It seems hard to imagine a presidential candidate, running in the midst of two wars, openly speculate about cutting back on veterans’ healthcare. And yet, here we are.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain appeared Tuesday to suggest rationing of veterans’ health care may be needed so combat veterans can receive the care they deserve.
At a town hall meeting in Dover, N.H., McCain talked about the need to “concentrate” veterans’ health care on people with injuries that “are a direct result of combat.”
“Right now, there are people who drive a long way and they stand in line to stand in line to get an appointment to get an appointment,” McCain said.
McCain’s campaign press office did not return a telephone call asking for clarification of the remarks.
Well, that’s not good at all.
The Washington Monthly ran a terrific cover story a couple of years ago, heralding the success of the VA system, and the quality of the medical care veterans receive. McCain may hold some kind of ideological grudge against the VA system — it is, after all, a form of socialized medicine — but even raising the prospect of rationing veterans’ health care seems like a remarkably bad idea. It’s not good policy, and it’s certainly not good politics.
Time’s Ana Marie Cox noted, “A year ago, it would have been difficult to believe that Obama could legitimately make McCain look bad on veterans’ issues. Then again, he’s had some help [from McCain].”
I think that probably sounds more draconian than it actually is; both campaigns acknowledge that there are massive problems with VA and in veterans’ care. And, having heard McCain speak passionately about the need to increase coverage for veterans’ mental health, it’s strange to hear him use the “direct result of combat” formulation. There are, unfortunately, a thousand different ways a soldier could come out of the military with PTSD; which ones would get priority under McCain’s formulation? Does having been shot at make you and more or less worth treating than, I don’t know, having been sexually traumatized?
What’s more, it offers us an opportunity to consider McCain’s record of veterans’ issues in a broader context.
[McCain] received a grade of D from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a 20 percent vote rating from the Disabled Veterans of America; Vietnam Veterans of America noted McCain had “voted against us” in 15 “key votes.”
As for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars — with whom McCain claims to have a “perfect voting record” — both groups vigorously supported Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) GI Bill that McCain tirelessly opposed.
And Phillip Carter, Barack Obama’s National Veteran Vote Director (and himself an Army veteran of the war in Iraq), explained why McCain’s suggestion is a mistake:
“While we respect John McCain for his service to our country, we disagree with him strongly on how our nation should care for its veterans. Limiting VA Care to veterans who have ‘injuries that are a direct result of combat’ is a dramatic shift in policy with potentially devastating effects on millions of veterans who currently depend on the VA. The VA does not distinguish between combat-related conditions and conditions caused by non-combat service. There is no difference between an injury caused on a battlefield and one caused on the deck of an aircraft carrier or in training. The VA should not start to ration care with this criterion. Barack Obama wants to honor the sacred trust we have with all our nation’s veterans and not ration care. When troops serve, they are not divided by priority groups. Yet, today the VA is picking and choosing which veterans to serve. Barack Obama is committed to ending the unfair ban on healthcare enrollment of ‘Priority 8′ veterans who often earn only modest incomes. As president, one of Barack Obama’s first acts will be signing an executive order reversing this ban.”
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Heh, coming from the nation that never paid the Revolutionary-era soldiers, and has screwed over the vets at every time, I find this to be ironic. You’d think he’d learn the definition of the word “subtlety”, but it seems he believes in rough-boot politics. I’ll take Obama’s soft glove, but let’s be realistic, neither Prez. candidate will do a damn thing about us lording it over the rest of the world.
‘Shoot-himself-in-the-foot’ McCain speaks again!
When I was in the Army in Germany in ‘70 and ‘71, and actually had a guy in my unit shoot himself in the foot. True story. I can attest HOW STUPID IT IS TO DO THAT. McCain is getting stupider by the day.
First you start rationing VA. Then you start mutating the definition of combat injury. Then you claim you have the troops best interest in mind. Then some flag waving patriot says it’s the other guy that’s against the troops.
Why must respect for McCain’s service to the country 40 years ago preceed any comment about what he is planning to do in the future if President? Enough of the ass kissing.
Well hopefully statements like McCain’s will ration the number of votes he will receive in November. WTF was he thinking? Was this before or after he stood in the cheese aisle at some grocery store and read aloud the price of milk? When he was in that grocery, no one seemed to recognize him or know who he was.
Yeah, this rationing health care for vets is sure gonna be a winner with the vets and their families. Not!
“concentrate” VA healthcare? McCain, why don’t YOU just CONCENTRATE!! Idiot!
Rationing healthcare for veterans so they can get the care they deserve. An oxymoron by a moron who hates lower enlisted service people but says everyone else who doesn’t support him hates them.
If it weren’t for the VA system of health care, my dad would not have received the health care he needed in order to beat his cancer.
In John McCain’s world, since that cancer wasn’t a result of his being in combat (my dad was a member of the USAF during Vietnam and was stationed over in that there in the region), he would not be deserving of that health care.
I’m sorry, why doesn’t some reporter, with a f-ing spine ask these Republican bastards how not helping someone live is the Christian thing to do? I fail to see the “moral high ground” here.
In the words of Mike Malloy, “God I hate these people!”
Rest assured, Johnny Walnuts will get approval from AMVETS and VFW, populated by “vets” who were desk pounders and mail clerks and who join the organizations to regale everyone with their “combat” experiences. And the MSM will quote the ass-clowns in these groups to “prove” Johhn Walnuts has the true vets at his back.
Not really socialized medicine; they might not have paid in cash, but they paid :)
Perfect example of a guy who forgets where he came from, and who helped him along the way.
What an ass.
“concentrate” veterans’ health care on people with injuries that “are a direct result of combat.”
Translation: No health care for soldiers suffering from mental issues. Chances are he thinks the large number of soldiers that have PTSD, especially the ones who don’t show symptoms until after they leave Iraq are faking it because he doesn’t understand it.
General_Rennenkampf @ 1:
QFT
grumpyoldvet @ 9:
preach, brother,preach!!!
The VA system is great but due to these two everlasting wars their number of patients is ever increasing. “Leaders” like McCain and the neo cons vote against giving the VA more funding to give care to everybody..
We should expect this kind of thinking coming from a man who was near the bottom of his class and almost flunked out of Annapolis. And this is the man the repugs want to sit in the White House with his finger on the button??? But they would probably just prop him up in the chair and let rove and company run things.
BTW when watching some of the older tapes (2004 etc.) of Mclame and comparing them to tapes done today I notice a significant difference in his speaking and mannerisms. He is definitely in the throes of old age and possibly Altzheimers. This man is a joke. He would never a few years ago have made the mistakes he is continually making today. He is incoherent and seems to not realize where he is or what he is saying.
This is nothing new for the Senator from AZ. Like his fellow AZ senator Jon Kyl and “my” congressman Trent Franks, they loves themselves a nice bloody war but consistantly vote against veterans’ benefits and love to cut veterans’ benefits. Just more Repimplican hypocrisy.
How much of a MORON do you have to be to vote for this ASS HAT?
I depend on the VA system. I have to take up to 6 prescriptions, and at least two seperate pieces of equipment that are ridiculously high-priced. I have insurance at work, but couldn’t afford the co-pay. As it is I have to pay about $1,000.00 a year to the VA. Without all this help, I’d probably be dead as we speak (okay maybe you, otherwise it’d be creepy.)
Although I have to admit since the VA saved us so much money, I dropped an anonymous suggestion in their box, that vets who can afford it be encouraged to donate a few dollars a visit that the VA could send to S-Chip. Affordability is an issue since so many vets at the VA look homeless.
Back in the 60s, my aunt had a stroke and for years afterward would say and do the opposite of what she meant. It was so obvious that they were able to figure it out within days of entering the hospital. She’d cry when she meant to laugh. That kind of thing. My uncle wanted the TV turned on for her, but he was never there when the installer (many, many years ago) came to turn it on. He’d see my aunt and ask if she wanted TV and she’d shake her head and say no. This went on for 3 or 4 days before my uncle cornered the guy and told him to disregard what my aunt said. Just turn on the damn TV.
McCain meant the opposite. It’s a question of semantics. Or stroke.
Someone needs to call bullshit on the media canticle and campaign pretense that just because John McCain once wore the uniform of the United States he automatically gives more than a rats ass about veterans.
Sounds like a great idea to me. Let’s start by taking away McCain’s $57,000/year disability payment. After all, if he’s married to someone with a 9-digit net worth, owns eight or nine homes and an artificial lake, and can withstand the rigors of campaigning for a year and a half for the most powerful job on the planet, he obviously doesn’t need it.
DHavok @ 8:
Actually, I hate Mike Malloy.
At best he has a half-hour of material, and spends the rest of shift spluttering.
His saying this is covering up and a result of how the VA is stretched way too thin. Ask any vet who deals with the VA healthcare, if you need to see a doctor for something that’s not considered an emergency, you will probably be in for an average 3 month wait time, which could result in another reschedule and 3 more months.
It baffles me how a POW like McCain can vote against and take a stand against giving the VA more funding..
DHavok @ 8:
The VA is as badly managed as the BIA. We need to improve the welfare of our veterans, it can be dangerous to do otherwise.
Keep on talking Senator.
Every time he opens his mouth it costs him votes.
So I say keep on yappin.
LOL your country is funny yet very pathetic. On one hand everyone is all gung ho about “supporting our troops” yet on the other hand when they come home from war broken physically or mentally your country doesn’t seem to want to have anything to do with them.(find a way not to pay the medial bills)
I can’t wait to see how the chickenhawks in your country spin this. And no we have never rationed healthcare to ANYONE in this country, be they civilian or military.
Mike the Canuck @ 27:
We usually tend to support hypothetical troops, actual US support for troops, regardless of ideology or religion, is long on promise, short on delivery. Wanna know how veterans used to “protest?” Google “Shay’s Rebellion.”
BTW, Mike, how does Canada treat its veterans from Afghanistan?
So, I guess being captured by the Vietnamese and tortured wouldn’t actually get you coverage then under McCain, given that torture isn’t really ‘combat’ in traditional terms. Well, even when you can agree on what torture is.
So, Mr. McCain, can we have our money back…?
General_Rennenkampf @ 29:
Very well, actually. (If I can speak for Mike…) The Canadian Army has extensive post-tour testing and check-ups to make sure PTSD cases are caught, and that vets aren’t falling through the cracks.
Brendan @ 31:
Well damn…another thing you Canucks do better than us Murakans. Is there anything we do better than ya’ll?
General_Rennenkampf @ 29:
Free weed.
General_Rennenkampf @ 32:
Rutting like bonobos?
ysbaddaden @ 33:
Only if you’re stationed in BC… It’s rum rations out East.
Brendan @ 30:
I wish someone would bring that up at one of his infamous town hall meetings. Ask him if under his rationing plan someone like himself would qualify for VA coverage?
I just thought of an interesting idea. Instead of ending the was in 16 months, end it in 15. That would save about $9 billion to take care of vets who need the help…
General_Rennenkampf @ 32:
Hey - we does too treet our vets reel good here in Amerikkka. We allow them to live almost anywhere on the street that they choose. We allow them to beg on street corners and freeway on-ramps. We don’t usually even jail them for using stolen shopping carts for carrying their worldly posessions. I heard some people compare our vets’ lot to that of the British vets of the 17th and 18th century. Hell, they didn’t even have shopping carts back then…
Brendan @ 37:
I think I meant ‘war’ there. You can end the ‘was’ but no one might notice.
“Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain appeared Tuesday to suggest rationing of veterans’ health care may be needed so combat veterans can receive the care they deserve.”
Why don’t we ration his 100% VA benefits. He obviously doesn’t need them. Let a real soldier get his benefits.
Mick @ 38:
Yeah, and how well does that end up working out, having large numbers of people who are dissatisfied who know how to use a gun? Bad things have happened in nations when that happens, particularly in modern times, but even before then.
ysbaddaden @ 34:
Naw, we don’t have many pansexuals in this nation. ;)
cromulent @ 22:
And while we’re at it, he can do something to help fix the Social Security System: give up his $2,000/month benefit. He certainly won’t miss the money.
Just a (useless) trivial note: If you’re referencing the beloved Chimp-in-Chief in your response, you’ve described your countrymen with one too many syllables. I prefer the loose transcription- Muhrkin- as a bit more fitting. (Yet I’m just a useless old whore)
Luv to you, General!
I hope MoveOn knows about this comment by McCain. All they have to do is play what he said, and then at the end, ask vets and their families what they think.
Does anyone know what time, our time, Senator Obama will be giving his speech in Germany today and where we can see it on tv?
pissed off patricia @ 5:
Yet Veterans are his strongest supporters - go figure?