Immemorial Weekend for John McCain

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Alternet Excerpt:
On Thursday, May 15, the House of Representatives made history. By an overwhelming margin, lawmakers passed the landmark new GI Bill which will make college affordable to the more than 1.6 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

So what's the big deal? Well, once again, two Wisconsin representatives, Sennsenbrenner and Ryan, have voted “no” on a bill that would provide our returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with tuition and stipends to attend the four year colleges of their choice. Bush has promised to veto this bill.

Why in the world would anyone oppose providing educational benefits for veterans of current wars? One sickening explanation was given by John McCain.

Education A Disincentive:
McCain has expressed concern the bill might lead to reduced enlistments. He favors an alternative measure that would give returning service members education payments based on years of service.

A soldier could be sent into Iraq and two days later get his arm blown off or lose a leg or an eye, if he’s lucky – and someone like McCain would say "you didn't put your time in" and deny him this benefit? Which brings me to this infamous quote about soldiers getting an education.

Stuck In Iraq:
"You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” – Sen. John Kerry

Kerry was hung out to dry after that statement by GOPer's like McCain, another Vietnam veteran, who called on Kerry to apologize, saying: "The suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq is an insult to every soldier serving in combat.”

Less than two years later McCain would deny veterans the opportunity to make the most of an education just to keep them in Iraq?

What’s so wrong when John Kerry suggests an education might help keep soldiers out of war, but so right when Bush, McCain and their rubber stamping supporters fear that an education might help keep soldiers out of war?