VFW magazine found out directly from Senators John McCain and Barack Obama where they stand on vital veterans issues. These are their responses, which have been edited for clarity and preciseness.
by Tim Dyhouse and Jaime Netzer
The Candidates
Sen. John McCain
U.S. Senate, Arizona, 1986-present
U.S. House of Representatives, 1982-85
Military Service—U.S. Navy, 1958-81; USS Forrestal, 1967; USS Oriskany, 1967 (Vietnam POW 1967-73)
Sen. Barack Obama
U.S. Senate, Illinois, 2004-present
Illinois State Legislature, 1997-2004
Law Professor, University of Chicago Law School, 1991-2003
VETERANS ISSUES
Do you support mandatory funding for the VA budget, and if so, where would the funds come from?
McCain: We will not need mandatory funding. I will work with Congress from both sides of the aisle to see that responsible legislation is passed in a timely fashion.
Obama: I support full funding for VA health care—$4.5 billion over last year’s level and an additional $3.5 billion for medical services. The funds would come from a portion of the savings of responsibly ending the war in Iraq.
What is your stand on VA user fees and increasing pharmacy co-payments?
McCain: A small fee for non-service connected and higher- income vets is an appropriate means to ensure VA’s resources are available to treat the highest- priority veterans and to support VA services in localities that might otherwise go unserved.
Obama: I am opposed to unreasonable increases to user fees and pharmacy co-payments.
Would you permit Category 8 patients (non-service connected and higher income veterans) to enroll in the VA medical system? What would be the source of funds to accommodate this influx of patients?
McCain: I believe that the 2003 decision to exclude them from VA health care made sense at the time and continues to make sense today. The vast majority of Priority 8 veterans have access to health insurance through other sources.
Obama: One of my first acts will be signing an executive order reversing this ban. The funds would come from a portion of the savings of responsibly ending the war in Iraq.
Will you add more personnel to the Veterans Benefits Administration to reduce the backlog of claims? If so, where would the funding come from?
McCain: I will add personnel as required and the money will come from savings gained by reforming the budget process and eliminating earmarks and other unnecessary spending. My plan for reform includes training, accountability, automation, partnerships with veterans service organizations, simplification of disability evaluations, compensation for loss of quality of life, emphasis on restorative care and concurrent receipt.
Obama: I will hire additional claims workers and convene our nation’s leading veterans groups, employees and managers to develop an updated training and management model that will ensure that VA benefit decisions are rated fairly and consistently, and stem from adequate training and accountability for each claims adjudicator. The funds would come from a portion of the savings of responsibly ending the war in Iraq.
In light of the high rate of PTSD among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, what changes in mental health services would you implement?
McCain: Enhanced screening, before and after deployment, as well as more effective treatments, and greater cooperation between DoD and VA—a seamless set of services.
Obama: At the recruitment stage, I will recruit more mental health professionals and improve screening. During active duty, training and deployment, I will place more mental health professionals with troops, fight the stigma of psychological injury by enhancing training, and offer more counseling to military families. At the return to civilian life, I will require individual, face-to-face post-deployment mental health screenings, increase the VA budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals, provide better training and guidance to personnel regarding PTSD claims, and expand Vet Centers in rural areas.Obama: At the recruitment stage, I will recruit more mental health professionals and improve screening. During active duty, training and deployment, I will place more mental health professionals with troops, fight the stigma of psychological injury by enhancing training, and offer more counseling to military families. At the return to civilian life, I will require individual, face-to-face post-deployment mental health screenings, increase the VA budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals, provide better training and guidance to personnel regarding PTSD claims, and expand Vet Centers in rural areas.
Considering the high incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among this latest generation of war veterans, are you willing to make a substantial investment in related research and treatment?
McCain: Absolutely. I will see that we make sustained investments in medical research, screening, training of health care providers and access to treatment—including therapies proven beneficial to victims of severe TBI. Support and training for family caregivers also is a must.
Obama: Yes. I will establish standards of care for TBI treatment, require pre- and post-deployment screenings and improve case management so that service members get the best possible care.
What measures would your Admini¬stration take to preserve and strengthen veterans preference in hiring for civil service jobs?
McCain: Ensure the U.S. government operates as a model employer regarding preference in federal hiring and contracting with veteran-owned small businesses. We also need better enforcement of government contractors’ obligations to hire disabled vets.
Obama: I will work with the Office of Personnel Management to ensure federal agencies are following the letter and spirit of the law in giving veterans greater access to civil service jobs, and better enforce rules that require federal contractors to take affirmative action to hire and promote qualified categories of veterans.
DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
What specific steps would you take to achieve a definable victory in the Iraq War?
McCain: Success in Iraq is the establishment of a generally peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic state that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists. It is an Iraq where Iraqi forces have the responsibility for enforcing security in their country, and where American troops can return home. I will bring the wars we are fighting to a successful conclusion by putting the best possible teams of political, economic and military leadership in place, provide them the resources they say they need, and then hold them accountable for results.
Obama: I will implement a phased redeployment of our combat brigades from Iraq, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government over 16 months, pressuring the Iraqi government to work toward reconciliation and accommodation. I would maintain a residual force in Iraq and the region to conduct counter-terrorism missions, and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. If Iraqi political leaders make progress, I would continue to train and support Iraqi forces.
What specific steps would you take to achieve a definable victory in the Afghanistan War?
McCain: Add three brigades and reduce restrictions on the use of coalition forces. We also need: a comprehensive strategy for victory, unity of command, to double the size of the Afghan National Army and to appoint a presidential envoy empowered to bring countries in the region, such as Pakistan, and countries contributing in Afghanistan into better cooperation.
Obama: Send two additional combat brigades and additional helicopters and surveillance platforms to Afghanistan, seek greater contributions from our NATO allies, focus on training Afghan security forces, support an Afghan judiciary with more resources and provide an additional $1 billion in non-military assistance each year.
What approach do you advocate in dealing with Iran?
McCain: The U.N. Security Council should impose progressively tougher political and economic sanctions. The U.S. must lead in imposing multilateral sanctions outside the U.N. A severe limit on Iranian imports of gasoline would create immediate pressure. Regional and European allies can help by imposing targeted sanctions, including the denial of visas and freezing of assets. The U.S. should impose financial sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and prevent business dealings with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Privatize sanctions against Iran by launching a worldwide divestment campaign.
Obama: Aggressive, principled and direct diplomacy—diplomacy backed with strong sanctions and without preconditions. This could include meeting with the appropriate Iranian leader at a time and place of my choosing and meaningful incentives. If necessary, stronger unilateral sanctions; stronger multilateral sanctions in the Security Council; and sustained action outside the U.N. to isolate the Iranian regime.
Do you see protected borders as an integral part of homeland security?
McCain: I will make it a top priority to deploy the infrastructure and manpower necessary to secure our borders in a timely manner. This is an essential part of defending our country.
Obama: Yes. I voted to transfer $367.6 million to add an additional 1,000 border agents and for overall border protection efforts. I would increase use of technology on the border and federal attention to water and air entry points, and support comprehensive immigration reform.
What is the appropriate use of Reserve and National Guard troops overseas?
McCain: Fighting the nation’s wars, training the forces of our partners in the fight against terrorism, folding into rotation schedules when the active component is overstretched. Make them full partners in our force and mission planning, including homeland defense, and change pay and benefits to ensure recruiting, morale and quality of life.
Obama: Homeland defense as a primary mission—not repeated and continual overseas deployments.
How would you improve the quality of life (pay, health care and housing) for active-duty troops?
McCain: Reduce their deployment times by increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps from the currently planned level of roughly 750,000 to 900,000.
Obama: Pay parity measured by the employment cost index (ECI). End stop-loss policies. Add 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines. Deploy forces predictably. Create a military families advisory board to provide an institutionalized conduit to senior policy-makers.
Would you fully fund the Joint POW/MIA Account¬ing Command in order to achieve the fullest possible accounting of missing Americans from all wars?
McCain: Yes.
Obama: We need to do everything we can to bring them home.
Would you repeal or retain Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
McCain: I would retain the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
Obama: We need to revisit the current policy on gays in the military to ensure it helps accomplish national defense goals.
To properly honor the Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, would you use the influence of your office to promote the idea of erecting a national memorial in the near future?
McCain: They deserve a tribute. It would be appropriate to consider erecting a memorial.
Obama: I would consider proposals and work hard to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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