Obama’s mad-and-not-going-to-take-it-anymore doesn’t solve VA Scandal

President Barack Obama’s Veteran Affairs scandal protestations that he’s as mad as hell and ain’t going to take it anymore is like his first baseball tosses: totally ornamental.

Does Obama, a lifetime legend in his own mind, really think that verbalizing his anger will make the Veterans Affairs scandal go away? Following up his effusive “I’m mad” protestations, Obama vowed to “fix whatever is wrong” at the agency, while refusing to throw VA Secretary Eric Shinseki under his well populated bus. Obama described Shinseki as a “great soldier” who has “put his heart and soul into this thing”. “This thing” is the deaths of veterans in as many as 26 veteran hospitals. With ample proof on the record that veterans have been dying while waiting for medical care at veteran hospitals as far back--and even before Obama campaigned on their backs in 2009, it’s hideous that Obama would now use the plight of war heroes as sound bites in advance of November midterms.

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Ditto for the politicians on both sides of the House who are letting this happen. The veterans who died while on the waiting list were not “great soldiers” who put their “hearts and souls” into “this thing” called service to their country? After almost six years, Obama now seeks a broader view of what’s happening to the veterans dying because of delayed care? “At the same time, Obama is bringing in the White House deputy chief of staff, Rob Nabors, to oversee a broader review. He dispatched Nabors on Wednesday to Phoenix, where allegations of patient deaths tied to delayed care first surfaced.  (FoxNews, May 21, 2014) "We've got to do better," Obama conceded, while indicating he wants to wait for the conclusion of internal probes before addressing whether any more top officials should resign.  "When I hear allegations of misconduct ... I will not stand for it," Obama said. "None of us should." The same man who patently ‘tolerated’ VA abuse allegations for almost six straight years is now saying: "If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable, it is disgraceful and I will not tolerate it -- period." “Obama then followed up with a list of what he claimed are his administration's accomplishments in taking care of vets and their families. (FoxNews) “Leading Republicans swiftly criticized the president's long-awaited remarks as missing the mark.  “Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell said "it's time for serious action and accountability."  “Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., himself a veteran and former prisoner of war, called Obama's statements "wholly insufficient in addressing the fundamental, systemic problems plaguing our veterans' health care system."  Where were McConnell and McCain for the last six years? “The president had faced criticism for staying silent as allegations mounted that veterans died while waiting for care, and VA workers misrepresented treatment information -- and for rebuffing calls for the secretary to resign. (FoxNews) “But the controversy is expanding. Before his public remarks, Obama met with Shinseki Wednesday morning along with Nabors in the Oval Office. And a source confirmed to Fox News that White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough was heading to Capitol Hill Wednesday to consult with the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  “The Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's Office also said late Tuesday that 26 facilities are now being investigated nationwide over allegations of manipulated waiting times and other issues.  “The development comes as the House of Representatives easily approved a bill Wednesday that would give the VA secretary greater authority to fire or demote senior executives. The vote was 390 to 33.” In spite of the high vote, many veteran supporters would argue that “greater authority to fire or demote senior executives” is the last thing Shinseki needs. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, who sponsored the measure, speaks from both sides of the same mouth, by first pointing out that VA officials who have presided over mismanagement or negligence are more likely to receive bonuses or glowing performance review than any other sort of punishment--before adding power to Shinseki’s authority. “The VA's "widespread and systemic lack of accountability is exacerbating all of its most pressing problems," including revelations that the department maintained secret waiting lists to cover up long delays in patient appointments and a mounting toll of preventable deaths of veterans, Miller said. Miller accused the VA of a "well-documented reluctance to ensure its leaders are held accountable for mistakes" and said Congress has an obligation to "give the VA secretary the authority he needs to fix things. That's what my bill would do." What Miller’s self-touted bill gives Shinseki is a ticket to ride. How serious can the investigation into veterans dying while waiting for delayed care really be? Meanwhile, you can bet your cancelled health insurance that Obama will put a mournful face on-showing how much he cares about veterans--when he lays another wreath at Arlington Cemetery this Monday.