McCain’s attacks on rival fall flat with vets group
Republican offers plan to let some get care outside VA

By J. Patrick Coolican, Michael Mishak

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 (2 a.m.)
John McCain speaks in Vegas
Clinton Stumps for Obama
Members of Disabled American Veterans wait for McCain to speak. After
his talk, just one of 14 vets interviewed by the Sun said he was a
certain supporter of McCain, himself a vet and former war prisoner.

Leila Navidi

Members of Disabled American Veterans wait for McCain to speak. After
his talk, just one of 14 vets interviewed by the Sun said he was a
certain supporter of McCain, himself a vet and former war prisoner.


Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas,
attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign
policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans
to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the
Veterans Affairs Department.

The veterans, at Bally’s for their national convention, gave him a tepid
reception, especially considering McCain’s life story. The Arizona
senator was a Navy pilot shot down over Vietnam, tortured and held as a
prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years.

Just one of 14 veterans interviewed by the Sun after his speech said he
is a certain McCain voter, and the nonpartisan group’s legislative
director expressed concerns about McCain’s proposed “Veterans’ Care
Access Card.”

Joe Violanti, legislative director of the Disabled American Veterans, a
nonpartisan organization, said the proposal would increase costs because
private hospitals are more expensive. The increased cost could lead to
further rationing of care, he said.

McCain closed with stirring words: “I have had the good fortune to know
personally a great many brave and selfless patriots who sacrificed and
shed blood to defend America. But I have known none braver or better
than those who do so today. They are our inspiration, as I suspect all
of you were once theirs. And I pray to a loving God that he bless and
protect them.”

John Von Schlicher, 87, of Florida, said he will support McCain.
Schlicher sharply criticized the Democratic-controlled Congress for not
funding VA hospitals. (Spending on veterans benefits will increase 11
percent this year.)

Other veterans, such as James Jewett and Jay Johnson of Texas, expressed
misgivings about McCain using the occasion to attack his opponent so
fiercely.

Duke Hendershot, a double amputee retired Marine who served in Vietnam,
supported McCain’s run for president in 2000 but is undecided this year.

“John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” said
Hendershot, who lives in San Antonio, Texas. “A lot of that has to do
with how he’s wanted this job so bad for so long that he’s tied himself
to President Bush.”

He said McCain’s embrace of Bush, whom Hendershot called a
“draft-dodging coward,” is even more perplexing because of the rivalry
between the two candidates during the 2000 campaign.

Hendershot also criticized McCain for taking swipes at Obama in his
speech. “He should have been talking about veterans issues, not his
opponent,” he said.

By contrast, he praised Obama for keeping his remarks tightly focused on
veterans. The Democrat gave taped remarks via video.
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Poor old geezer...even the vets aren't impressed.