I thought it was the republican party who made a great big show about how much they loved the military and our nations veterans. Didn't Bush 43 campaign on the "PROMISE" a slogan he kept repeating all of 2004 "A Promise made is a Promise Kept"? All the republicans make sure to get the endorsements of the "old" veterans groups Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Legion (AL) what I don't understand is why the vet groups endorse them, they have been sticking it to veterans for decades.
The group Vote Veterans who are mostly young veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan support democratic candidates, is it because they have seen how well the democratic party has voted for veterans issues, for the financial support for the VA and it's programs? I would hate to think it is just an age difference thing old men support Republicans and younger men support democratic candidates.
John McCain was part of the drum beat against the VA during his Presidential bid when he advocated giving all veterans insurance cards so they could go to any doctor or hospital in the nation and avoid VA Medical Centers.
This year the proposals are worse and even more emphatic by the Senate Candidates and Congressional Candidates.
Here is Harry Reid using Sharon Angles own words:
In this story we see how Republican Ken Buck thinks about VA health care
"Would a veterans administration hospital that is run by the private sector be better run than by the public sector? In my view, yes."
"Ken said that private companies do a better job than the government. Most people agree with Ken, that the government doesn't always provide the best service. Take a look at Walter Reed. While Michael Bennet is fine with the status quo, Ken believes our veterans deserve the best," said campaign manager John Swartout.
The problem with that response, as many of the veterans gathered for Bennet pointed out, is that the now-infamous Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., is run by the Department of Defense, not the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Read more: Bennet, veterans roast Buck over remarks on VA hospitals - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/...
To many politicians and people in general lump Walter Reeds fiasco onto the problems with the Veterans Administration, Walter Reed is an Army hospital and treats active duty military not veterans.
This article on tea party nut job Christine ODonnell shows that she also supports vouchers for veterans that John McCain was touting in 2008. By the way if you did not see SNL last night here is their version of her enjoy
I as well as many veterans want politicians to keep their hands off of the VA and the healthcare system, yes it has issues but it is better than most care in civilian hospitals in all studies and polls VA healthcare constantly ranks at the top in all categories.
The Obama Administration and the Democratic led Congress last year finally put some sanity into the budgeting of VA Healthcare by committing to two year projected budgets so the VA will know from year to year which programs will be funded and which ones are going to be reduced. It does make it easier for veterans and their doctors to continue care that will not be stopped due to a budget cut.
This Congress has added billions to mental health care and TBI centers to help the large number of the newly wounded of the past decades wars, which are adding tens of thousands of injured veterans to the system with these injuries, they are proactive rather than trying to play catch up 5-10 years down the line.
Secretary Shinseki has added the Burn Pits to known cancers and respiratory problems to presumptive causes so veterans can get into care quicker and be compensated for these injuries, this is the first time in history that the VA has recognized a environmental problem during the current conflict. We all have heard how long it took the VA to admit to PTSD after Vietnam, it ended in 1973, and it was 198o before PTSD was added to DSM III so veterans could be service connected for it, it was even longer for Agent Orange issues, again Secretary Shinseki just testified to a Senate Hearing on Sep 23, 2010 why Vietnam veterans should be considered service connected for ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and B-Cell leukemia.
Here is Senator Bernie Sanders statement on the issue
My colleagues, on the issue of cost, none of us are willing to put a pricetag on good health.
If cost is a concern, then cost should be discussed before sending service members into harm’s way.
Clearly, this is about the ongoing cost of war.
The costs of our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be paid by not only this generation, but generations to come.
Personally, I believe no veteran should ever, ever be denied timely access to the VA health care system, especially if they truly believe their medical condition was due to their service in the armed forces.
How can we call these brave service members “heroes” in one breath, then question their integrity and intensions when they come to the VA for assistance?
I would ask my colleagues, how many Vietnam veterans do you think this nation failed due to inaction between 1975 and 1991?
we need more Senators like Bernie not fewer please get yourself out to vote and your friends, neighbors and relatives the nation deserves better than politicians that want to privatize the VA billions in healthcare.