The Washington Independent examines Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s appeal to veterans and the substantial lead he carries with this group in the polls. But is McCain really the best man to lead the way on veterans’ issues?

From The Washington Independent:

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a non-partisan advocacy group, gave McCain a “D” in 2006, while Obama earned a “B+.” The Vietnam Veterans of America reported that on 31 “key votes” between 2001 and 2008 on issues including veterans’ health-care funding and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, McCain opposed its positions 15 times, while supporting it eight times. In contrast, Obama, since elected to the Senate in 2004, backed the group’s stands 12 out of 13 times. The Disabled Veterans of America said McCain supported its positions 20 percent of the time in 2006, compared to Obama’s 80 percent.

There are several examples of the conflicting McCain and Obama votes, including McCain’s opposition to five bills that would increase funding for veteran health care programs and related facilities. A full list of those bills is available here.

Before Obama came to the Senate, McCain also cast votes against obtaining better equipment for troops. In 2003, for example, he voted to table an amendment that called for an additional $322 million for safety equipment for military forces in Iraq. The measure would have reduced reconstruction funds for Iraq by the same amount. In April 2003, he voted to table an amendment, that passed 52-47, to provide more than $1 billion in equipment for the National Guard and reserves to reduce a shortage of helmets, bullet-proof armor and other gear.

McCain said that while the National Guard spending amendment included items “nice to have,” he condemned it because it was presented as an emergency measure and had not gone through the normal process with open debate. “This is neither the appropriate nor, I believe, fiscally the responsible thing to do at this time,” McCain said, “I urge a ‘no’ vote.”

Obama’s lack of a military background has understandably hurt his chances of support from the largely Republican veterans of the nation. However, a real opportunity exists to win over — at minimum — those veterans who are — or who lean — Democratic and who have not been swayed by McCain’s “pro-vet” image.

Obama’s strong support of veterans’ issues, where he actually “walks the talk,” coupled with reservations from the concerns of the new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, gives a great window of opportunity to show veterans which candidate might truly best serve their interests.

The mainstream media could also do a great service to the nation’s veterans if they finally spark some honest discussion that compares the candidates’ stance on veterans’ issues and stop treating McCain’s stance on veterans’ issues as unimpeachable simply by virtue of his former prisoner of war status.

The fact that McCain is a war hero does not change the fact that he has become out of touch with most of America, and that includes the veterans of America.