Bush, McCain take undeserved credit

Jerry Villela, Las Vegas

Thursday, July 3, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

Once again President Bush demonstrated the shallowness of his character and integrity in his recent Oval Office announcement by trying to pass off the passage of the new GI Bill expanding educational benefits for veterans as something the Bush administration had favored.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bush administration, and Sen. John McCain for that matter, initially opposed passage of the legislation, which was supported overwhelmingly by both Democrats and Republicans.

This is only the latest attempt by Bush to take credit where none is due. Because this is the administration on whose watch the attacks of 9/11 occurred (yes, the Bush apologists conveniently overlook that fact) and his administration continues to take credit for keeping the United States “safe,” this only continues a shameless pattern of an administration trying to mislead the American public, this time by being against the GI Bill before the administration and McCain were for it.

McCain, campaigning last week, used language suggesting he supported the bill. In fact, McCain did not even cast a vote on the final measure. For Bush and McCain to try to claim credit now for a bipartisan effort they both opposed is a plain attempt to hoodwink the American voter.

Who really supports the troops? This time it was not Bush and McCain.