More McCain Hysteria

People are making hysterical claims about McCain's plan to allow veterans the option to use local hospitals for some of their basic health needs instead of always having to drive to the nearest VA hospital (an hour and a half round trip drive for me). His plan would free up VA resources that are currently overwhelmed and still keep the VA system intact for the special needs of veterans.

Sounds reasonable right? What could be considered dastardly about that?

Unfortunately it is being painted as the first step to privatizing all veterans health care and closing the doors of VA hospitals forever! Why are they claiming this? Because they can. McCain has supported no such thing. Even more unfortunate is this hysterical rumor is coming from a fairly trusted source on VA issues, an author and website that I cite frequently, Larry Scott at VA Watchdog.org:

McCAIN PROMISE WOULD DISMANTLE VA AND PRIVATIZE
VETERANS' HEALTHCARE -- "I'm going to get every one
of our veterans a plastic card to take to their doctor
or healthcare provider to get the care they need."


Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Presidential Candidate

forward commentary by Larry Scott


Up to now, Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have steered away from controversy when it comes to veterans' issues.

That all changed when Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) promised healthcare cards to all veterans to use where they wish. McCain said: "I'm going to get every one of our veterans a plastic card to take to their doctor or healthcare provider to get the care they need."

We only have to look at a little bit of history to see where this would go.

If McCain's promise becomes a reality we would see the doors to VA hospitals and clinics closed...and, once closed, they would never be reopened, just like the military hospitals.

As if there wasn't enough nonsensical hysterical bullshit out there trying to scare people away from John McCain. Now we have people claiming he'd screw over his own veteran kids and portraying him as some sort of anti-veteran nutjob because they found a way to spin a program that actually would help veterans who rely on VA healthcare like me.

Just revolting.