Obama's Military "Support" In Budget: Rhetoric Vs. Reality

The Associated with Obama Press breathlessly writes the following about how "That One's" proposed budget will support military families.

First lady Michelle Obama said Tuesday the president's 2011 budget will include a record $8.8 billion to support military families.

The largest sum, $1.9 billion, would be spent on counseling and other support services. An additional $1.3 billion would go for military child care.

President Barack Obama included another $439 million to build 10 Defense Department schools, the first step in a program to replace or renovate 103 such schools by 2015.

The budget also has $84 million for career development for military spouses, including tuition assistance and a federal internship program. It includes $14 million for Coast Guard housing and money for youth programs for military kids.

Well, that's all well and good. But here's where the rhetoric ends and cold reality begins. A(O)P did not report what Jonn at This Ain't Hell is reporting, via Stars & Stripes.

The White House will propose a 1.4 percent military pay increase in 2011, which if approved would be the smallest since the start of all-volunteer military in 1973.

That figure represents a steep drop from the 3.9 percent boost troops saw earlier this month.

White House officials said the 1.4 percent figure, which will be included in the fiscal 2011 budget to be unveiled Monday, is based on projected private sector wage increases for next year.

Jonn adds:

So even though the cost of living is increasing, the cost of living increases are decreasing. I think I said back in 2008 that the first people to bear the brunt of Democrat spending increases will be the military and retirees. I’m not prophetic, I’m just speaking from experience. Keep that in mind when you listen to the State of the Union Address.

I'd love to have Obama try and explain to me how you keep and attract people into our all-volunteer military, especially in the middle of a War on Terror (that he pretends doesn't exist), when you cut the rate of their pay increases.