Army Times Alarm: McCain Suggests Rationing Vets Health Care

Army Times:

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: Army Times

Comments

[Candyx]

interesting while he collects thousands of dollars from government benefits..­.coward!

[numbnuts]

John McCain Believes The Key To Health Care Reform Is To Restore Control To The Patients Themselves. We want a system of health care in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventative care they need. Health care should be available to all and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over care.
So Vets that have and rely on there health care get put to the bottom of the list.
My father served WW2 marched across France got his leg shot out and has suffered all his life.
He gets pneumonia so screw him it's not related to his leg.
Bull F***ing S***T

[LiberTLover]

I am truly sorry to hear about your dad's suffering.

[TrevorAlan]

This guy has NO empathy. The more his body breaks down, the less he thinks other people should have affordable access to health care. I hope people are paying attention. I hope that the media, in the throwes of their "love affair" with Obama, remember to report this.

So if somebody is injured by a shell landing in the Green Zone, they get no care? If they were captured, but not while doing something that was technially combat (like say with Private Lynch), and harmed permanently by their captors, would they qualify under his plan?

If anything, they need to EXPAND vets healthcare. My grandpa got great vets care (WWII vet) because he always lived across the street from Vets facilities. They need to allow other providers to give care to vets for those father away from Vet Admin facilities.

[rabprevent]

I GUESS FIGHTING FOR YOUR COUNTRY IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, HOWEVER EXPECTING YOUR COUNTRY TO CARE FOR YOU WHEN YOU COME BACK IS OUT OF THE QUESTION!!

WHY NOT JUST HIRE MERCENARIES TO FIGHT FOR US, THAT WAY THEY CAN BUY THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE??

THIS MCCAIN IS A TOTAL IMBECILE! HE MUST THINK THAT EVERYONE GETS TO COME BACK AFTER FIGHTING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, LEAVE THEIR WIFES AND KIDS FOR A BRAND NEW BLONDE BIMBO WITH LOTS OF CASH, THEN THEY ALL GET GREAT JOBS WORKING IN THE SENATE COLLECTING BIG MONEY FOR DOING NOTHING!!!

[TrueIndy08]

good point.. but please, turn the caps off

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

They did. Hallibuton, or Blackwater. Shoot up boys.

[Countess]

McCain is the enemy of the American soldier and there is much in his past that suggests anything but the image he has as a great war hero but of course this will never be discussed. McCain has never been properly vetted by the media.

[memphispaul]

Heck, this is the reason republicans don't send their kids off to war.

[morefromLA]

Makes all the pitiful Johnny-sense in the world. There's plenty of money to send them to bleed, break and die, not enough to patch them up and ease their pain. But, " Thank you for your service."

[RoCali]

So the vets struggling with PTSD as a result of following orders will be entirely on their own, Sen. McCain? How discompassionate.

[Donnat]

McCain's health plan for vets: Marry someone with more money than you. Worked for him.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Well as a wife of a retired army Sgt with 21 yrs service I get angry because the one reason why we stayed in military for over 20 yrs was for the health care that was suppose to be free even after retirement. That has changed. They break promises all the time. I tell young people now not to go in because of the war. Wait til its over than go in and take advantage of the education benefits they offer. But don't make it a career. My father and father-in-law both served over 20 yrs service and their families got free health care. They kept the promises to WWII vets. Now I think even the active duty family members have to pay. (But I am not sure). We have to pay quarterly a fee. My mother-in-law who was covered until they changed to insurance companies she also had to pay. Once she reach 85 yrs she was able to get free medical and medicare. That was a big relief to her. She was able to die in peace.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

You do realize that a republican would call you a traitor for serving the nation in order to get health benefits.

[TrueIndy08]

No... us active duty families do not pay anything for our healthcare!!!!

And while I understand your frustration, people serve for a variety of reasons... healthcare is not their main issue... my husband is an active duty Marine and my little brother is active duty NAVY.... my husband joined pre 9/11 and my brother just recently joined earlier this year... health care was not their main concern...­.

[hopeless277]

I'll bet he wonders why these vets don't have the decency to die for their country like honorable vets should. BTW, is he still receiving vet benefits and social security?

[lisakaz2]

Yes on both counts.

[NoahVail]

Yep, we are all going to have to tighten our belts- starting with the wounded vets!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afawZWEtCKc

[southafrica4obama]

Mccain should stop claiming that he knows more about military affairs than his opponent. In as much as we respect his service, he did not reach a military rank that could position him well to handle military issues broadly. Also, wearing that navy cap all the time sidelines other branches.

[CharlesJ]

Ive heard of rationing gas, but never rationing health care. What is McCain thinking? Is there a disconnect between rational thought and his mouth?

[glesslib]

My daughter-in-law's father, who is a saint, drives vets to the veteran's hospital in southernIllinois. He tells some sad stories about poverty-stricken Vietnam veterans who live in squalor and wait patiently for the only health care they can afford at their vet hospital. I'm guessing these poor guys will need to move even farther back in line, rather than the government alloting more money for health care.

Or, perhaps, under McCain's fabulous new health plan scenario, they can deduct up to $5000 a year from their income tax to premiums. Now if they only had income to declare and taxes to deduct from, they'd be in business.

[SeriousBlack]

Well, isn't that the Republicon way? Ration and reduce. God forbid ANY government program should be EXPANDED (even the one that provides health care to vets).

(Sound of me wretching.­..)

[jukesgrrl]

We don't have any money to expand programs. They've shoveled it all into Halliburton's vault (except for the run-off they put into their own pockets).

[glesslib]

Very well put....you­'ve got a way with words. I can almost see that shovel.