Sen. John McCain Blasts Obama at Utica VFW Hall for 'Draconian' Defense Cuts
During a last-minute visit to Utica Monday to speak to veterans at an American Legion Post 351, Arizona Sen. John McCain told supporters that the GOP would put better policies in place for veterans returning to civilian life.
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While campaigning on behalf of Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Monday at the American Legion Post 351 in Utica, Arizona Sen. John McCain slammed President Barack Obama for looming military cuts and a high unemployment rate for veterans.
“There is a 14 percent unemployment rate for veterans nationwide,” said McCain, compared to an eight percent unemployment rate in the U.S. “We should be embarrassed,” he added.
McCain, joined by Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-District 10), first held a round table discussion with eight people ranging from local veteran coordinators to military defense contractors.
The 2008 GOP presidential nominee told the group that Obama’s “draconian cuts to military spending will not only affect the military, but also military contractors.”
The cuts, mandated by the Budget Control Act, were made in last summer’s congressional deal to cut military spending in exchange for a $2.4 trillion increase in the federal debt ceiling, ABC News reported.
Romney’s campaign has been blasting the Obama administration about the cuts since the president’s visit to Virginia last week, according to ABC
After the roundtable, McCain answered questions from a group of about 200 veterans and GOP supporters.
He told the group that the GOP would work on getting more relief for veterans who return to civilian life by connecting veterans with people who are eager to hire them.
“We do a lot for veterans and I am proud in what we do in caring for them,” McCain said. "But no veteran wants our pity or sympathy. They want to come back, work and live their lives, and raise their family as we do."
Michael Weaver of Sterling Heights, a U.S. Navy veteran, told Patch he is hoping McCain, a veteran himself, will be able to help Romney put better veteran policies in place.
“I had a real tough time finding a job and transitioning from military life to civilian life,” he said after returning to Michigan in 2003 from a tour in Iraq.
During the hour-long event, McCain also criticized Obama’s troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I worry about American Leadership and this president that believes in leading from behind,” he said as a round of applause followed. “All we talk about is withdrawal rather than victory."
Dave Aschliman, a retired Shelby Township businessman said he is just hoping that if Romney is elected, he will be able to help small businesses flourish.
“The poor business people have no planning horizon,” he said. "I would like to see us go back to good planning and economic sense."
U.S. State Rep. (R-Utica) Jeff Farrington told Patch that when it comes to creating jobs and understanding how investments work, Obama can't compete with Romney.
Obama plans to be in Ohio Monday telling voters that Romney’s tax proposals would spur job growth in foreign countries, including China, ABC reported.
Jenny Whalen
2:22 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Sound off: McCain says, “I worry about American Leadership and this president that believes in leading from behind. All we talk about is withdrawal rather than victory." What is your definition of "victory" in the war on terrorism?
Marina Cracchiolo
3:13 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Good question, Jenny. I am curious to know the public's take on that question, too.
Matt Guarnieri
3:39 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Well, if we withdraw and allow the same type of dictatorship or oppressive governement to remain in control through the use of violence, we have lost. if a truly democratic governement where women and people of all religions have equal rights to vote, I would call it a win. Even if the muslim brotherhood gets voted into power, as long as they still allow women and other religions to have a voice at the poles and do not oppress or violently control groups of people...... Also, as long as the borders are open to allow people to leave if they wish.
They can hate the United States all they want as long as people are free to decide and hate us on their own, not by force.
Would this work with you?
John David
4:53 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
No. The goals of the war included defeating and destroying terrorists and their organizations like Al Qaeda, deny sponsorship, support and sanctuary to terrorists, strengthen weak states that terrorist organizations exploit, defend US citizens at home and abroad. As long as countries don't harbor terrorist groups or commit acts of aggression against the US and its interests, that is how to define if the war is won, not if a country is more democratic, westernized, etc. Those are not the goals of the war. Those may be other goals, but the objective is to thwart destruction of lives and property by individuals and groups who see to take such actions against the US. Not the elimination of what we view as other wrongs. Those are objectives unrelated to the war on terror itself.
Wiley Coyote
5:04 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
There has been no freedom or possibility of victory in Afghanistan, ever in its long history. To believe that there's "victory" to be had is to be hopelessly naive. There will never be a true democracy there--just deadly tradition and endless cruelty and violence. We will not change that, by force or otherwise.
We could stay there for decades more and the situation would not change. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. All we will do is drain our treasury and get more of our brave men and women killed. To prove what?
cookiepro2
6:14 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
I think we've been there long enough. I have a relative who served and is back now. While he was there he helped get started this program:
http://www.aco.nato.int/communities-embrace-literacy-program-throughout-afghanistan-.aspx#.T_HGuhblmoo.email
Education and literacy are seeds in transitioning from anarchy to a stable government (whatever form that may take). Good will of the poplulation toward us is another way to fight establishment of terrorism groups against us, and that is not going to be gained by long-term presence of our troops.
Jim Konos
1:56 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Here's the McCain file on Mitt Romney from the 2008 campaign... Enjoy!
http://cdn2.dailycaller.com/2012/01/McCain-2008-Oppo-File-on-Romney.pdf
Bill Peters
12:34 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Arizona Sen. John McCain told supporters that the GOP would put better policies in place for veterans returning to civilian life.
Then why did they not doit 4 years ago
Jim
3:11 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I think both Matt and John have excellent takes on what "victory" means. The initial move was to thwart terrorism, and that will be ongoing. But the long term goal is to help promote stability and self controlled economic benefit from their own resources. Humans (most), given the chance to improve their position in life, won't have time to sit around and plan the destruction of those that they don't agree with. Where we can save money is removing troops from areas akin to the bases in the western pacific, where there is little threat that can otherwise be detected with modern forms of surveilance. Promote the ideals of democracy (with sensitivity to culture) and we'll all be better off.
Jane Taylor
2:14 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Romney lost to McCain, and McCain lost to Obama. So now the GOP has Romney as the candidate. Looks like Obama 2012 with this backwards thinking.
John Lang
7:40 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Reagan lost to Ford, and Ford lost to Carter. Remember what happened after that? Not backwards thinking at all. History repeats itself.