McBush’s indefensible opposition to the GI Bill

"Support the troops" isn't just a slogan, but apparently someone forgot to tell George Bush and John McCain.

The President -- with McCain's eager support -- has threatened to veto the new GI Bill, an important piece of legislation passed by the House earlier this month that would pay for four years of college for veterans who have served at least three years since 9/11. Current GI educational benefits only cover about 60 percent of public college tuition and 30 percent for private schools. The new bill would boost that benefit to cover the full cost.

It's the least our nation could do to show our gratitude for the sacrifices these brave troops have made.

In an editorial yesterday, the New York Times took Bush to task for his heartless position on the GI Bill:

He is wrong, but at least he is consistent. Having saddled the military with a botched, unwinnable war, having squandered soldiers' lives and failed them in so many ways, the commander in chief now resists giving the troops a chance at better futures out of uniform. He does this on the ground that the bill is too generous and may discourage re-enlistment, further weakening the military he has done so much to break.

Yesterday, both John McCain and the White House made this argument once again, but as Think Progress pointed out earlier this month, a Congressional Budget Office analysis found that the likely decline in troop retention would be completely offset by an increase in recruits achieved by the improved educational benefits.

Once again, George Bush and John McCain refuse to let the facts get in the way of misleading defenses of their indefensible positions. For such staunch supporters of the war in Iraq, their lack of support for the ones bearing the burden is extremely disappointing and out of touch with the true toll the war has taken on our military.

Posted by Americans United For Change Web Team