Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Crawford, TX) explains why a vote for Obama is a vote for veterans (UPDATED)

Actually, he puts it even better than that:

If you look at John McCain’s record on veterans issues, it’s a failed one. … Even the Vietnam Veterans of America, those who served with Sen. McCain in Vietnam, have given Sen. McCain a ‘D’ voting record when it comes to voting to improve veterans health care and benefits.

(snip)

If his voting record had prevailed over the last several years, veterans would have poorer health care and fewer benefits than they have today.

Go on:

“My message to veterans is that a vote for Sen. McCain is a vote to show respect for one veteran and his service in Vietnam, but a vote for Senator Obama is a vote to have a president who has proven by his solid track record of leadership on veterans’ issues that he is going to honor 25,000,000 American veterans, ALL America’s veterans, with better healthcare and benefits and earned services.”

So, do you want to support one veteran do you want to support all of them?

Think Progress provides a little background on McCain’s dismal record in supporting his own fellow veterans:

Indeed, McCain’s voting record in the Senate on veterans issues is abysmal. He has received failing grades from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, and Vietnam Veterans of America. McCain has voted against money for VA outpatient care and treatment and against increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes, to name a few.

Here’s the video of Chet Edwards’ remarks:

UPDATE: Brandon Friedman of VetVoice has the comprehensive list of just how little John McCain cares about the current troops or our veterans.  Extremely damning stuff.