Maggy Thatcher once famously said that America was exceptional, unique even, because it is the only country founded on an Idea. That Idea, Individual Freedom from Government Tyranny, being so precious, untold numbers of our citizens have willingly made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend that Idea.
Knowing that our Nation has a debt to our service men and women that can never be repaid, we still seek to honor them with both private and public acts, both small and large, which demonstrate our gratitude, appreciation and understanding of what their sacrifice means - everything to the very survival of the United States, where from the blood soaked fields of Gettysburg to the flaming night desert of Benghazi, America's men of valor ran toward the sounds of gun fire, not away.
It is for this very reason that Memorial Day historically has been characterized by parades of Veterans in thousands of towns and cities across America, placing of flags next to thousands of rows of headstones in too many filled National Cemeteries and solemn speeches at War Memorials from Sea to Shining Sea. Of course, we the grateful know that our commitment to our Nation's wounded warriors must be observed 24/7/365 to be real, and not merely, a once a year symbolic celebration of their bravery and sacrifice.
It is for this very reason that the unfolding Department of Veteran Affairs scandal is almost too terrible to contemplate and write about rationally - as with the President, "I'm madder than hell" about the gross mistreatment, neglect and abuse at literally dozens of V.A. hospitals from Sea to Shining Sea, in which our too many wounded veterans have been allowed to die for a refusal of timely medical care.
Unlike the President, however, as Commander-in-Chief my very real anger would be matched by two immediate corrective acts - I would sign an Executive Order authorizing full payment for critical care medical services provided by any non-V.A. hospital to veterans who needed these services over the next year until the wait times at these government hospitals were fully eliminated. Existing federal law provides ample Executive Branch authority to allocate funding for private sector Veteran medical care. So, President Obama "Just Do it" - should your commitment to our wounded warriors be equal to your attention given to undocumented aliens who are, by the millions, now receiving very timely federal benefits, including health care. Sir, you have the Pen and the Power - Just Use it, as our Veterans have all the documentation necessary - too many war torn, scared bodies and minds to be left alone to die needlessly.
Secondly, my new Attorney General would not be an affront to the Rule of Law. Justice for our Veterans would be achieved in their lifetime. Holder defiantly told the nation this week that no DOJ criminal investigation was warranted currently as no credible evidence of any federal crimes have been raised so far in this scandal. WRONG, WRONG AND SO VERY WRONG. Numerous documented reports have surfaced of secret waiting lists having been hidden by V.A. Administrators which documented the real time - months and in some situations years - before a veteran would be given his life saving medical care. Simultaneously, false waiting time care lists - showing across-the-board achievement of timely care requirements - were submitted by these same hospital administrators to the V.A. headquarters in Washington, D.C., thereby qualifying these same administrators for tens of thousands of dollars in "productivity bonus" payments annually.
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1001, it is a criminal offense, a felony, to make a false statement to any federal government official. To do so, for the purpose of illegally obtaining "blood" money based upon these false statements, constitutes an aggravating factor worthy of immediate and severe punishment. So, President Obama - Just Stop Lying to the American People. Prove your anger - get our Vets health care today and indictments of their cruel abusers this week. Just do your Job.
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