Senator McCain says "I think we should expand the Peace Corps"



Senator McCain says "I think we should expand the Peace Corps"

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN

August 30, 2004
McCain

Following his speech at the Republican National Convention in New York Monday night, Sen. John McCain talks with Jim Lehrer about his role in President George Bush's reelection campaign, his relationship with the president and Sen. John Kerry, and the war in Iraq.

[Excerpt]

Expanding all Americans' role in Iraq


MARK SHIELDS: And that is -- you said in the speech, "sacrifices borne and not shared equally by all Americans." Doesn't war demand inequality of sacrifice? I mean, everyone we see - and this is a war that I mean regardless of how you feel, the sacrifice has been borne exclusively by those in uniform, their families, while the rest, they're financing it with tax cuts. I mean how do you say that isn't a great American tradition of collective sacrifice?

SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I think the reason why the wounds of the Vietnam War are still so open, perhaps even worse than you and I had imagined having lived through it is because of the inequality of the Vietnam War. We asked our poorest Americans to go out and fight while many of the others did not.

McCainI agree, I think we ought to ask more of the American people in this war on terror. I think we should expand the Peace Corps; I think we should expand AmeriCorps, I think we should have someone serve 18 months in the military for $18,000 in educational benefits. I think we should call on more Americans, all Americans to join us in this war.

When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny? Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts." In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.

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