McCain: Make combat-disabled top VA priority

[Nonno (Premo)]

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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.


McCain: Make combat-disabled top VA priority - Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times

[ice-man]

He should have been done this and not when he is running for office. It's a stunt to get votes.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by ice-man

He should have been done this and not when he is running for office. It's a stunt to get votes.

You have one of those 'special' Maryland driver's licenses, don't you?

[ice-man]

The same license your mom has. As a matter of fact tell her to stop calling me. LOL.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by ice-man

The same license your mom has. As a matter of fact tell her to stop calling me. LOL.

Great. Another intellectual with something profound to add to the conversation.

[ImnoMensa]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Great. Another intellectual with something profound to add to the conversation.

Why not just appropriate enough money to care for any qualified Veteran.

Cut out a few of Murtha's earmarks and the money should be no problem.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by ice-man

The same license your mom has. As a matter of fact tell her to stop calling me. LOL.

You've got a real problem there, stud. She's been dead 10 years so you best replace that foil helmet with a steel garbage can.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

Why not just appropriate enough money to care for any qualified Veteran.

Cut out a few of Murtha's earmarks and the money should be no problem.

Becasue there are already a million veterans abusing the system.

I have no problem with the VA focusing on the combat wounded. They SHOULD be a priority of someone like me. I don't have an issue with that.

The VA is probably the most abused system I've ever seen. I had a neighbor that was in the Army for two years just after WWII.. He died of cancer at the age of 70 something.

He got someone at the VA to deem the cancer 'service related" and got full FREE medical coverage until the day he died. It happens EVERY day in EVERY VA hospital. SOmeone that served 6 months before getting thrown out 30 years ago, pisses and moans at the VA until someone gets tired of hearing about it, and stamps "Service Related" and they get free coverage. NOBODY at the VA cares who gets freee medical care, they really don't have a vested interest who does or doesn't get care, they just know that's one less person they have to hear whine about it.

Personally I retired after 20 years service, and other than my post service evaluation, I've never been in a VA hospital or medical center. The one time I was, I wasn't thrilled with what I saw there. I would bet the majority of what I saw were people mentioned in the above paragraph. They did the minimum amount of time in the service 20, 30 or 40 years ago, and feel they are entitled to free medical care for the rest of their lives.

McCain's right.. ANY combat wounded veteran, from any war/ conflict should be able to jump the line in front of me to get medical care and prescriptions filled...

Just imagine how far the budget for the VA would go if 70% of the patients they do take care of weren't abusing the system.

[ImnoMensa]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Becasue there are already a million veterans abusing the system.

I have no problem with the VA focusing on the combat wounded. They SHOULD be a priority of someone like me. I don't have an issue with that.

The VA is probably the most abused system I've ever seen. I had a neighbor that was in the Army for two years just after WWII.. He died of cancer at the age of 70 something.

He got someone at the VA to deem the cancer 'service related" and got full FREE medical coverage until the day he died. It happens EVERY day in EVERY VA hospital. SOmeone that served 6 months before getting thrown out 30 years ago, pisses and moans at the VA until someone gets tired of hearing about it, and stamps "Service Related" and they get free coverage. NOBODY at the VA cares who gets freee medical care, they really don't have a vested interest who does or doesn't get care, they just know that's one less person they have to hear whine about it.

Personally I retired after 20 years service, and other than my post service evaluation, I've never been in a VA hospital or medical center. The one time I was, I wasn't thrilled with what I saw there. I would bet the majority of what I saw were people mentioned in the above paragraph. They did the minimum amount of time in the service 20, 30 or 40 years ago, and feel they are entitled to free medical care for the rest of their lives.

McCain's right.. ANY combat wounded veteran, from any war/ conflict should be able to jump the line in front of me to get medical care and prescriptions filled...

Just imagine how far the budget for the VA would go if 70% of the patients they do take care of weren't abusing the system.

I had no idea the abuse was that bad.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

I had no idea the abuse was that bad.

Have you ever been in a VA facility?

Think someone needs to do some research and figure out WHO is actually using the VA, and find out who's authorizing them to get free medical care.

Bottom line, to use the VA you're supposed to be retired or you are supposed to have a service connected medical qualification and ONLY get treated for that particular malady.. Now it's like ANYone that ever served, 6 months or 30 years, feels they are eligible for free health care for life.

I honestly don't know of any retiree that uses the VA, but I'm sure there are some out there.