVets.org maintains:
In January VoteVets.org chairman Jon Soltz addressed the issue of Sen. McCain’s military service:
McCain said winning the war would be “easy.”
Senator McCain has constantly moved the goal posts of progress for the war – repeatedly saying it would be over soon.
Senator McCain opposed efforts to end the overextension of the military that is having a devastating impact on our troops.
Earlier this month the San Jose Mercury News took a look at a group of veterans gathering at a California American Legion hall to cheer on Sen. McCain. Doug McNea, a 60-year-old Navy veteran, told the paper he admires the connection Sen. McCain can make with veterans of all wars:
Stories of veterans connecting with McCain are all over the local papers as they poll vets at VFW and American Legion halls across the country. Mark Hemingway of the National Review Online took a look at McCain’s relationship with veterans on the even of the Michigan primary. Hemingway argued that as a historically tough voting bloc to pin down, veterans may prove useful to McCain. Citing the traditional blocs of female, minority, and evangelical voters, Hemingway looks to see how veterans fit in to the vote-gathering scheme. McCain spoke frankly to Hemingway on this issue:
Air America interviewed IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff last week on McCain’s recent vote against extended Army interrogation standards to the FBI and CIA. His words show that despite tremendous respect most people have for McCain, he is not infallible in veterans’ eye:
For a great look at how McCain’s military service has shaped his career, take a look at NEWSWEEK’s recent cover story.
