Bad news, The One is going to get that money by picking the pockets of veterans
WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”
The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, “This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ‘ to care for him who shall have borne the battle’ given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm’s way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America’s veterans!”
John Lilyea points out the obvious
But it’s what I’ve been warning about since before the election – I wish I didn’t have to say “I told you so†but Democrats are famous for making veterans and the military pay for their buying electoral patronage.
Democrats are also famous for punishing members of the military for having the temerity of voting Republican.
So I guess we can put as much credence into The One’s statement
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honour your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice and you have our unyielding support.
as we do when He says He is not for big government.
(h/t Great Mencken’s Ghost)
Comment by Spies, Brigands, and Pirates on 3/16 @ 10:31 pm #
Fucking scumbag.
Comment by happyfeet on 3/16 @ 10:38 pm #
Shinseki is such a cowardly piece of shit he makes John McCain look actually somewhat less like a bald cowardly Bea Arthur.
Comment by happyfeet on 3/16 @ 10:40 pm #
A short bald cowardly Bea Arthur I mean.
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Comment by fmfnavydoc on 3/16 @ 10:43 pm #
Shitseki is nothing but a Wesley Clark clone…probably got the VA job by performing some unnatural act with Obambi. If both of them pursue this crap, they will pay for it in the long run…
Comment by Jeff G on 3/16 @ 10:46 pm #
I keep hearing this is DOA in Congress, but the very fact that Obama is pushing it should make every American sick with disgust.
Comment by Sdferr on 3/16 @ 10:50 pm #
Ya’ll reckon they’ll follow on after this fails with a DADT policy change to patch things up with the military? That would seem about par for the course.
Comment by lee on 3/16 @ 11:08 pm #
Seems to me this is a gambit for a strengthened argument for nation health care.
A really, really fucked up gambit, but it probably seems “reasonable” to Obama, being the steaming pile of shit that he is.
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Comment by Merovign on 3/16 @ 11:35 pm #
Heh. Proof of insurance required to enlist.
That’s some serious weapons-grade stupid right there.
And yeah, it’s ANOTHER back-door to DMV-style health care.
Comment by Merovign on 3/17 @ 12:18 am #
And feets – I saw your message in The Other Healthcare Thread, thanks for the words. I have been not around very much, life has sucked fairly hard, and not only because of what my Mom calls “Obama-trauma.” But it’s all right.
I have also been very not here because of the complete and utter troll-domination of the summer, fall, and winter, which seems to have abated slightly. My otherwise-satisfying job has me interacting with hippies frequently, and I can’t really talk politics there, so I don’t. Away from work, however, I am even less tolerant of their insane, hypocritical, ignorant shit than I ever was.
I have lurked here a fair bit, however, and it is good from time to time to read some of my old favorites, like you, feets, as well as O’Brain, dicentra, Darleen, SBP, and others. Oh, and that Jeff guy, who needs to skip the Patterico thing and Move On, ’cause ain’t nobody more stubborn than Patterico when he (on rare occasions) refuses to “get it.”
Anyway, almost bed time, everybody go buy a gun, help the one shining ray of commerce we have left!
Comment by Linda on 3/17 @ 12:19 am #
You have not been paying attention. Obama is taking away a large portion of medical care for Vets.
Comment by Pablo on 3/17 @ 12:27 am #
So, they lose their health care. But He is giving them Michelle in return! Change!
Comment by Steve B on 3/17 @ 1:06 am #
There is, unfortunately, a big, fat hairy slice of Itoldyaso in all this. One might bust on B.O. for all the campaign promises he’s broken, but the fact is that he IS keeping the only ones that really matter to him. The one about spreading the wealth around.
He is using social programs and environmental extortion to generate “income” for his social re-engineering agenda. With his “cap and trade” scheme, he UP FRONT ADMITS that many of the carbon emission goals are unattainable, and yet still ENFORCEABLE, but wouldn’t you know it, companies can pay money/fees to “buy” offsets.
Now this with the insurance, which he again, up front, states is really just a means of generating income…from taxpayers. So. We fund the government through heavy taxes, we fund them through environmental extorition (carbon offsets), and now we fund them through paying for government services, which, oh-by-the-way, WE ALREADY PAID FOR WITH OUR TAXES.
Obama is truly a man of his word. He promised to move us inexorably towards marxism. And he’s doing it.
And the righty commentators were villified for pulling a “Chicken Little” and trying to warn about what we saw to be self-evident.
And now America reaps what it has sown.
Comment by Berkeley Liberal on 3/17 @ 1:28 am #
I opposed the Iraq war. I have absolutely no interest in joining the military. I don’t like guns, period.
Obama’s proposal, however, is wrong. Absolutely wrong. Paying for the care of our wounded veterans is our government’s first priority. Before the space program, before foreign aid, before bailout money for AIG, before a Capital visitor center, before our highway system, before ANYTHING.
I am deeply ashamed and saddened that this proposal would ever be considered. It is sick, it is wrong, and it is stupid.
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Comment by Carin on 3/17 @ 4:32 am #
I keep hearing this is DOA in Congress, but the very fact that Obama is pushing it should make every American sick with disgust.
I hope you are right on both counts.
Comment by JHoward on 3/17 @ 5:26 am #
In related news, Party Boy is below Dubya’s two month numbers. My brother advises that at this rate, this will be the two year presidency. Hope!
Comment by Salt Lick on 3/17 @ 5:54 am #
Paying for the care of our wounded veterans is our government’s first priority.
Only if you consider them ours. There are certain people who consider them imperialist tools.
Comment by O-mama on 3/17 @ 5:59 am #
Yeah! Stick it to those veterans! What have they ever done for anybody?
Comment by LTC John on 3/17 @ 6:12 am #
So I read this post right after getting an e-mail from my friend who is the CSM for TF Phoenix – we lost 3 more soldiers.
I’m too drained to be angry right now. Someone please be a bit pissed off for me, OK?
Comment by SGT Ted on 3/17 @ 6:21 am #
Got ya covered, John. Im retired now, so I can be pissed off for alot of you over there. I am SO glad I don’t have to take orders from the Shitbird in Chief. Stevie Wonder parties and $100.00 steaks for this imitation pimp, but fuck the vets. Heckufa job there Barry.
Comment by Matt on 3/17 @ 6:38 am #
So to clarify, I’m going to pay for everybody else’s health care EXCEPT for our soldiers.
I’m a dummy at math but even I can see there’s something very wrong with that equation.
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Comment by slackjawedyokel on 3/17 @ 6:53 am #
My Ranger son is doing a job that he loves, even given the hardship that he and his family have endured through the many deployments into harm’s way over the past seven years. I’m extremely proud of him, and have encouraged him throughout his career. With shit like this, though, I can’t in any conscience tell him that remaining in the service is a good idea. Whatever happened to taking care of our own?
Comment by Bob Reed on 3/17 @ 7:07 am #
“Democrats are also famous for punishing members of the military for having the temerity of voting Republican.”
Truer words were never spoken Darleen. I can’t figure out exactly why, or when it started, but the Democrats seem to hate the military and all it’s about, and seem to feel the need for a crusade to emasculate it and our nation…
For Fairness!…
And The Children!…
Or some hokie BS like that…
All Americans should be Outraged at this…
Comment by Mr. Pink on 3/17 @ 7:10 am #
This is just one more item on the very short list of things that make Michelle Obama proud of her country.
Comment by Techie on 3/17 @ 7:13 am #
My $0.02: This is a publicity stunt, looking for crippled veterans getting denied policies for prior conditions and using it as a shillelagh for single-payer coverage.
Comment by marinemom on 3/17 @ 7:20 am #
Funding Hamas and Acorn are more important to Obama than funding the military and vets. He certainly has his priorities in order. In marxist order.
Comment by Matt on 3/17 @ 7:32 am #
John, I can safely say we’re ALL pissed off about this. The only thing Obambi has said during his administration I agreed with is raise soldiers salaries. Apparently, however, he is going to raise salaries by using the health care offset.
And really ? Saves 521 million ? That’s pocket change, compared to the billions we just gave AIG ? I can safely say our soldiers are a better investment than frackin AIG.
Comment by Joe on 3/17 @ 7:37 am #
Obama: “Veterans did not vote for me…fuck ‘em.”
or maybe Rahm said that for Obama.
Either way it is pretty much it.
Comment by Matt on 3/17 @ 7:45 am #
As an aside, I keep seeing folks at hot air wondering if this will give democrats buyers remorse- I guess my take on this is, this kind of thing is exactly what many many democrats want. It discourages military service and “frees up money” to be used for stuff they think is important, like Hamas rebuilding projects and Chris Dodd’s mortgage.
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Comment by N. O'Brain on 3/17 @ 7:56 am #
“Comment by LTC John on 3/17 @ 6:12 am #”
I got your 6.
COCKSUCKERS!!!!!!
Comment by Rob Crawford on 3/17 @ 8:11 am #
Via Insty: Townhouse #2.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 3/17 @ 8:15 am #
Comment by Rob Crawford on 3/17 @ 8:11 am #
Maybe HUAC can investigate them.
Comment by Rob Crawford on 3/17 @ 8:18 am #
So, folks, WTF can we do?
Comment by Mr. Pink on 3/17 @ 8:20 am #
Yeah not at all for sure. Nothing to see there move along. I am sure they would have no objection with a bunch of right leaning journos from Fox and CNN having a private email list to discuss issues of the day. Yep perfectly reasonable. I half suspect these idiots just keep denying the obvious because they know that the denials piss us off more than them doing it.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 8:32 am #
OK, John and O’Brain, I officially join the chorus of PISSED OFF!
Not only is this infuriating, it should be political suicide in the long run. The Dems just got a majority of voters to put aside any lingering concerns about Dem’s ability to defend our country and now the political genius decides to trot out this heaping pile of ostrich crap? My over/under on how many people would poll as being against this abomination is 80%.
So if our president is not that politically dumb are we dealing with an entirely different concept? You know, like maybe, possibly, this is a window into his deep, dark ideological soul with regards to his attitude towards the military? Perhaps a conviction that reflects his lack of respect and dismissal of all of those poor saps who had no other opportunity in the real world other than to sign up to be killbots.
Or some such…
I think I’ll go with option (B) which only geometrically increases my pissed off-ness.
Comment by Squid on 3/17 @ 8:32 am #
Rob,
Make sure your friends and co-workers know what’s going on, since they’re not likely to hear more than a few words about this through the usual channels. Press any journos you know to see if this story can grow legs, so that we have more than water-cooler chatter to spread the word. Make sure your congresscritters get an earful, so that Jeff’s point about a Congressional revolt comes true, and so that the story grows legs.
And send a big box of goodies to your mates overseas, so that they know we’ll take care of ‘em even when our so-called representatives won’t.
It’s a start, anyway.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 8:43 am #
Here’s a question for the Parker, Frum, Brooks, Meghan McCain crowd: What is more likely to drive the saintly moderates from supporting a political party?
A) Social Con’s political agenda.
b) Shiving disabled veterans in the back.
Take your time … no rush …
I would hope that John McCain would be screaming bloody murder about this garbage.
Comment by happyfeet on 3/17 @ 8:48 am #
I would hope that John McCain would take out his teeth and call it a day.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 8:49 am #
Well, hf, he can scream whether or not his teeth are in place.
Comment by Darleen on 3/17 @ 8:52 am #
Techie
I’m sure that’s a part of it. Look how The One is framing the narrative … that private insurance companies are “not paying their fair share”. See? He’s not really punishing the vets, its just those nasty-should-be-abolished-greedy-insurance companies. A “US NHS” for everyone!
That it also is a slap in the face of the US military is just gravy. A two-fer.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but just about any insurance policy I’ve ever carried – health, homeowners, etc – specifically excludes anything that happens that is the result of an act of war, declared or not.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 3/17 @ 8:58 am #
I just e-mailed my Senators and rep on this.
Do you think calling it a “steaming pile of horseshit” went too far?
Comment by Steve B on 3/17 @ 9:02 am #
Something that I find most disturbing in all this is the openness with which B.O. discusses the very nature of some of these initiatives as money making ventures. Both this and the Cap and Trade scam were openly presented as ways to make (read: extort) money for his Spendulous programs.
He’s not even trying to hide it. He is so confident in his “mandate” or his untouchability that he just throws it out there like we’re all just going to grab our ankles and say thank you.
Someone is really starting to believe his own press releases.
Comment by Rob Crawford on 3/17 @ 9:09 am #
Threatening violence would be going too far.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 9:11 am #
Mr. O’Brain: I’m interested to know what Gelatinous Traitor-Tool (Spector) has to say about this. I’d find it hard to believe that he wouldn’t want to get out in front of this mess very early considering the pummeling he has taken on his Spendulous vote.
However, never underestimate the power of teh obtuse.
Comment by U-238 on 3/17 @ 9:12 am #
Next, to save $200 dollars on his car insurance, Obama is going to make his secret service self insure for when they have to take a bullet for him. After all, the government can’t make that co-pay to AIG becuase they already own the 80% that does billing.
What a fucking tool.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 9:14 am #
Maybe ACORN can use some of that 2 billion it got from Spendulous to do civil disobedience and take over the Veterans Administration until justice is done for disabled soldiers.
Nah… that’s just crazy talk…
Comment by -Ed. on 3/17 @ 9:17 am #
Yet another PR stunt. This one will peak with something like “If all Americans had federally-funded health care insurance, then these veterans would have no worries.”
It’s very much like the PR stunt that bemoaned the AIG executive bonuses instead of admitting that US taxpayers are paying billions to bail out failed European banks with out stimulus money. The problem for BO and his cabal of do-it-all amateurs is that neither stunt is working.
Comment by -Ed. on 3/17 @ 9:19 am #
Er,… “with out stimulus money.” should be “with our stimulus money.”
Comment by Great Mencken's Ghost! on 3/17 @ 9:22 am #
Rob Crawford — WTF can we do?
Rub this all over the faces of any Democratic Candidate in your next elections. We can’t get rid of the likes of Pelosi, but we can cut her voting base in the House out from under her.
Comment by urthshu on 3/17 @ 9:35 am #
>>He’s not even trying to hide it. He is so confident in his “mandate†or his untouchability that he just throws it out there like we’re all just going to grab our ankles and say thank you.
I haven’t gotten a complete reply from my AmeriCorps friend yet, but he gave me some interesting anecdotes.
Apparently, one of his board member friends admitted, sotto voce, that she had not voted for O [he hadn't either] but that she was afraid to voice any contrary opinions of BO or of his policies for fear of losing her job and being shut out of her chosen career.
For his own part, he hadn’t heard any criticisms of O and only disliked him on a gut level, mostly. He admits to receiving tons of laudatory official emails with little in-depth details.
So yes, O probably thinks you will say thank you. Most everybody is kept in the dark
Comment by bill on 3/17 @ 9:58 am #
I use the VA as my primary (translation- only ) health care provider. If this flies, I’m screwed on two fronts: non-service connected and a drafted Viet Nam combat veteran. I was not saintly enough like Ayers,Rudd and the rest of the Weathervermin to oppose the Fascist Imperialist War Machine of AmeriKKKa . Maybe they can kick me out of the system and start a new program ,the CCCP(Cretinous Cowardly Communist Pricks) and give them my health care. I denounce myself for being a running dog lackey of the Military Industrial Complex.
Comment by Swen Swenson on 3/17 @ 10:04 am #
Wasn’t there some earlier nonsense about forcing insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions? Wouldn’t that set up a situation where no one would buy insurance until they needed medical care (as in “gee, I’m pregnant, better go buy pregnancy insurance*)? And if no one buys insurance until they need care, won’t the insurance companies be forced to charge premiums equal to the cost of the care you’re expecting to get? At that point, why buy insurance at all?
In this case, wouldn’t forcing private insurers to cover pre-existing service-connected disabilities and injuries just lead the insurers to charge what it would cost to treat those pre-existing conditions?
Or would these mandates require the insurance companies to absorb the cost of covering pre-existing conditions? Wouldn’t that have the effect of increasing the cost of insurance for all of us? Wouldn’t that again set up a situation where no one would buy insurance until they needed medical care?
I’m so confused! I’ve pondered this and it seems to me that such measures would lead to the distruction of the private insurance industry.. Oh wait. That would force the government to step in and take over. So it’s all part of the plan then?
Nevermind.
*I use this example because we considered buying pregnancy insurance. Turns out the insurance company assumes that you wouldn’t buy pregnancy insurance unless you intend to get pregnant. Thus, the cost of the pregnancy insurance premium is very nearly the same as the cost of paying for the pregnancy out of pocket. Seems the insurance actuaries aren’t entirely stupid..
Comment by TheGeezer on 3/17 @ 10:19 am #
<blockquote.Well, hf, he can scream whether or not his teeth are in place.
BUT THINK OF THE SPIT SPLATTER W/O THE TEETH IN PLACE. And I won’t mention the sound he’d make.
Comment by ian cormac on 3/17 @ 10:37 am #
You forget they consider being a veteran, specially during the volunteer army period as a pre-existing condition.
Comment by Sdferr on 3/17 @ 10:54 am #
BJTexs, N. O’Brain, does anybody around where ya’ll live know what party Vince Fumo is in? (heh)
(an aside, Fumo’s limo driver lived on a street in S. Philly my partner held a rental house we renovated, we used to see Fumo in passing about once every couple of weeks. 137 counts, couldn’t happen to a scuzzier fellow.)
Comment by LTC John on 3/17 @ 11:21 am #
“The only thing Obambi has said during his administration I agreed with is raise soldiers salaries.”
Us field grades (and the flag officers) are OK – rate of inflation only, thanks. The junior officers and NCOs need more than what they have been getting – send more to them.
Comment by BJTexs on 3/17 @ 11:51 am #
#59 Sdferr: that’s easy. He’s with the party of “Fumoworld” or “Vincework.”
BTW: Google up and read a little of that trial. Vince Fumo was a state senator (DEMOCRAT!!!!!) who served for 30 years. He had been considered a player in every sense as well as a kingmaker. The feds finally got some of his people to turn on him (including his son, who hates his guts.) Guilty on 137 counts of corruption. Basically he used his Senate office and his non-profit charity to do “Fumowork” including additions to his home and beach house, trips, gifts, etc.
His defense basically consisted of “Well some of these things may have been ‘technically’ crimes but there was no criminal intent’”
Arrogant right to the end.
Comment by section9 on 3/17 @ 12:17 pm #
I knew there was a reason that Michelle was being trotted out to Army bases. Now we know. It’s to do “outreach”.
Comment by Jesus on 3/17 @ 5:51 pm #
I voted for President Obama and I support him still but not on this issue of sending the medical bills for service connected injuries to the veterans private insurance. I know President Obama has never joined the military and I can understand and forgive him for this mistake because he has never had to put this country’s uniform on. If he had he would understand how what he is proposing is wrong on so many levels.
The United States has an obligation to take care of all veterans who have been injured in anyway and that includes taking care of the costs not handing the bill over to someone else.
We Veterans have paid the price and carry the scars and pain our bodies and mind still endure. MR. President you need to have a long talk with the military members under your command and try to understand what your doing is wrong.
I say this not as a threat but as a warning from a citizen and a veteran of this Great Nation that if you go on with this proposal than you will leave me no choice but to take my vote and my voice to the next election and do all I can along with all my Veteran buddies and try our best to make sure you don’t get re-elected. I hope you make the right choice because I voted for you but had Id known you had little regard for our injured vets I would have never voted for you.
Please do the right thing I still believe in you and I know your a smart man I just hope your ears are not closed on this issue. THINK ABOUT IT…Thank You!
Comment by JD on 3/17 @ 7:51 pm #
I did not bother to read the comments above. This is disgusting. If the RNC does not clobber this dirty little nasty fucker with this from now until the end of time, then they deserve what they get.
Comment by Merovign on 3/18 @ 12:08 am #
I think the real Jesus wouldn’t mistake this for a blog that Obama reads.
Comment by Mike H. on 3/18 @ 3:05 am #
LTC John, I got out under the same conditions when Carter was coming to the end of his monkey wrench period. al-’Bama is made of exactly the same stuff (I won’t bother, others have proffered an apt description.)
bill @ 0958, I too am facing a cut-off, since I’m also a non-service connected recipient. Oh well, they say that life’s a bitch and then you die. It comes true again.
Can someone define the term ‘High crimes and misdemeanors?’ Failure of the Constitutional job description?
Trackback by Blue Star Chronicles on 3/18 @ 10:32 am #
Obama Veterans Health Care Plan…
The Obama administration is ushering in the largest expansion of government control of our personal lives in the history of this country. Our national debt is approaching $11 Trillion, an out of control, record breaking debt that is reaching the strato…
Comment by JD on 3/18 @ 10:38 am #
When should we expect to see the breathless coverage of this proposal on the pages on the NY Times? When can we expect the nightly news to cover this? When can we expect outrage from Olbergasm and MadCow? When can we expect Katie Couric and Matt Lauer to run tear-jerking segments on how this will effect those injured in service?
I know … silly thoughts.
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