It’s clear that Barack Obama likes living dangerously. He ran for office with the mantra of “change” and once elected, jumped into the “change mode” with both feet and, I suspect, his eyes closed.
His latest foray into controversy was his proposal to pull the rug out from under veterans for their medical care. His idea was to require that private insurance companies be forced to cover the costs of service-related disabilities and conditions instead of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Naturally, the reasoning was that it would save money.
Apparently, it never entered the minds of those involved that it would be a clear betrayal of the obligation of the country and the government to support the men and women they put in harm’s way and who often are left with a lifetime of mental and physical infirmities.
That wasn’t part of the “change” Obama promised during the campaign.
Then again, perhaps it was part of his plan for change; the problem was, he neglected to tell anyone else about it, especially the veterans who’d be affected.
For the general public, this came from left field. But it was rumored earlier and resulted in a protest letter being sent to the president from The American Legion and other veteran organizations. They were furious.
Realizing that that trouble was brewing, a meeting was arranged at the White House bringing both sides together. The commander of The American Legion, David K. Rehbein, was there along with officials from other veterans service organizations as well as the president, Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Veterans Affairs Secretary (and former general) Eric Shinseki, and OMD defense spending overseer Steven Kosiak.
You’d think Shinseki would know better. It’s amazing what ambition does to a man.
It may have been relatively cordial, but Rehbein was fuming when he left. He said it was apparent Obama planned “to move forward with this unreasonable plan;” that he said it would “generate $540 million;” and that the president “refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”
The Legion went public with what transpired and whoosh, it got the reaction it deserved.
What a smack in the face of honorable and courageous men and women who volunteer to serve this country in war and peace and willingly suffer the consequences.
Perhaps Obama thought that since they “volunteered” they should pay for the results.
This is the same president who’s said he wants to cut the military and downsize overall, stop weapons development, eliminate nuclear weapons, eliminate stockpiled weapons, change the face of the military and, by the way, after ending the Iraq war, he wants to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan.
Uh – Barack, how does that work? Isn’t that another war?
Far be it from me to be suspicious, but am I the only one to notice that at the same time Barack was confronting the vets with his plan to short-change their medical needs, his wife, Michelle, was getting mushy media coverage of her visits to military bases and hospitals to meet and greet the troops? There she was, hugging and schmoozing with the wives and kids. I guess she wants them to think she’s just another wife and mother and she’s sympathetic to their situation.
Let’s see, the same week she gets publicity for this, he and his administration reveal their plan to entirely change the way wounded vets receive health care.
Somehow, I doubt Michelle Obama mentioned that her husband’s medical plan for their military spouses could leave them with no medical coverage when the lifetime benefits are used up quickly for grievous injuries.
The truth is, it was just a political move, and she’s hoping to shore up future votes for her husband – the man who is president. Michelle Obama is nothing if not politically ambitious.
Of course, the same can be said for Barack Obama, and as word got out about his plan, the groundswell of opposition was wide and strong.
So what did the man who is president do? Did he stand behind his position? Did he defend it?
After all, the American Legion commander said the president “refused to hear arguments” against the plan.
That sounds like a man of conviction.
Well, no. He caved. No sooner did he hear the public negative reactions, our leader, our new president had it announced that he’d dropped the plan. It took less than three days.
How’s that for resolve and strength? It certainly lets our enemies know Obama is easily rolled.
In truth, I think the whole thing was planned. Anyone with half a brain knows such a suggestion would get a negative response.
But consider if it were a ploy to get people thinking about military medical costs.
Don’t forget, the man who is president has said that changing our medical system is at the top of his agenda, along with education and energy and he plan to pursue them regardless of the incredible deficits and all the other financial crises.
Obama is bound and determined to nationalize health care, and this feeler about military medical care was just that – a feeler. Now he can proceed to wrap military medical into an overall civilian medical plan he’ll say will solve everyone’s problems and save money at that!
He’ll position himself as the great compromiser, the left will praise him, the media will stroke him – and realists will know what compromise means.
Obama may be an inept, inexperienced, clumsy, weak and easily manipulated president, but he’s not stupid. He’s also dedicated to his political dogma, and he’s got people around him who are also dedicated to sinking this country into socialism or worse.
Watch out. It’s a giant three-card monte, and they aim to win.
