Obama Demanding Investigation over VA Email

[PM7nj]

From the DailyKos:
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/16/182612/404/501/517154

Senator Barack Obama involved himself in the VA email situation today by sending a letter to VA Secretary James Peake demanding an investigation into whether or not the Department of Veterans Affairs is under-diagnosing combat-related PTSD as a cost-cutting measure. Obama then requested hearings on the matter and, within hours, those requests were granted by the chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees.

I am very proud that Obama is taking on this issue. Veterans are taking their lives everyday because of PTSD and the VA decides to "support the troops" by refusing to diagnose them with PTSD and give them the treatment they need and deserve. It is absolutely disgusting. Has "McVet" himself responded to this yet?

[cliffordu]

1. RE: McCaine answer??

Nope.

[mcctatas]

2. Thank You Mr. President!!!!

[tokenlib]

3. This is as evil as Reagan's quotas for the VA to reduce vets on disability...

..there were numerous accounts of them reducing disability percentages, ignoring medical records--as they "reviewed" files...

Obama is going to "kick ass" for the veterans--he is pissed about how they've been betrayed by this administration

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. It's as evil as falsifying inflation so that all wages/payments tied to COLA

are underrepresented.

[Aloha Spirit]

4. knr

[Aloha Spirit]

5. Team Obama is so smart and mobilized. I love it.

[DearAbby]

6. That is awesome.

Thank you Mr. President.

[PM7nj]

8. kick. real issues sink so fast in GDP.

:(

[Melinda]

9. Proud to K&R.

This is what leaders do. What Bush and Co. have done to our troops is criminal, and they should be sent to the Hague toot suite.

[Heather MC]

10. President Obama is getting things done. Meanwhile back at the White House, Bush gave up Golf, WTF

[Cha]

11. Kickin' A$$ and takin' names..

"This move by Obama comes after VoteVets.org and CREW produced an email on Thursday from a VA official--Norma Perez--in which she advised a number of VA employees, including psychologists, social workers, and a psychiatrist that, due to an increased number of "compensation seeking veterans," the staff should "refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out" and they should "R/O PTSD" and consider a diagnosis of "Adjustment Disorder" instead.

The story has now been picked up by the AP, the Washington Post, CBS News, the New York Daily News, MSNBC, CNN, the Politico, and the Military Times."

[judasdisney]

12. President Obama's first act as president -- Double the troops' pay

[Zachstar]

13. Obama is already kicking ass.

I can't wait to find out what his withdrawal plan is in detail.

Every brigade to comes back from Iraq is going to be loaded with Cases of PTSD. Obama is likely going to have to ask for half a billion dollars in funding partly to build an army of doctors who can quickly exam EVERY returning soldier for signs of PTSD.

Obama has NO Intentions of pulling another Vietnam. This time the heros WILL be in New York for a parade!


I think with the way he is talking he can convince the Iraqi government and the UN to provide a cover force while the troops leave. Meanwhile Special forces will be fully deployed to disrupt ANY attempts to attack the Soldiers as they leave (HIGHLY Unlikely anyway because the people just want us OUT not enraged)

Yes afterwards they will Join Iran but that is Bush's fault. And frankly if that is what the people want than it is better than another decade of civil war over there. And once we get technology to reduce our dependence on Oil. Iran will stop acting like idiots.

[NotThisTime]

14. Thank you Senator Obama.... let's get this resolved so vets can get their benefits and help

[liberalla]

15. BRAVO !

Now this is an appropriate response. It's been so long since we've had representation that when someone does something obvious and appropriate, I have to cheer!