Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumTrump's 'greatest honors' include a bill by Bernie Sanders and John McCain, signed into law by Obama
As 2019 drew to a close, many Americans looked back on the year and the past decade and ran through their accomplishments and things they hope to improve in the 2020s. President Trump apparently did at least the first half of that exercise, tweeting a few hours before midnight on New Year's Eve that one of his "greatest honors" was "to have gotten CHOICE approved for our great Veterans. Others have tried for decades, and failed!" Maybe others failed, but former President Barack Obama did not he signed the Veterans Choice Act into law in 2014.
What's more, the law was written by the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a frequent Trump critic, and current 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Link to tweet
Trump has been making this same false claim for months. In its fact-check from May, The Associated Press notes that "Trump did expand eligibility for the program," allowing veterans to opt for a private doctor if the VA wait was more than 20 days (28 days for specialists), not 30 days as under the Sanders-McCain bill, or they had to drive more than 30 minutes to a VA facility, not 40 miles. And VA Secretary Robert Wilkie who also falsely claimed credit for changes implemented under Obama, AP notes acknowledged that full implementation of the expanded Choice program won't happen for "years." Maybe by that point, the next president can take an undeserved victory lap. Peter Weber
https://theweek.com/speedreads/887018/trumps-greatest-honors-include-bill-by-bernie-sanders-john-mccain-signed-into-law-by-obama
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mopinko
(70,268 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
braddy
(3,585 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)...which occurred during the period that Bernie Sanders was chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans%27_Access_to_Care_through_Choice,_Accountability,_and_Transparency_Act_of_2014
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,347 posts).... and his handpicked Secretary so you can blame Bernie?
As for it being the worst VA scandal. Thats kind of silly seeing as there have been several - including a similar one during the previous (bush/Walter Reed scandal) administration. I mean even Paul Krugman said it was a ginned up scandal by conservatives meant to smear President Obama and discredit The VA system as part of their privatization push. I guess the question is: why are you hyping Republican smears against President Obama and The VA?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Uncle Joe
(58,459 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TexasTowelie
(112,521 posts)if it addressed any of the problems in the VA because no Congressman is going to take a chance voting against veteran benefits. I would consider it to be remarkable for any senator not to be able to get a veterans benefit bill passed into law.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PatSeg
(47,649 posts)The man will take credit for anything. The sun rose this morning and I immediately thanked the illustrious and all powerful Donald J. Trump!
What a pathetic jackass.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LudwigPastorius
(9,195 posts)wrote the bill himself, shepherded it through Congress, and signed it into law.
He's mad, and there is simply no reasoning with an insane person.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden