From Brandon Friedman at Vet Voice:

When the non-partisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) released their newest Congressional Report Card, they gave John McCain a "D." It's because--as we've shown--he votes against veterans. Amusingly enough, it seems the pro-Bush/McCain group, Vets for Freedom, got their feelings hurt over this. And they felt they had to do something.

That's why, today, Vets for Freedom issued a skewed response to IAVA's Report Card in the form of a "Senate Analysis." In their "analysis," they graded each U.S. senator in a similar fashion, awarding grades of "A" through "F." Amazingly enough, VFF gave every single Democratic senator a grade of "F." Go figure. I'm sure their Republican membership will be pleased. But given the situation in which they found themselves (with IAVA and VoteVets on cable TV slamming both McCain's grade and his lack of support for veterans), I guess it's to be expected. I don't hold that against them. Read on...

Of course, this is a transparent, politically motivated joke. This neocon-backed group gave failing grades to the likes of Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb, both decorated war veterans and co-sponsors of the recent Webb-Hagel-Lautenberg-Warner GI Bill (the one McCain opposed)-- but it shouldn't come as a surprise. McCain backers Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham were on the board of "Vets For Freedom," but were forced to resign their positions because it violated federal election law.

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Paul Rieckhoff of IAVA sits down with Rachel Maddow to discuss his group's 2008 report card on how members of Congress voted on Veterans issues. John McCain: D. Barack Obama: B.

RIECKHOFF: There were 53 original co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle [for the new GI Bill]. Eventually, right-wing folks like Senator Warner got involved with folks on the left like Senator Webb. Every major veteran services organization in the country supported it, more ¾ of the House. So, this was kind of a legislative locomotive. And one of the only blocks along the way consistently was Senator McCain.

So, it's not a partisan issue here. The G.I. bill had tremendous support. And he was just really behind this legislative issue. Now, he's made attempts to go back and say he was holding out for transferability. Transferability, being able to transfer your G.I. bill benefits to your family members. It was already in the law. It was at the discretion of the Department of Defense.

So, it's kind of a red herring there. But the reports are out there now. Everybody can check the vote. Go to VeteranReportCard.org, you can check their votes and everybody else who's up for reelection this year.

I know Senator Obama didn't serve in the military or endure years of torture thirty years ago, but isn't it time everyone acknowledge that John McCain simply doesn't own the veterans issue because of his history? His service is certainly admirable, but in order to claim that you support the troops, you actually have to, you know, support the troops -- not be one of the only "road blocks" standing in the way of the most important veterans bill of the past 40 years.

Full transcript below the fold:

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Wait, wasn't being commander of the Alaska National Guard part of Palin's executive experience the McCain camp has been touting? I guess that means she runs things about as well as the rest of the Republican Party.

Veterans For America:

The post-deployment challenges facing Alaska's Army National Guard are more daunting and widespread than any seen by Veterans for America (VFA).

VFA's National Guard Program just completed a week in the state reviewing the needs of Alaska's citizen-Soldiers and the resources in place to meet them. The needs of Alaska's Guard members and their families far outstrip the available help.

Many of the Alaska's Guard members have been deployed, and redeployed, despite the shortage of care and treatment available upon their return. With more than one-quarter of Alaska's Guard members living 60 miles or more from a Veterans Affairs facility, many rarely if ever get treatment they need. Travel to Anchorage alone can cost more than $1,500 for each Guard member - an upfront cost too burdensome for many to shoulder, even if they are eventually reimbursed. With the economy worsening, the costs to Guard families for their own healthcare will mount and even fewer will receive treatment.

We owe our citizen-Soldiers better than this.

Read our findings

At the Colorado appearance where he stressed his economic program, John McCain got a question about a vet that he didn't seem too happy about.

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The questioner, apparently a veteran, asks McCain about his voting against expansion of healthcare benefits to veterans for the years 2004-2007, years in which we have Iraq and Afghanistan veterans adding exponentially to the VA rolls. McCain testily reminds him that he has been endorsed by "all the organizations" and then launches into an explanation of his resistance to the Webb GI Bill that provided educational assistance to veterans. Wrong bill, Gramps.

When the questioner reiterates that his question went to healthcare--not educational--benefits, McSame reiterate that all the veterans' groups love him and blew him off. Temper, temper.

McCain: I've received every organization in America, their awards...[questioner says something-inaudible] Now, sir, I don't...I don't know what you're referring to nor do...[questioner continuing-inaudible] Sir, I'm responding to your question and then I will let you speak again, if you'd like, but you oughta...the way we try to conduct these is let people finish and then I will go back to [audience applause] to you...I'll go right back. So I don't know what bill you're referring to or what you're referring to and I'll be glad to have you refer to it. But the reason why I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans' service organization is because of my support of them, but if you can go ahead and respond if you want to. Go ahead. Give him the microphone back.

Q: I'll respond by saying this: that you do not have a perfect voting record by the DAV and the VFW. That's where these votes are recorded. And the votes were proposals...they were proposals by your colleagues in the Senate to increase healthcare funding of the VA in 2003, 4, 5 and 6, for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and you voted against those proposals. I can give the specific Senate votes, the numbers of those Senate votes, right now.

McCain: Well, I thank you and I'll be glad to examine what your version of my record is. But, again, I've been endorsed in every election by all of the veterans' organizations that do that. I've been supported by them and I've received their highest awards from all of those organizations, so I guess they don't know something you know. So I thank you very much and I will continue to be proud of my support for the veterans of this country and proud of their support.

Transcript of full exchange below the fold:

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