Stewart On Obama's Plan For Veterans' Insurance: 'That Can't Be Right'

Last night's segment on the "smaller outrage" that is the announced plan to ask our military veterans to use their private insurance to cover combat related injuries won't garner the ire of the AIG bonus baby bailout or the hype of last week's tete-a-tete with Jim Cramer, but Daily Show host Jon Stewart made sure to say his piece about the matter, and, chances are, it's even dearer to his heart than beating up CNBC on a daily basis.

"You know veterans? Men and women who risk their lives protecting our country?," Stewart asked, explaining, "When they get injured, you know who foots the bill? You. The taxpayer. I know! It's incredibly FAIR. COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY FAIR." That led to a segment called "That Can't Be Right," in which Stewart ridiculed the Obama plan, saying: "I guess what the government is saying is that if you still need a little bit of rehab from when you got your leg blown off in Iraq, the government will cover you...unless your wife has a little COBRA left over from her previous substitute teaching gig, in that case, you're going to have to go with her and the deductible and the whole thing. Unless your spouse in in Congress, and then you can go with their sweet, sweet government plan."

Stewart offered his own cost-saving ideas, like medals with product placement and turning Arlington Cemetery into a water park, but I think that Stewart summed up his position with concision and clarity when he stated: "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU GUYS THINKING?"

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

That Can't Be Right - Veterans' Health Insurance

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Stewart knows of what he speaks. The comedian has logged a significant number of hours visiting wounded vets and listening to their war experiences. His work in that arena has garnered him recognition from the USO, who gave him a Merit Award for his work almost a year ago.

In related news, The Colbert Report also led off last night's broadcast with the news that the show will be hitting the road with the USO, to visit troops at an undisclosed "Persian Gulf" location, at an undisclosed date.

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Comments

[Free2Speak]

04:03 PM on 03/19/2009

The GOP is trying to get as much mileage as they can out of this AIG.But afterward will fire at Obama with both barrels about this issue.Obama is playing with fire by not nipping this in the bud.He thinks hey this story is not getting any traction,but this is a time bomb and the media and the GOP is just waiting for the right time to explode it.

[entopticon]

01:50 PM on 03/19/2009

Jason Linkins never passes up the opportunity to make a right-wing extremist talking point under the guise of being a liberal. With friends like him we don't need enemies. His disinformation does more harm than Fox News ever could.

[Bitsko]

11:43 AM on 03/19/2009

You do know, John, that this story is a it more complicated than that?

[BoVandy]

12:41 PM on 03/25/2009

then please explain it. This was a mind numbingly stupid idea that should never left the rubber room in which it was created

[booker52]

10:19 AM on 03/19/2009

I agree with Jon on this one. My spouse is a disable vet. He gets his care from the local VA clinic. That is a big help to us money wise. To have that care shifted to our private insurance isn't right.

[Shashi0224]

10:07 AM on 03/19/2009

So, where are all the republicanTs who claim Jon Stewart only speaks out for President Obama.

Difference here is he brought this subject to light, as did others, and guess what....President Obama listened! Amazing!! A President who listens to reason! How refreshing!

[cbeenthere]

09:44 AM on 03/19/2009

No one that I can see has mentioned the increased funding the VA is getting from this administration, probably called pork by somebody, somewhere.

[Samalabear]

09:38 AM on 03/19/2009

Public outrage does work. On the Maddow show last night it was reported that apparently Obama has backed down from this. You have to hold the feet to the fire -- it seems we have a President who does listen.

[MitchelleWS]

09:27 AM on 03/19/2009

sorry, my previous comment was meant as a reply for GBROOKS, I meant to reply under his comment....

[MitchelleWS]

09:26 AM on 03/19/2009

Gosh its too bad that you are entirely against taxation. By taking such a bold stance, you surely can't live in a house that gets an FHA loan, you can't drive (or ride) on any roads paid for with federal tax dollars, you certainly can't use the internet, which was developed in part as a communications tool for the federal government. you can't take any medicines, over the counter or otherwise (regulated by a federal agency). You can't buy any food, which is overseen by USDA. Can't visit any federal parks or federally managed lands (sorry about that trip to DC!). You can't send your children to school. In fact, I think that you must have a very tough day-to-day living experience if you are morally and ethically bound to live by your principled stand of being against all taxation.

[24kgold]

09:21 AM on 03/19/2009

This was a proposal you guys, it wasn't in stone. This is why Obama is the President because he listens. After meeting with those that were concerned, he decided against it. Huffington post just haven't updated their information. Geeeeezzzzzzzzz

[roblabrousse]

08:44 AM on 03/19/2009

Does anyone know why the administration came to this decision or how???

[cbeenthere]

09:40 AM on 03/19/2009

Apparently this is nothing new and private insurance has covered vets dating back to Ronald Regan. I think we don't know everything about this just another health insurance mess.

[MetalCanuck]

08:11 AM on 03/19/2009

Google Obama Deception and listen, its all documented fact.

[hackerblaster]

08:29 AM on 03/19/2009

We won, you lost. Let me repeat...YOU LOST. You are also going to lose next election because you repubs are so freaking stupid. The best you have to offer for that ticket is Palin? Gaffe queen? I look forward to seeing you cry like a little baby next election just like you are on this one. cry more. loser

[Grunty1]

09:35 AM on 03/19/2009

He's a RonPaulian, thus a little more whacked out than the typical Republican (but a bit above the typical Rushpublican)

[Independent voter]

09:49 AM on 03/19/2009

Why are you so hostile and rude? Are you unable to accept the fact that Obama tried to scroo the veterans and therefore you have to resort to mindless insults?

[MetalCanuck]

08:09 AM on 03/19/2009

Looks like people should not have voted for the CFR banker owned politicians.

Kucinich or Paul 2012

[24kgold]

09:22 AM on 03/19/2009

What?

[Shashi0224]

10:09 AM on 03/19/2009

Your posts make less and less sense as I scroll down.

[gbrooks]

07:14 AM on 03/19/2009

I'm almost entirely against taxation, but taking care of our military--especially those who have been injured in the line of duty is a moral obligation. And to try to cut that off? Just wrong.

[roblabrousse]

09:15 AM on 03/19/2009

So in a no tax country how do things get done and paid for? And Obama wasn't planning on cutting off veteren medical care. He was considering exploiting the unused coverage that vets have with their own policies. Not a stupid idea. Usually a policy holder can't use both insurance policies at the same time.

[gbrooks]

04:13 PM on 03/19/2009

Re-read my statement. Do you understand the word "almost?" And if the government decides to wage war, then the government has to pay the consequences, not private insurance agencies, that's just stupid. It's essentially just trying to sweep our veterans under the carpet. You broke it, you bought it mofo.

[RJPasadena]

06:48 AM on 03/19/2009

At least Prez Obama is not staging his town hall meeting...going to OC, CA which is Reagan country. We finally have a Prez who will take the blame , admits he's not perfect, and can CHANGE HIS MIND when convinced that making veterans pay for their insurance through their employers. This is just some bureaucrat trying to save a buck.