M. Obama avoids veterans hit on McCain
Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 4:11 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann
NORFOLK, Va. -- In the midst of a blistering exchange of ads between the two presidential candidates, Michelle Obama chose not to mention her husband's opponent today, even during discussion of a major policy difference with vivid resonance in the military community.
Continuing a series of roundtable discussions with military spouses, Michelle Obama called for a brighter spotlight on the needs of veterans, including post-deployment health care and education services for service members. Appearing in battleground state Virginia, Obama listened to a panel of women who lamented the unique challenges that face the husbands and wives of soldiers.
One of the event's biggest applause lines came as she touted her husband's support of a G.I. education bill, sponsored by Virginia Democrat Jim Webb. The bill, which passed the Senate in May and was signed into law in June, will give more than $50 billion in college aid to returning service members over the next 10 years.
What Michelle Obama did not mention was a key part of the discussion among veterans watching the presidential race -- namely, that GOP presumptive nominee and Navy veteran McCain opposed Webb's bill. The aspiring First Lady steered clear of alluding to her husband's bitter counterpunches with his rival after McCain faced a battery of criticism for his resistance to the measure, which is particularly popular with veterans.
A campaign surrogate who shared the stage with her did not let the issue go unmentioned.
"Michelle's too polite. I can say it," said Paul Bucha, a decorated Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor winner, who has joined Obama at each roundtable in the series. "We're moving forward on the plan that Barack supported and John McCain opposed."
During the spring debate over the legislation, McCain objected to two aspects of the bill: that it did not offer transferability of educational benefits to family members, and that its benefits would be so attractive to service members that they would fail to re-up after only a single tour of duty. A countering proposal offered by McCain, which included transferability, lower payments to recipients, and a tiered system of benefits based on time of service -- was defeated in the Senate.
Michelle Obama described Webb's bill as "legislation that allows service members to share their benefits with their families and achieve the American dream."
A post-passage compromise on the Webb bill meant that the final legislation signed into law by President Bush included McCain's provision that soldiers can transfer their educational benefits to their children and spouses if they choose not to use them themselves.
Obama lamented the economic, personal and medical issues that military families face, saying that she will "transfer that information into the heart and mind of my husband."
Veepstakes speculators will wonder if she'll do the same with her take on Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, with whom she attends a fundraiser tonight.
