The Moveon.org ad ran in only one newspaper more than eleven days before the Cornyn email, yet John Cornyn shamelessly states that the ad, “makes me wonder how our children and other nations will look to us for inspiration and courage.” He titles his fundraising email, “A historic line of decency was crossed.” Cornyn then quickly shifts to the real purpose of his email by asking for campaign donations and providing a link to his online donation web page saying, “Your support is critical.” (See the email here)
It is truly indecent for John Cornyn to use U.S. military personnel and their families as props to raise campaign money – all the while failing to disclose and acknowledge his own record of failure in supporting our troops. Read below to learn the facts involving John Cornyn’s long history of ignoring the needs of our active duty troops and veterans.
The Real Cornyn Record
Failing to provide for our Troops
- Cornyn voted “NO” on an amendment to allow an additional $213 million in funding to produce “up armored” Humvees to protect against roadside bombs that have been responsible for the death of at least 1,500 US servicemen. (RC 108, S.Amdt.520 to S. 1268, 61-39, 4/21/05; USA Today, July 17, 2007)
Voting Against our Veterans
- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave John Cornyn a grade of D-minus in 2006, click here to see his record.
- Ignoring horrifying disclosures of substandard care, deteriorating facilities and overall mismanagement at Walter Reed hospital and at other VA medical facilities, John Cornyn voted “NO” on legislation to allow $1.8 billion in expenditures to upgrade health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. (RC 126, H.R. 1591, March 29, 2007)
- Cornyn voted “NO” on a provision to provide an additional $500 million for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder. Cornyn (R-TX), (S.Amdt. 2634 to S. 2020)
- John Cornyn voted “NO” on an amendment to add $1.5 billion for VA health care and reject increased fees and close corporate tax loopholes in order to reduce the veteran co-payments for medical care. (RC41, S.Amdt. 3007 to S.Con. Res. 83, 46-54, 3/14/06)
Voting Against the 9/11 Commission
- John Cornyn voted AGAINST the 9/11 Commission recommendations that would tighten airline, rail and port security; give first responders additional communication tools; mandate increased intelligence sharing; strengthen border security; and help prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD’s (Source: Roll Call vote #73, 3/13/07)