John McCain didn't bother to show up to work today to vote on the 21st Century G.I. Bill, which would help 1.7 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans afford a college education. We already knew McCain didn't support the bill (he said it would hurt army retention) but to NOT EVEN SHOW UP!?!?!

This isn't the first time McCain has ignored our returning veterans. Time reported this week:

He's voted for veterans funding bills only 30% of the time, according to a scorecard of roll-call votes put out by the nonpartisan Disabled Americans for America.

"Senator McCain clearly needs to be recognized for his military service and in some respects that will play to his advantage, but when it actually comes to delivering health care and benefits during war, Senator McCain's going to have some explaining to do," said Paul Sullivan, director of the nonpartisan Veterans for Common Sense.

I can't decide if it's more cowardly to skip the vote all together, or to show up and vote against the bill - like Sam Brownback did.

Or to only vote for the bill after the funding has been stripped away...like Pat Roberts did. Roberts' spokeswoman thumbed her nose at Kansans the other day, saying her boss would obviously vote for this bill and she couldn't imagine anyone questioning him if they knew his record on veterans issues.

(And what would that record be?)

• Roberts voted against $1 billion in increased spending on veterans’ programs the day after troops were sent to Iraq.
• In March 2005, Roberts voted against increasing veterans’ health care by $2.8 billion.
• In November 2006, Roberts voted against additional hospitals for military and veterans – and chose instead to uphold tax cuts for the wealthy.
• In February 2006, Roberts voted against the Reed Amendment which would have provided $47 billion to recondition and repair equipment for the military.
• In July 2007, Roberts voted against a bill that would have required that troops serve as much time at home as they served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Forgive us is we don't consider him our best bet.