Imus on Imus

[globalvillage]

OK, I have GOT to stop watching Imus. This morning, he was talking about a wonderful charity he's raising money for, The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. But then he goes on about how McCain is such a great supporter of the military, bla, bla, bla. Well, I'm sure he is, no disrespect to Sen McCain (I don't like him, but still) and oh, Imus adds, Kerry is too.

So I thought I would compare what legislation the two have proposed over the past year, just to satisfy my curiosity. This list is generous to McCain, one of his is about recruiting, none is about vets benefits.

Am I wrong? I don't get the McCain thing.


KERRY

6. S.240 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and are called to active duty and with respect to replacement employees and to allow a comparable credit for activated military reservists who are self-employed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/1/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/1/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

8. S.460 : A bill to expand and enhance benefits for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/18/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

24. S.2163 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code, to increase and index educational benefits for veterans under the Montgomery GI bill to ensure adequate and equitable benefits for active duty members and members of the selected Reserve, and to include certain servicemembers previously excluded from such benefits.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 12/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

29. S.AMDT.333 to H.R.1268 To extend the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 333 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

30. S.AMDT.334 to H.R.1268 To increase the military death gratuity to $100,000, effective with respect to any deaths of members of the Armed Forces on active duty after October 7, 2001.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 334 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

34. S.AMDT.1029 to H.R.2361 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for the Veterans Health Administration.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/27/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2005 Proposed amendment SA 1029 withdrawn in Senate.
40. S.AMDT.1502 to S.1042 To make permanent the extension of the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1502 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

50. S.AMDT.2027 to H.R.2863 To provide that, of the amount made available under title IV for the Navy for research, development, test, and evaluation, up to $1,000,000 may be made available for Marine Corps assault vehicles for development of carbon fabric-based friction materials to optimize the cross-drive transmission brake system of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 10/4/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 10/5/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2027 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.



MCCAIN

85. S.AMDT.2454 to S.1042 Relating to the acquisition strategy of the Department of Defense for commercial satellite communication services.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/8/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2454 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

86. S.AMDT.2458 to S.1042 To enhance various authorities to assist the recruitment efforts of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/8/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2458 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.


87. S.AMDT.2565 to S.1042 To express the sense of the Senate on the applicability of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces on inactive-duty training overseas.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/15/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2565 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

[ProSense]

1. McCain is a fraud.

The only time he ever stepped up was on torture and campaign finance reform, and even then he backed down by not calling Bush on the signing statements and failed to follow through with anti-corruption hearings.

[globalvillage]

2. I'm e-mailing Imus. I'll be nice.

Just to point out all the legislation the Senator has proposed for vets. This is Imus's big issue right now, and he deserves to have all the facts at hand.

Seriously, I will be nice. He did mention Sen Kerry, but only as an afterthought, which was unfair.

[jenndar]

5. That's a great compilation.

How would you feel about others borrowing that list and sending it to Imus, and others who make similar mistakes?

It really seems like Imus cares about the issue, but he's either misinformed or ignoring some of the facts.

[globalvillage]

7. Feel free to borrow

But Imus said nothing bad about Sen Kerry. He actually did add on "and Kerry, too" or something to that effect. But he was pretty slobbery over McCain's support of vets.

So, I made my e-mail very nice, and pointed out the difference.

He deserves to know. He'll be talking about vets issues a lot with this charity. I'm hoping he reads the e-mail and points out Sen Kerry's efforts on behalf of veterans and vets families.

[jenndar]

9. Well, right.

If I email him, I'll definitely be respectful. He doesn't seem like he'd want to be wrong on an issue like this.

[globalvillage]

11. Imus is odd.

I really do think he likes Sen Kerry and would support him again. And the Kerry interview on Imus recently was great.
Imus's sidekicks, though, are horrible. I wouldn't watch except he has some good guests and I can't stand to watch the bobbleheads they put on CNN in the morning.

[jillan]

12. email Imus that list.

It says it all. ;)

[globalvillage]

13. I did.

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Mr Imus,
I am going to send some money to this wonderful cause, but I'd like to ask, in return, that you read this e-mail. I'm not suggesting that you read it on-air, just read it, please.
I heard your show this morning, and I don't fault you for your praise for Sen McCain. I'm not a McCain supporter, but I'm certain he's a friend to vets.
I would, though, like to point out pro-veteran legislation proposed by Sen Kerry and Sen McCain this past year. This list is probably overly generous to Sen McCain, by the way, as none of his three amendments really address vets benefits.
Thanks for reading.
XXXXXXXXX

KERRY

S.240 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and are called to active duty and with respect to replacement employees and to allow a comparable credit for activated military reservists who are self-employed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/1/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/1/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.460 : A bill to expand and enhance benefits for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/18/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.2163 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code, to increase and index educational benefits for veterans under the Montgomery GI bill to ensure adequate and equitable benefits for active duty members and members of the selected Reserve, and to include certain servicemembers previously excluded from such benefits.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 12/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.AMDT.333 to H.R.1268 To extend the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 333 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.AMDT.334 to H.R.1268 To increase the military death gratuity to $100,000, effective with respect to any deaths of members of the Armed Forces on active duty after October 7, 2001.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 334 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.AMDT.1029 to H.R.2361 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for the Veterans Health Administration.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/27/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2005 Proposed amendment SA 1029 withdrawn in Senate.
40. S.AMDT.1502 to S.1042 To make permanent the extension of the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1502 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.2027 to H.R.2863 To provide that, of the amount made available under title IV for the Navy for research, development, test, and evaluation, up to $1,000,000 may be made available for Marine Corps assault vehicles for development of carbon fabric-based friction materials to optimize the cross-drive transmission brake system of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 10/4/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 10/5/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2027 as modified agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.



MCCAIN

S.AMDT.2454 to S.1042 Relating to the acquisition strategy of the Department of Defense for commercial satellite communication services.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/8/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2454 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.AMDT.2458 to S.1042 To enhance various authorities to assist the recruitment efforts of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/8/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2458 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.


S.AMDT.2565 to S.1042 To express the sense of the Senate on the applicability of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces on inactive-duty training overseas.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John (introduced 11/15/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2565 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

[jillan]

10. and my dear Senator will probably vote for Alito

which says he doesn't give a crap about torture.

[Island Blue]

3. This is all I need to know about John McCain.

To me, this pretty much sums it up.

[ProSense]

4. Ewwwww!

That's a nasty looking photo. I can never look at it too long. Yuck!

[ginnyinWI]

14. disgusting!

After that last speech or whatever that was, where he (*) defended his felonies, that's the only word I can say describes how I feel. More than anger, more than fear, more than revulsion. I am simply filled up to the brim with disgust! :puke:

[wisteria]

6. This just proves what I think most of us suspected about John McCain.

He is a phony. He picks controversial or popular causes or people to support.That way, he doesn't have to work to hard and he can be assured of a lot of media time. If you catch his interviews, he never really says very much.McCain's true lack of real support for the troops on the ground-the ones doing the dangerous and hard work, just confirms for me what I have suspected for sometime- Many Republicans do not really respect our soldiers and only give lip service to caring about them for continuing support and votes.

Thank you for all your research work on this. I am going to save it for future use.

PS I have noticed Imus promoting this cause and only mentioning McCain.Today is the first time I have heard he actually mentioned Kerry.
It's good you're going to send him the comparisons.

[karynnj]

8. This is wonderful and sending it to Imus is a great idea

I agree with you on being sick of hearing McCain, McCain, McCain on helping the soldiers - I think the Imus is obsessed with McCain being a war hero. He mentions constantly that McCain suggested that Imus accompany him to Walter Reed which he did. McCain, per Imus goes there regularly. My guess is that many Senators do this, likely including Kerry, who likely wouldn't take a media person with him.

It's noteworthy that Kerry's legislation is to benefit the soldiers where McCain's is for the Military itself. Imus likes both men, but I doubt Kerry lists everything he does for Imus, while McCain deserves the nickname "liveshot".