Romney Mistakes Defense Spending For Veterans Health Care
Toady, Mitt Romney was cited conflating defense spending with veteran health care. He is already following through with campaign promises on that 47% of Americans.
“Given the needs of our veterans, how in the world, as commander-in-chief, you could stand by as we shrink our military commitment financially is something that I don’t understand, and I will reverse it,” Romney said.
During the speech to the American Legion, Romney conflated defense cuts with spending for health care services to veterans. Romney apparently forgot that the Department of Veterans Affairs has its own Cabinet position, and is not an arm of the Department of Defense.
Nonetheless, Romney went on to bloviate about how he would do a better job than President Obama by not shrinking our defense budget that blows billions every year on overblown defense projects.
He does not appear to know the different between veteran health care and military health care. Veteran health care is provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Military health care is provided by the Department of Defense. THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS.
Since disability compensation is tax free, making all disabled veterans part of the now infamous 47%, it looks like Romney is already following through with a campaign promise – to not pay attention to those not paying taxes.
This whole thing makes sense since Romney is getting his input on VA issues from Jim Nicholson. Nicholson was largely regarded as one of the worst VA heads in modern history – it was rumored his appointment to the head slot of the VA had more to do with campaign favors than actual merit.
Either way, in light of Romney’s speech to the VFW, and now this subsequent speech to the American Legion, one thing is conclusive: Romney does not understand veterans issues, and does not care enough to get his facts straight when talking to large groups of us.
For veterans planning to vote for the Romney Ryan ticket, just realize that doing so should be based on other issues than just veterans benefits.
Between Ryan and Romney, it looks clear that Defense spending will be the priority. Meanwhile, taking care of veterans after the war will get as little attention as possible.
If anything, our benefits will likely be cut.
Source: Washington Post – “Romney ties veteran suicides to defense cut fight”
For more information on the positions of the parties on veterans, check out these older articles:
My stand on this matter is hurtful, if it was not for the men and women that volunteer to join the froces there will not be a free country. I do not want a leader the i would not prespect. There are many of us that feel this way. And for the ones the vote republican does not mean that you be any better off than you are now. THANKS