American Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts
American Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts
President Bush spoke to the American Legion today, claiming that “support of our veterans has been a high priority in my administration,” and that one of his priorities is “making sure that our veterans have got good, decent, quality healthcare.”
Watch it:
President Bush should save his rhetoric. In an interview with National Public Radio, even American Legion National Commander Paul Morin, a regular political ally of the White House, pointed out that Bush has consistently skimped on veterans funding. “We are not pleased with the budget for the military and for the VA hospitals for our veterans,” Morin said. “I blame the President and Congress for insufficient funding of the VA health care system.”
A look at the facts back up Morin’s claims about Bush’s short-changing of veterans:
Bush plans to cut veterans health care after 2008. “The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans’ health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system. … Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter.”
Bush raises health care costs for veterans. For the fifth year in a row, Bush’s budget has attempted to raise health care costs on 1.3 million veterans, calling for “new enrollment fees and higher drug co-payments for some veterans.”
Bush administration has claimed veterans benefits are “hurtful” to national security. In 2005, the Wall Street Journal noted the growing cost of veterans benefits due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon’s response was to complain that it would “rather use [the funds] to help troops fighting today.” “The amounts have gotten to the point where they are hurtful. They are taking away from the nation’s ability to defend itself,” says David Chu, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
Transcript:
[BUSH SPEECH]
The support of our veterans has been a high priority in my administration. This year I’ve asked Congress for more than $86 billion for veterans services. If Congress approves my request, this would amount to a 77 percent increase of the budgets since I took office. It would be the highest level of support for our veterans in American history.
We share with your concern about making sure our vets have good healthcare. I’ve talked to your commanders, past. I suspect I’ll be talking to your commanders, future, about making sure that our veterans have got good, decent, quality healthcare.
Since 2001 we’ve helped over one million more veterans. Added a million veterans. Take advantage of the VA healthcare system. The 2008 budget proposal will increase the VA healthcare budget by 83 percent since I took office.
[NPR INTERVIEW]
NPR: Are you going to try to push for more money for veterans care than the President has requested in his budget?
MORIN: Yeah, the President requested $36.6 billion for medical care. We recommended $38.4 billion.
NPR: Are you going to talk with the President about that when you speak to him?
MORIN: We have talked with the President. We have notified him that we are not pleased with the budget for the military and for the VA hospitals for our veterans.
NPR: You spoke just a minute ago about having long experience in doing battle with the VA. And it might be surprising for a lot of people to hear. The thinking might be that five years into two wars, the VA would be doing all it could. Where is the problem? Who do you blame?
MORIN: I blame the President and Congress for insufficient funding of the VA health care system.
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50 Responses to “American Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts”
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Old Saying
March 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amMoney talks, BS walks.
Bush sprints.
Bush is a fool. But 75% of Americans know that already.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:12 am“Veteran”
March 6th, 2007 at 11:13 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgw-FJg4U2k
Bush lies again, boldly, loudly, transparently. What a psychopath. And the koolaid drinkers will lap it up again. They would eat his excrement if presented it.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amTales from the Republican Closet, take two.
It turns out that a corporal who was supposedly mistreated at Columbia U. and who was subsequently given the star treatment by the likes of Bill “Phone Sex” O’Reilly and Ann “Faggot” Coulter had a previous stint as a gay porn star.
Jeff Gannon redux?
-GSD
March 6th, 2007 at 11:16 amLets see, in 2004, they could not wait to support this IDIOT! They were practically falling all over themselves to support the pres and his agenda.
GOSH, the NOT SO SWIFT BOAT VETS have been awfully silent on this one. I guess smearing Hillary and Obama is more important than owning up to W’s failures.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:18 amYeah Bushwad - and as long as Haliburton makes big profits then gosh darn we’ll get them decent healthcare. Of course we gotta charge these vets higher fees and copayments to make sure profits are up but after that we’re getting right to taking care of them. They’ll just have to be patient while Cheney counts his money.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:19 amBush can do Nothing right hes a complete failure - except stealing Americas money
March 6th, 2007 at 11:27 am“support of our veterans has been a high priority in my administration” ?!?
LOL
March 6th, 2007 at 11:28 amBush has done a ton for vets. What have scum liberals like Carl Levin and Diane Fasciststine done?
Answer: Nothing.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:37 amG W Bush is what happens when you have people who would actually vote for a president who does not read newspapers!
How could any thinking person ever vote for a person for president that declares his ignorance of not wanting to read?
You would think he would at least listen to his obviously much smarter father who does read newspapers!
March 6th, 2007 at 11:38 amAmerican Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts
Where was this pussy 13 years ago when he allowed his own Congress and President [Clinton] to cut defense spending?
He needs hung just like all of the others. Why was he quiet so long?
He was on the monetary take. That’s why. He and big pharma.
Nary a peep from him until they all got exposed.
If this Walter Reed thing is anyone’s fault, it is Bill Clinton’s.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:38 amSame goes for this war as well now that I think more about it.
Bush & Co. are the farthest away from ever supporting the troops. I hope finally the American people realize that.
The Replugs has done more harm towards the troops but at the same time acknowledging how much they love them. What BS and a bunch of hateful people.
There needs to be a change in the White House! No more Replugs!
March 6th, 2007 at 11:40 amIf this Walter Reed thing is anyone’s fault, it is Bill Clinton’s.
Same goes for this war as well now that I think more about it.
Comment by evening the score
The recent stock market fall is Clinton’s fault too. Don’t forget that. Also I have had some tummy problems ever since I read an article about Bill a few days back. I am sure he has something to do with it.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:43 amToo bad some people are more adept at “think more about it” than “think more completely about it”.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:43 amHere we go again, BLAME CLINTON! BLAME THE DEMS. ANYBODY BUT THE REPLUGS.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:43 amI side with the American Legion on this one. Bush and the 109th were wrong in not providing the funding needed for Vet healthcare and our Military. I very very glad that the Dems broke this crap open. It is completely unacceptable for our Vets to not have the Healthcare they need and our troops to lack readiness due to being underfunded. How a repug of all types could not provide the funding for our Soldiers and our Vets is beyond me. Hell, he went farther and even cut funding.
At least we have the 110th congress controlled by the Dems. Obviously these issues are very important to them since they are holding hearings and plastering it all over the TV. I truly hope they get to the bottom of this AND correct these problems ASAP.
Bush not funding the military enough is one of his biggest faults in my eyes. Hopefully the Dems will be passing a new spending bill ASAP that increases our miltary budget and our Vet Healthcare budget by a substantial amount. It will certainly be a breath of fresh air to see the Dems actually be the side that cares about our Military and increases it budget. Hell, I may have to become a Dem if they do that.
Does anyone have any info on the $$ size that the Dems are planning to increase our Military by?
March 6th, 2007 at 11:44 amNight time the score ~ go back to sleep.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:44 amIf one of Bush’s supposed priorities is “making sure that our veterans have got good, decent, quality healthcare”…then what explanation does he have for the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed and elsewhere (given the stories emerging as a result of the Walter Reed story about similar conditions at other places)? Does that qualify as “good, decent, quality healthcare”? If it does, I shudder to think of what neglect must look like…
March 6th, 2007 at 11:45 amdlet
It’s probably Clinton’s fault for Watergate as well. I mean, think about it. Bill Clinton shook hands with John Kennedy, who beat Nixon for the presidency in 1960 and, in justified retaliation, Nixon had to make sure Democrats stayed out of the White House and the Watergate burglary ensued. Voila - Clinton connected to Watergate. (and Hillary’s involvement in the hearings was just a cover-up)
/sarc
March 6th, 2007 at 11:49 amMATT SANCHEZ, 15 min darling of the REICH WING talk show/meeting circuit! HOW is it hanging Matt?? Or should we ask Karl Rove and Jeff Gannon?
Nothing against you Matt, you are in bed with a buch of HYPOCRITS!
March 6th, 2007 at 11:51 amIs this the same American Legion commander that joined the swiftboaters in dissing John Kerry, and prolonging the revenge-hysteria of the GWoT? I’d have to say he gets what he deserves - after all, he worked hard to get it.
Y - Clinton should’ve known we’d need all those extra hospital beds for amputee soldiers, because he knew Dubbie was a handpuppet for some dangerous psychopaths who would launch a massive failure of elective war.
Tell me Righties? If GWB was humping your Grandma/Grandpa, would you knock him off of them, or offer him a towel for his perspiration, and claim it was really Bill Clinton assaulting granny???????
March 6th, 2007 at 11:51 amThis idiot has no f****** clue what’s going on. He is told what to say and behind the curtin, Cheney and his crew are stealing america blind.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:51 amIntentional policy. The Bush administration’s Veterans Policy is precisely what it wanted and intended. Cheap. It just didn’t want anyone to know about it, much less, heavens, be accountable for it.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:53 amI was in the military when Clinton began to enact the rational force reductions begun under BUSH SR. Yes, that’s right knuckleheads, Bill Clinton continued to implement George H. W. Bush’s force reductions.
And it was absolutely correct. All you other military idiots who think the only way to have a decent military is to continue to shovel money into the most stupid, over-rated corrupted weapons systems and ancient military bases which exist only to pad the pockets of local politicians, you wouldn’t know how to run an effective military if Caesar handed you the Roman legions and an instruction manual.
If we slashed the hell out of the “Pentagon” budget, but actually made sure the money went to reasonable things & real human support, this would be a lot better, safer, and successful country. That’s right, we’d actually be safer with a far smaller Pentagon budget, if it weren’t for all the chickenhawk Republicans wanting other people to act out their own Sgt Rock fantasies.
Instead all you reprobate morons keep remembering how somehow Bill Clinton made you feel like you had a teeny weenie by going through with Bush Sr’s base cuts. Grow up, I don’t care if you had 50, 100, or 200 proud years of service, you idiots think that the only way to support ‘the troops’ is by bloating the US military budget out of proportion and giving boatloads of cash to Dick Cheney’s personal friends.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:53 amSadly from the other thread I have learned that the Dems have no interest in leadership either. I cannot believe they are going to play poltics and support this war even though they claim to be against it. We have Bush as President and he has proven to be an utter faliure. Furthermore, he has proven to not care about the military and defunded it.
I thought we were saved since we have the Dems in power. Instead, they go on TV and report the failures of Bush but choose to not do anything about it either. At some point, someone has to step up and be a solid leader that gets our Vets and Military what they need.
Bush defunds the military. Dems point it out and proclaim how incorrect he was (you on this site are doing it right now), yet the Dems refuse to get the military and the Vets the funding they need. Furthermore, they are planning to vote yes to the Iraq war even though they are against it simply for political gain. America is Doomed afterall. The Dems were going to be our savior but they decide to punt instead :(
March 6th, 2007 at 12:02 pmEl Cid - thanks for the clarification, and injection of actual, factual material.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:02 pmMutiny Brewing In US Military?!
6th of March 2007
by Jay Randal
There is widening gap between lower ranking soldiers and the Pentagon-Brass, so mistreatment of wounded soldiers/veterans in Army/Navy/VA hospitals causes grumbling in the ranks, and is brewing a mutiny too.
Upper echelon officers are getting special treatment in medical care, and given good salaries as well, but most military personnel are used like “cannon Fodder” for Pres. Bush’s wars of aggression to control oil reserves.
Unfortunately a growing disconnect to reality is taking place in Washington, DC, and some in the Congress are oblivious to the brewing unhappiness in the armed forces, and Bush Regime does not seem to care at all.
Throughout past world-history nations have collapsed whenever greedy nefarious wealthy elite takes control, and attempts to wage wars for profiteering purposes, so America is on the fast-track to complete utter ruin.
The US military is at the breaking point, just like the Imperial Russian military under the last Czar in 1917, so Congress better wake-up or will fall like the Duma.
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: Contact Reps and Senators in DC to stop Iraq Fiasco War now!
March 6th, 2007 at 12:04 pmRoger_Roger
March 6th, 2007 at 12:12 pmThere you go again. The difference between neocons and the Progressives here is that we stay on our leaders we don’t just follow them blindly. Please let me know what to do about my Repuke Congressman. Give me your info and I’ll contact you and we’ll discuss how to deal with the Repugs still in their seats.
Actually the cutting of the military and turning it over to corporations began during St. Reagan’s administration. I remember when one of those Big Crook CEO’s came to the military hospital where I was stationed and attempted to show us how most of our jobs could be done by a Halliburton. No amount of argument would convince him that doing so would be criminal.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:13 pmdlet
March 6th, 2007 at 12:14 pmI think Lincoln’s assasination is Clinton’s fault too.
You know he read about it in school, repeatedly!
Guilty!
24. Comment by El Cid
March 6th, 2007 at 12:18 pmGREAT POST!
#29 How would you ever add up from my post that I “follow my leader blindlessly”? I don’t even support Bush and I am not even a registered Repug. Hell, I am told you folks over and over that I want to vote for GORE! Furthermore, I hate folks like you that are pure party loyalists. You simply want a Dem in every seat regardless of quality.
There are many good repugs AND many good Dems. It is foolish of anyone to simply vote Dem or Repug and follow the party line. As a matter of fact, some of my very favorite congressmen are Dems. I respect Kennedy a whole lot because he is open about his beliefs and votes just like he talks. I can respect that even though I mostly disagree with him. I wish everyone in congress would be like that. Vote like you campaigned isn’t that hard to ask. If you campaigned on reducing government, cutting taxes, and focusing on the Military, THEN DO IT. If you campaign on ending the war ASAP and bring the troops home, THEN DO IT (which they can by voting no to the spending bill in front of them).
Dishonest people in congress is what I hate the most. Clinton, McCain, etc. I cannot stand because they stand for NOTHING other then gaining more power. Liebermann is a solid politician I rarely agree with but he is respectable because he doesn’t back down from his beliefs. It isn’t half as important on whether you agree or not with his beliefs. It is more important to know your elected official will truly govern like they promised.
I have complete Faith in Al Gore running the country how he promises. I also realize that I don’t agree with him on most issues. I don’t care that I disagree. What I care about is knowing this man will go to washington and will do exactly what he said he would do.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:28 pmEl Cid,
March 6th, 2007 at 12:33 pmGreat post, well thought. :)
Keep talking Dimson. Your rhetoric and reality are diverging at an astronomical rate. You are truly making yourself a joke. Unfortunately, your policies of outsourcing accountability and making profit from misery is causing this country real pain. Making a Republican buck by shorting the people you have sent into harm’s way crystalizes why everything that has been done since 2000 has been to the detriment of this country. Republicans profit as they sell this country down the tubes. Party before country.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:33 pm[…] V.A. Benefits […]
March 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pmI’m just glad to see the end of the era Reagan ushered in, and the reign of the gop mafiosi. if we’re to be run by criminals, then let them be the thoughtful, generous kind, and not the hateful, tightassed kind. Now, after all these years, they’re finally being exposed for being greedy, lying hypocrites they’ve always been.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:25 pmOne small amendment to the American Legion Commander’s statement: “I BLAME Bush AND THE repugnant-repub rightwingnut crank fudge-pachyderm MEMBERS of CONGRESS who SUPPORT Bush for these cuts” IS WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID! LET’S NOT FORGET THOSE WHO SUPPORT CHIMPya’s ‘SLASH AND BURN” LEGISLATION!!!!!
March 6th, 2007 at 2:29 pmThat’s what these dummies in the American Legion get for blindly supporting these rethugs. Most of them lack the critical thinking skills required to see that the only parties that are benefiting from this war, and all other wars are the corporate oligharchs.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:39 pmIf we wouldn’t allow the government to start illegal wars we wouldn’t need to be concerned with veterans care. For all of the money this war is costing us and is going to cost us well into the future we could have universal health care.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:42 pmBush is BRILLIANT!
…he’s saying to EVERYONE who listens to ANY of his speeches…
…and BOY has he got the people’s airwaves under wraps…
…”No matter what i stand up here and say…
…no matter what I do…
…you dumb a*s slaves can’t touch me”…
…And sadly, until we DO…
…he’s right…
March 6th, 2007 at 3:00 pmSimple. Drop funding for this Missile Shield Plan, and you can find 600 Billion to help out, right, there.
–dub
March 6th, 2007 at 3:54 pmAmerican Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts
Maybe now my dad will listen.
March 6th, 2007 at 5:48 pmWhile the liar-in-chief was basking in applause and boasting of his false patriotism, he is also signing deeper cuts in Veterans benefits, cuts in prosthetics research, cuts in medical facilities for the very veterans which he falsely claims to support.
March 6th, 2007 at 7:18 pm#40 - “For all of the money this war is costing us and is going to cost us well into the future we could have universal health care.”
Comment by BlueinTexas
Tell you what…why don’t you and other like-minded liberals adopt a insuranceless person and pay their premiums. Better yet, why don’t YOU overpay your taxes. It’s easy to be generous with other people’s money. Remember….I don’t think AlQueda will be providing health care (their stated goal is the destruction or takeover of the US and West)….so you may want to re-think your head in the sand stance.
Tooodles….
March 7th, 2007 at 6:07 pmThis is Blantant Criminal Neglect of our soldiers and their families.
Bush needs to be HELD to ACCOUNT.
Bush and these clowns don’t care and NEVER did about any soldier as the evidence clearly shows.
Not enough speciality doctors;
Not enough highly trained medical personnel;
Not enough facilities that in proper working condition;
Denial of 70 percent disability of army claims;
No HOT SHOWERS at Walter Reed;
NO Brain Center Set Up filled with more than enough Neurology docs that specialize in BRAIN INJURY;
No Cognitive Organization Plan to Rehab the soldiers
No testing completed on field soldiers near blast;
This all points to soldier NEGLECT
by
Bush and Cheney
they are murderers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
March 7th, 2007 at 8:23 pmSoldiers Mom
and so sorry that I have a son being held “hostage” by this lying administration of bandits!
[…] week President Bush told the American Legion that “support of our veterans has been a high priority in my administration,†despite numerous […]
March 7th, 2007 at 9:36 pm[…] North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey! Think Progress » American Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cut… Think Progress » Bush wants cuts to veterans’ health care. NEWS - POLITICAL - Comcast.net […]
March 27th, 2007 at 3:08 pm[…] North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey! Think Progress » American Legion Commander: ‘I Blame Bush And Congress’ For Veterans Cuts Think Progress » Bush wants cuts to veterans’ health care. NEWS - POLITICAL - Comcast.net […]
March 27th, 2007 at 4:35 pmWhy should these older “geezer veterans” be concerned with the current wounded? Back 30-40 years ago, they told the Vietnam Veterans that
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:53 am“You ain’t a real soldier or a real American” and barred them from joining the American Legion and VFW. Why should we expect them to change their tune now?