Reichert and McMorris: Worst in the state at supporting the troops

First, 'cause the Google-bombs gots to be done:
WA-Sen: Mike McGavick
WA-08: Dave Reichert

Now onto the amazing information revealed today. IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) released today their rankings of support for veterans' issues by members of Congress. IAVA is a non-partisan group made up of veterans, as the name suggests, of the contemporary wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their interest is in gaining support for their wounded and traumatized brothers and sisters when they come home; no more, no less.

Their ranking of Congressional support is based on specific votes which pertain to body armor, health care (i.e. VA funding), research into brain trauma and other urgent care both in theater and at home, etc. What's interesting about the results? This:

Name	Party	Grade
Rep. Brian Baird	Dem	B
Sen. Maria Cantwell	Dem	A-
Rep. Norm Dicks	Dem	A-
Rep. Doc Hastings	Rep	C
Rep. Jay Inslee	Dem	B+
Rep. Rick Larsen	Dem	A
Rep. Jim McDermott	Dem	C-
Rep. Cathy McMorris	Rep	D
Sen. Patty Murray	Dem	A-
Rep. Dave Reichert	Rep	D+
Rep. Adam Smith	Dem	A-

What's this I see? 11 total members of Congress, nine Democrats and three Republicans. Among the Democrats, five "A's", two "B's", and one "C" (Jim, what up?). Among the supposedly troop supportin' Republicans: one "C" and two "D's". Now, I will give Dave Reichert this much: He got a D+, so he definitely is doing better than Cathy McMorris.

But what the hell is he doing voting against veterans in a district FILLED with veterans? How do these people live with themselves? I know what's coming to mind for me, having seen this - there's really only one vote to truly support the troops and the veterans: vote for Peter Goldmark and Darcy Burner, because the numbers don't lie. Dave Reichert and Cathy McMorris simply do not support our veterans.

And just for fun, I like to remind people that our Senators are the best in the country for veteran's benefits and rights, and now we have proof! Bob Geiger made a neat graph of the Senate rankings from the IAVA grades, and who's at the very tippy-top? Why, our very own Maria Cantwell! Joined with Patty Murray (with any luck, soon to be the second-ranking member of the majority on the VA Committee and soon after the first woman to chair that committee...), every single Democrat scored higher than the highest-scoring Republican. Wow - who supports our troops, now? Simply amazing...