Bob Kerrey: “I am a retired Naval officer for medical reasons. The Senator is quite right; there is a difference between the reason I…”

“I am a retired Naval officer for medical reasons. The Senator is quite right; there is a difference between the reason I signed up, how I did it as a reserve officer, and somebody who signs up for 20 years. No question, that is true. I don't mean to imply there isn't a difference; there is a significant difference. When I hear people describing what this benefit does, that we are only talking about people who are in 20 years, the rhetoric is far afield on this. I feel like I can't go home and talk to friends and neighbors and say I am getting one more thing from my Government here. I am just telling you that I don't feel as if this country owes me anything. I want my colleagues, especially those who didn't have any military service, to know that. I have gotten more out of it than my Nation got. You say, well, somebody who has been in 20 years should be promised health care. There are employees we promised health care to. I say this to the Senator from Virginia: Medicare is health care.”