Ugly rumor against Obama - American Legion

[TexasProgresive]

I know that the American Legion tends pretty far to the right, and that perhaps this is just an ugly lie. I also know that Politico is not a good news source. If this is a lie it needs to be squashed RIGHT now.

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

Contact: Craig Roberts of The American Legion, [phone] Office, [phone] Cell

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

[eleny]

1. It was just discussed on Maddow's program with Paul Richoff

He said that Patty Murray has said this is dead on arrival. But another meeting is scheduled for later this week.

[liberalmuse]

2. The same American Legion that planned...

a coup against FDR? Fuck that treasonous organization. They have zero credibility.

[ET Racer]

4. meant to reply to op

[geckosfeet]

3. So, government health care for soldiers, but not for citizens. Is that how it is

with these American leGiOn dickwads?

In any case, soldiers would probably get care in a civilian hospital than a VA hospital.

[ET Racer]

5. As a vet,

and a member of a family of vetrens spanning 4 wars the very notion makes me ill.
I could post a whole diatribe and get banned or I could simply
hang my head in embarassment and dismay.
My God. What's next.

[NavyDavy]

6. don't believe everything that is posted on the internet especially

from the American Legion, I never joined organizations like that VFW, American Legion etc because they are mostly right wing mouthpieces, at least the people that are in charge are

[Big_Mike]

7. Tom Philpott, arguably the best informed journalist regarding the military,

mentioned that Secretary Shinseki took heat from Congress in briefings last Tuesday on this subject. So this is NO rumor.

I also am ill considering this.

[w8liftinglady]

8. here's a link from Military.com about it

I have to work,but peruse this-a good source.
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,186747,00.html

[bos1]

9. thx for the great link

I am using it in massive debunking activities

[DustyJoe]

10. this already happens

I am 100% service connected disabled. I have had only used VA coverage for the last 12 years, a few years back I became eligible for medicare. I had a fast growing tumor in a leg growing around a 35 year old piece of schrapnel. The VA put me on a 1 yr wait list for surgery even though the VA specialist flown in said it needed to be removed immediately. I was told to use my medicare and go private if I was worried about the tumor being malignant. I ended up having it cut out at a private hospital via medicare, but had to pay thousands for the percentage medicare would not pay. The VA would not even pay the 20% leftover costs. So, it happens already, this just makes it publicly known.

[jody]

11. Letter to Obama re the problem co-signed by every major veterans organization in the country.

http://iava.org/sites/default/files/2009%20VSO%20Letter%20to%20President%20Obama%20SC%20022709%20Final.pdf

The American Legion
1608 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
[phone]
www.legion.org

AMVETS (American Veterans)
4647 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, MD 20706
[phone]
www.amvets.org

Blinded Veterans Association
477 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
[phone]
www.bva.org
Disabled American Veterans
807 Maine Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
[phone]
www.dav.org

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
308 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
[phone]
www.iava.org

Jewish War Veterans of the USA
1811 R Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
[phone]
www.jwv.org

Military Officers Association of America
201 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
[phone]
www.moaa.org

Military Order of the Purple Heart
of the U.S.A., Inc.
5413-B Backlick Road
Springfield, VA 22151
[phone]
www.purpleheart.org

Paralyzed Veterans of America
801 18th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
[phone]
www.pva.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States
200 Maryland Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
[phone]
www.vfw.org

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
8605 Cameron Street, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
[phone]
www.vva.org

[jody]

12. Kick because major veterans groups have written Obama challenging his plan. n/t

[Wickerman]

13. Dropped!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/19/obama-drops-disputed-vet-medical-plan/

The Obama administration dropped a proposal to require some disabled veterans to pay for medical treatments through their private insurance companies, heeding a chorus of outrage from veterans groups and Capitol Hill lawmakers who said the idea was immoral, unconscionable and un-American.

The White House decided to scrap the plan after meeting with a contingent of veterans and military advocacy groups on Wednesday for the second time this week.

"In considering the third-party billing issue, the administration was seeking to maximize the resources available for veterans," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "However, the president listened to concerns raised by the that this might, under certain circumstances, affect veterans and their families' ability to access health care."

more at link

[jody]

14. Looks like veterans groups have lots of clout. n/t