Army Times Alarm: McCain Suggests Rationing Vets Health Care

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.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Phil123]

You mean McCain is for socialized medicine? I'm not surprised. He always worked across the aisle.

[keepemhonest]

McCain typical republican military veteran who talks a big game when it comes to the military. Yet, time and time again, votes AGAINST the needs of our military

5/22/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the Webb'sGI Bill. [vote 137]

9/19/2007: McCain voted AGAINST a bill to specify minimum periods of time between deployment of units sent to Iraq. [vote 341]

5/4/2006: McCain voted AGAINST an Amendment that would provide $20 Million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities. [vote 111]

4/26/2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote AGAINST $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. [vote 98]

3/14/2006: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. [vote 41]

3/10/2004: McCain voted AGAINST an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion. McCain loves tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over veterans' needs. [vote 40]

10/2/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment by Sen.Dodd that called for additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq. [vote 376]

4/2/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote (never passed) to provide more than $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests. [vote 116]

[keepemhonest]

McCain typical republican military veteran who talks a big game when it comes to the military. Yet, time and time again, votes AGAINST the needs of our military

5/22/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the Webb'sGI Bill. [vote 137]

9/19/2007: McCain voted AGAINST a bill to specify minimum periods of time between deployment of units sent to Iraq. [vote 341]

5/4/2006: McCain & McConnell voted AGAINST an Amendment that would provide $20 Million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities. [vote 111]

4/26/2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote AGAINST $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. [vote 98]

3/14/2006: McCain voted AGAINST increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. [vote 41]

3/10/2004: McCain voted AGAINST an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion. McCain loves tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over veterans' needs. [vote 40]

10/2/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment by Sen.Dodd that called for additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq. [vote 376]

4/2/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote (never passed) to provide more than $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests. [vote 116]

[lthuedk 1]

The military-industrial complex has much more pressing business, and shouldn't be bothered by the state of our fighting men and women either in the field of battle or afterward. You must understand that after they've been disposed of, they're condition is not relevant and of no value to the war-making corporation.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/a_hero_at_walter_reed.html

So, stop interfering with the funds dedicated to the theft of oil and the occupation.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/neocon_terrorism.html

McBush '08

[MikeyG]

The need for the VA would disappear if we had universal health care.

[keepemhonest]

McCain complains & whines about not enough media coverage ... here's your chance media ....

COVER THIS!!!!!

[layman]

"Part of the reason McCain has opposed increases in veterans" spending is his strongly held position against wasteful spending that often leads him to oppose any increase over the executive branch"s budget request."

Paying Black Water is wastefull.
Paying no-bid contract is wasteful
Paying Billions of unaccounted for dollars for re-building Iraq is wasteful.
Paying for a sstupid war of choice is wasteful.
Paying the Bushco administration is wasteful
Paying for Corporate welfare is wasteful.
Tax cut for the rich is wasteful.
Paying for Bush's airforce1, salary, housing, pension and health care is wasteful

PAYING FOR VETERAN's HEALTH CARE IS HELL NOT WASTEFUL.

[jmpurser]

For the tragically ill informed, like McCain, there are a lot of ways that military service can damage your health besides combat. It's one of the reasons that health regulations like those enforced by OSHA specifically don't apply to the military. These troops are no less damaged by their service than those who were injured in combat.

[Ashall]

Lest we forget mustard gas, foliage chemicals, radiation, PTSD...all those symptoms that showed up later that were denounced at first and then treated. When you say, "I support the troops!" just make sure you understand its true meaning and keep that thought forever.

[layman]

They have no-bid contractors electricute you with faulty wiring. That's non-combat related injury or fatal injury. No, no. That's outright murder by your own government. These people are not qualified for veteran's care.

[UncivilLibertarian]

I have family members who are veterans, several generations of them in fact. This is sickening and disgusting, and I cannot see a single reason why ANY veteran should vote for him. I must say that I am appalled, but certainly not surprised.

[TrueIndy08]

The vets will vote for him bc they want that 3.5% pay increase at the beginning of every year

[lthuedk 1]

Lose the privatized SS and use the money to pay for soldiers' health care and education.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/blackwater_jesus_at_republican_mecca.html

[MizFlagPin]

Mister M.c.N.u.t.t. Please put your mind in gear before you put your mouth in motion. Or is multi-tasking to difficulf for you to manage.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Indeed.

Give an amputee a prosthetic inch, next thing ya know he'll want the entire foot.

[CtJean]

I just posted a comment - went straight to pur - ga - tory

7:38 - No bad words - no threats, etc etc

Oh poor me, sniffle, sniffle

[glitz]

Are injuries received while a POW, combat? Are massive injuries received while training, combat? What about soldiers now in Iraq..cleaning their gun, IED's, vehicle accidents, and any other incident that doesn't involve fire to fire or hand to hand??? For a man who uses his pilot/POW status over and over again...he doesn't do much for Veterans. Check his VA/Veteral support voting record!!!

[jupitor]

Bull, every one has a different or personal reason for Military duty! If they come home and work and earn their way, they should do so and pay a little for health care! I'm not talking about a whole lot here, but some. /but never should a vet lose their benefits unless their income is 250,000.00 a year or more! People like Rich Mccain should not be takeing benefits of any kind. He is a millionair, so before he talks about takeing away any thing from Vet's he better give up his benefits first! Just what group of people haven't this old man pissed off? Please pass this on to all you know! People have a right to know how much Mccain is going to rob them of if they put him in office!

[brijit]

Hmmmm. Let's see how much press coverage this gets.

[Big0725]

I heard that there was ONE reporter and ONE photographer at the airport when he landed in NH yesterday.

[CtJean]

one reporter, one cameraman, one bourbon, one scotch and one beeeer

[CtJean]

Looked liked a deer caught in his own headlights

Made my afternoon, takes more than that to make my whole day

But I'm sure ole jonymac will do that soon enough

[IRepTheKing]

His campaign must've paid him to be there... LOL

[TXfemmom]

McCain received care through the VA. Now, he wants to limit the care.

My son is a veteran, and he was injured in a non-combat event while on active duty. A simple orthopedic procedure would have corrected the problem at the time, but his commanding officer on his sub delayed and delayed treatment, by having the appointment scheduled, and it would take three months to get the appointment, and then refusing him the time off to go to the appointment. The injury became worse and worse and they pulled the same thing with his physicalsand it went on until he could no longer maneuver in the sub reactor. He had to be released and his highly specialized, one and a half million dollar training was lost. He contacted the VA, they gave him an appointment, BUT IT WAS A YEAR AWAY. He went to work for a major company, using all that training, and obtained an appointment with a great orthopedic surgeon, who corrected the problem, and he is fine.

Let's face it, this is a contract the government made with our military and they should keep it. If they have to cut the opay of Congress, have the President stop the highly expensive political travel by fifty percent, and cut the very high pensions to Congress and other public officials to do it, THEN DO IT.