VA NEWS
FLASH from Larry Scott at VA
Watchdog dot Org -- 01-13-2006 #1
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VFW LEADERSHIP TAKES VA WATCHDOG TO THE WOODSHED -- OFFICIAL REBUKE FROM WASHINGTON MISSES THE MARK
Well, I've been taken to the woodshed by the leadership of the VFW for comments I made two days ago. It all started here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/newsflash/newsflash01-11-2006-3.htm I criticized VFW National Commander James Mueller for not pushing the issue of veterans' benefits when President Bush spoke at a VFW function. I said: "Commander Mueller, it's time to put down the Bingo card, finish your beer, crawl off the bar stool...AND DO SOMETHING FOR VETERANS! Having your picture taken with the President doesn't put an end to the waiting lists that veterans face at VA hospitals. Letting politicians use your organization as a playground to espouse their political opinions doesn't pay for a veteran's prescription. As a VFW member I find your actions deplorable. Take a stand for veterans instead of showing how politically-connected you are. Your actions have forced me to consider ending my membership in the VFW. It's time to get back in touch with your members. They are in need. And, you're not helping." I stand by those words. Yesterday I received an email from Joe Davis, Director of Public Affairs at the VFW, rebuking me for that statement. But, Mr. Davis (apparently accidentally) sent me two letters in the email...the first was addressed to me but sent to Quentin Kinderman, Deputy Director, National Legislative Service at the VFW. This was obviously sent to Kinderman for editing. The second version...sent to me 40 minutes later is substantially changed. I am going to post this in three parts...#1 is the VFW's original letter to me...#2 is the VFW's edited letter to me...#3 is my response to both letters. Here is the first version of the letter...underlined sections were left out of the second letter sent to me. --------------- Dear Mr. Scott: Fortune Magazine ranks the VFW as the top veterans lobbying organization in the country because a) we know when to fight our battles, and b) when we do fight, it’s with respect, professionalism, and a keen awareness of fiscal realities and customer need. You are so singularly focused on keeping the VA in line that you failed to recognize what Tuesday’s event was about – it was about supporting the troops. The #1 priority of the VFW is to fight for veterans’ benefits on behalf of the nation’s 25 million veterans, 2.2 million servicemembers, and their families. We know that and you know that, too, but the VFW also has other priorities, such as national security and foreign affairs, veterans’ employment, patriotism, and our National Home for Children.
Tuesday
was neither the time nor place to address veterans’ benefits. Tuesday’s
event was about national security, plain and simple. On Jan. 3, 2006,
the VFW became the first veterans’ service organization to formally support
the war in
Tuesday was about supporting the troops and their mission and the president as they prosecute the global war on terrorism. Yet you tarnish the day by taking cheap shots at the VFW and National Commander Jim Mueller because you can’t see beyond holding the VA to task. We are in the big leagues here, and positive change and professional relationships are not made by constant criticism.
The VFW
is
Sincerely, --------------- Now, here is the second version. --------------- Dear Mr. Scott:
The
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
The #1 priority of the VFW is to fight for veterans’ benefits on behalf of the nation’s 25 million veterans, 2.2 million servicemembers, and their families. We know that and you know that, too, but the VFW also has other priorities, such as national security and foreign affairs, veterans’ employment, patriotism, and our National Home for Children. Tuesday was neither the time nor place to address veterans’ benefits. Tuesday’s event was about national security, plain and simple, and about the men and women who are serving in uniform to keep this country safe. As such, the president accepted our invitation to speak on this subject. Rest assured that the VFW will hold him to his words of support for “veterans and soon to be veterans.” Tuesday was about supporting the troops and their mission and the president as they prosecute the global war on terrorism. Yet you tarnish the day by taking potshots at the VFW and National Commander Jim Mueller because you can’t see beyond holding the VA to task. There are high stakes here, and positive change and professional relationships are not made by constant criticism.
The VFW
is
Sincerely, --------------- RESPONSE TO ABOVE: I want to thank the VFW for their response. It's very enlightening. And, I'm glad to print it here because if I can't take their criticism...I shouldn't be doing what I do. It's very interesting to see what Mr. Kinderman edited out of the first letter thinking that it would NOT get to my desk. The mention of Fortune Magazine rating the VFW a top lobbying organization appears to be very dated. The only references I can find of this are dated 1997 and 1998. How come no mentions since then? Or, in words all veterans understand: "What have you done for me lately?" The VFW has a "keen awareness of fiscal realities and customer need?" Why is their membership dropping? Why are posts closing? Why are younger vets staying away? These are not meant to be nasty or cutting questions...they are questions the VFW should be addressing. The VFW, and other service organizations, are fading away before our eyes. To survive, the VFW must change to meet the needs of today's veterans. It is obvious why the line about supporting the war in Iraq was left out of the second letter...and the mention of having the "full support" of membership. Right or wrong, Americans are coming to dislike this war. Open support of a war that is opposed by a majority of Americans puts the VFW in a precarious position. And, the line about "full support" just plain isn't true. VFW members are questioning the war as well. I don't know about other VFW members, but I didn't receive a ballot on this...so the concept of "full support" is out the window...just like it got taken out of the letter. I am glad to see that Mr. Kinderman took out the mention of "cheap shots." If I wanted to get cheap, he would have known it. And, "big leagues?" I think it's time for some self-evaluation at VFW headquarters. That takes care of the differences between the first and second letters. Now...what do I think about all of this? I fully support the veterans' services provided by the VFW. They, however, should stay out of politics. I don't pay my $20 a year to have them cuddling-up to ANY politician...Democrat or Republican. That also goes for political appointees who hold the highest offices in the VA. The VFW's job is to work for veterans...plain and simple. As to my criticism of the VA. If Mr. Davis or Mr. Kinderman had availed themselves of the information on VA Watchdog dot Org they would know that I am the biggest fan of the excellent programs and healthcare offered by the VA. My criticism is of the political appointees who run the VA and of the politicians who constantly underfund the system. The VFW should take a lesson here. They have jumped into bed with the very people who are hurting veterans by denying healthcare to many and by making others wait incredible lengths of time to receive needed healthcare. The letter reminds me that the VFW has been around since 1919. But, what about today Mr. Davis and Mr. Kinderman? Where was the VFW when the military closed its hospitals? Where was the VFW when retirees got stuck in an HMO called TRICARE? Where is the VFW now that TRICARE, supported by the Joint Chiefs, wants to double fees for some and triple fees for others? Where was the VFW when changes were made to Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans...cutting many out of the system completely and forcing others to pay enrollments fees and co-pays? Where was the VFW when the CARES Commission started closing VA facilities around the country? Where is the VFW now that the VA healthcare budget is so terribly underfunded that veterans die while on waiting lists? Mr. Davis suggested that I can't see beyond taking the VA to task. That's not true...because I just took the VFW to task...and will continue to do so. The VFW and other service organizations must wake up to the fact that they are NOT serving their members by developing "professional relationships"...a polite term for kissing butt in Washington D.C. They will serve their membership when they take a firm stand on veterans' benefits and demand an accounting from ALL politicians of ANY party who do not serve veterans' interests. One final thought. Taking "potshots" at Commander Mueller was just what was needed. The "potshot" must have hit home...otherwise I would not have received the response I did. All veterans support their brothers and sisters in Iraq, Afghanistan and other postings around the globe. We are proud of them and their service. But, our troops need more than our thanks. They need a financially healthy, fully-staffed VA healthcare system when they get home. So, Mr. Davis and Mr. Kinderman, Tuesday would have been the perfect time to enter into a discussion of veterans' benefits.
Larry Scott (go back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page)
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