From: Gary L. Bauer, Chairman Campaign for Working Families
Better Care For Our Vets
A bi-partisan presidential commission, co-chaired by former Senator Bob Dole (R) and former Clinton Cabinet Secretary Donna Shalala, delivered its report to the White House yesterday and called for fundamental reform of the medical care for returning U.S. veterans. This report is an oddity in today’s politically divided Washington, avoiding, as Dole put it, “a whitewash or a witch-hunt.” Thank God for that. Now let’s see real action and not more empty rhetoric. The president has a real opportunity here to show that his administration is capable of real reform. In fact, if Bush is looking for a “legacy,” I can’t think of a better one than using his last 18 months in office to do whatever is necessary to ensure that America’s battlefield warriors get the finest, highest quality care possible when they return home. Sadly, we live in a time when our military is at war, but the American people are not. While our best and brightest literally put life and limb on the line fighting the jihadists, too many of the rest of us are more concerned with the latest Hollywood loser in the headlines, fattening our own bank accounts and avoiding sacrifice or inconvenience of any kind. History will not judge us well. But, perhaps we can regain at least a little bit of our honor by making it clear to Washington’s political establishment that we want our veterans to be treated like the heroes they are.
Better Care For Our Vets
A bi-partisan presidential commission, co-chaired by former Senator Bob Dole (R) and former Clinton Cabinet Secretary Donna Shalala, delivered its report to the White House yesterday and called for fundamental reform of the medical care for returning U.S. veterans. This report is an oddity in today’s politically divided Washington, avoiding, as Dole put it, “a whitewash or a witch-hunt.” Thank God for that. Now let’s see real action and not more empty rhetoric. The president has a real opportunity here to show that his administration is capable of real reform. In fact, if Bush is looking for a “legacy,” I can’t think of a better one than using his last 18 months in office to do whatever is necessary to ensure that America’s battlefield warriors get the finest, highest quality care possible when they return home. Sadly, we live in a time when our military is at war, but the American people are not. While our best and brightest literally put life and limb on the line fighting the jihadists, too many of the rest of us are more concerned with the latest Hollywood loser in the headlines, fattening our own bank accounts and avoiding sacrifice or inconvenience of any kind. History will not judge us well. But, perhaps we can regain at least a little bit of our honor by making it clear to Washington’s political establishment that we want our veterans to be treated like the heroes they are.
