May 28, 2008

John McCain, Prisoner of War, National Hero, Patriot, Presidential Candidate all the words that were synonymous with the man who has served this nation in so many ways and now stands ready to make the supreme sacrifice by taking on the mantle of "World Leader of the Free World" were washed away today.

Today John McCain refused to support OFFE's call for mandatory funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteeing quality healthcare for our nation's heroes, insuring quality healthcare for our nation's veterans.

Today John McCain walked away form our nation's veterans.

Operation Firing For Effect, New Mexico Director of Operations, Ted Roybal attended a John McCain campaign speech in Albuquerque on Monday. At one point Roybal asked Senator McCain to sign OFFE’s resolution for full mandatory funding of veteran’s healthcare. Senator McCain declined the request without explanation. To date, Senator John McCain is the only presidential candidate that has not signed and endorsed the OFFE resolution calling for full mandated funding of the VA. According to OFFE National Chairman, Gene Simes, this incident combined with John McCain’s past voting record on veteran’s issues paints Senator McCain as unconcerned and out of touch with the future healthcare needs of this country’s former military personnel.

Despite the enormous outpouring of thousands of American voters, political leaders, celebrities and veteran organizations, John McCain walked away from his fellow veterans. Walked away form the defenders of the American way of Life.

To borrow the words of one of his challengers "Shame On You John McCain, Shame on You"

OFFE condemns John McCain's denial of the needs of our veterans and asks that our supporters demand he signs onto Mandatory Funding for the sake of our armed forces and our nation's veterans.