McCain v. Obama on the GI Bill

OK, I'm a little late to the table on this one but I don't want to let the blog-free vow that I took for the family vacation to get in the way of this beautiful tussle between presidential candidates over Senator Jim Webb's GI Bill that promises increased education funding for U.S. troops. During the debate on the bill, Obama, a supporter of the legislation, took a shot at McCain, who has opposed the bill.

“I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country. … but I can’t understand why he would line up behind the president in opposition to this GI bill. I can’t believe he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them.”

Of course, McCain didn't appreciate the junior senator from Illinois accusing him of being a Bush puppet who would sell out his fellow veterans for a taste of political Turkish Delight.

“I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did.”

McCain's concern over the bill stems from it's probable impact on reenlistment, which is why his version of the bill increases benefits based on length of military service. And keep in mind that we are not talking about the number of young people who volunteer, but those who rise in the ranks because they reenlist, thus providing the military with much needed experience in positions of leadership. Mac went on to explain in his response statement that:

“It would be easier politically for me to have joined Senator Webb in offering his legislation. More importantly, I feel just as he does, that we owe veterans the respect and generosity of a great nation because no matter how generously we show our gratitude it will never compensate them fully for all the sacrifices they have borne on our behalf. ... Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully. But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions. If that is how he would behave as president, the country would regret his election.”

This also leads me to once again call into question Obama's judgement. Does this guy really think it's wise to debate McCain on how America should treat its military heroes? What's next? Is he going to confront Derek Jeter on how to treat a wicked hop after Magglio Ordonez has turned on a fastball?