Boehner's Replacement on Vets: Get ‘moochers’ out of VA health system

[tenderfoot]

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson told a room full of veterans that one way to clean up the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system is to get the “moochers” out of it.

“Just like workers comp out here’s got moochers, I wish that there were no vets that were the same sort of problem on our society,” said Davidson. “But part of the problem is there are some vets that are moochers and they’re clogging up the system. And we do as taxpayers want to make sure the VA filters out these folks that are pretenders. Just like we wish there were no people out there with stolen valor, but that’s a problem in the vet community too.”

“One of the best ways to reform the VA is consistent scrutiny, consistent oversight,” Davidson said.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/warren-davidson-get-moochers-out-of-va-health-syst/nsbzp/

[Farmgirl1961]

1. It takes one to know one

All those Rethugs are a bunch of moochers.

[Siwsan]

2. Could a 'moocher' be someone with a diagnosis for a condition that Davidson doesn't believe exists

This guy is a veteran, so I'm curious as to what he considers constitutes someone being a 'moocher'. PTSD, maybe?

Just a guess.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Cincy-area congressman stands by 'moochers' comment about VA health care

Deirdre Shesgreen and Anne Saker, USA TODAY NETWORK 12:25 p.m. EDT September 23, 2016

WASHINGTON — Rep. Warren Davidson Thursday defended his assertion that “moochers” and “pretenders” are clogging the Veterans Affairs’ health care system.

...

Those comments drew a sharp rebuke from the GOP chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

“I can only hope that Rep. Davidson misspoke, and I look forward to him clarifying his remarks," said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla.

Joe Davis, a national spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, also took issue with Davidson's characterization. "Honorably discharged veterans with service-connected wounds, illnesses and injuries, or who are indigent due to circumstances beyond their control, are not moochers,” Davis said.

...


Steve Fought, a Democrat running against Davidson in Ohio's 8th congressional district, said Davidson "is the first congressman ever to blame the shortcomings of the VA health care system on the veterans themselves."

David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, called Davidson's comments "outrageous" and said: "I would like to know just how he intends to decide which veterans are worthy of health care and which ones are ‘moochers'. Perhaps the congressman is frustrated with the system, but the solution isn’t to kick veterans off the health care coverage they’ve earned through service to their country."

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/22/cincy-area-congressman-stands-comment-moochers-clogging-va-health-care/90840688/

[liberal N proud]

4. Republicans love to create Veterans, even disable them

But they don't think it necessary to care for them once they broke them.

They will just blame Hillary.

[pinboy3niner]

5. He was speaking at a town hall set up by the Koch-funded 'Concerned Veterans for America'

This is a wingnut astroturfed "veterans" group seeking to privatize the VA.

The Koch-Fueled Plot to Destroy the VA
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/03/koch-fueled-plot-destroy-va

[tazkcmo]

6. Exactly

Fraud is not why the VA has issues. Decades of war, under funding and politically motivated inaction are the main causes with a good measure of gross mismanagement and corruption at high levels. The folks I've dealt with at the VA have been professional, respectful and exhibited a sincere desire to serve veterans with only a few notable exceptions.

The GOP would like nothing better than to kill the VA and dole out it's services to their privatizing cronies and relatives.