I'm not a frequent diarist, (on average 2 a month) so this is not just another reactionary diary looking for attention. My aim here is very simple, to let every GOP'er tackling the Kerry thing know about a little group called the
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the great job they do ranking Congress on their votes on behalf of America's fighting men and women.
To be perfectly blunt...
John Kerry has earned a "B" rating from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America for his votes on the behalf of the military and their families.
He has earned a 75% rating from Disabled Veterans of America.
******
Kerry voted in favor of an amendment to allow Reservists and National Guard soldiers to buy-into the Defense Department's health insurance plan at subsidized rates.(Daschle Amendment 1269) TRICARE is the Defense Department's health insurance plan that is available at no cost to soldiers serving on active duty. Reservists and National Guard soldiers who are mobilized receive free TRICARE for a short period of time before and after their deployments. In 2003, a GAO report stated that 20% of these soldiers did not have health care insurance. This legislation was designed to address that problem.
The Senate's plan was adopted and enacted into law.
93 Senators voted this into law. 5 didn't vote. 2 Voted no. Who were they? Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) and Sen. Nickles (R - OK)
*******
Kerry voted no on a motion to kill his own Military Gratiuty Act. (Amendment .334) Senators who voted FOR this motion were voting AGAINST increasing the amount of money a spouse or family member receives when their loved one is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Prior to this bill, the family of a US troop killed in action would only receive a $12,000 death gratuity from the government. This bill would increase that amount to $100,000. The motion was defeated, and the plan was adopted and enacted into law.
The motion was defeated 75-25 in the Senate.
All 25 of those voting AGAINST Kerry's bill to raise the gratuity? Republicans. All 25 of them.
It's all here in black and white and other colors at that
********
Kerry voted against a motion to kill Sen.Durbin's (D-IL) Amendment 4781.Senators who voted FOR this motion were voting AGAINST increasing funding for Traumatic Brain Injury research by $2 million. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has become the signature wound of the Iraq war. This motion passed, 54 - 43, 3 didn't
vote.
The 43 voting NAY were all Democrats. 100%. Of the 54 voting YEA, all but 2 were Republicans.
Again it's right here.
***********
Oh, BTW, some more STFU Juice for the Conservatards:
Teddy Kennedy's rating from IAVA? B+
Hilary? A-
Diane Feinstein/Barbarba Boxer? B+
Oh, and Satan herself, Nancy Pelosi? B+
Senators with some of the lowest Ratings?
John Mcain: D (!)
Sam Brownback: D
Both Idaho Republican Senators:
Larry Craig: D
Mike Crapo: D-
(you remember Idaho? the state where GW is still above 50%)
Both New Hampshire Republican Senators:D
Both Alabama Republcian Senators: D
Both Alaskan Republican Senators: D
I could go on and on and on, but hell y'all can read, and I gotta go back to work.
It's too bad we can't find a way to fit stuff like THIS into 10-30 second soundbites.
Also, it would be great if Dkos could fit IAVA.org in on the list of links. Even though they are asking for an "apology from Sen. Kerry on the site.
And BTW, I'm sorry if anyone else has posted this info. I didn't have time to sort through 305,937 tags.