Not to be callus, but isn’t military service also chosen? There’s no draft correct. Indeed, we were told over and over again after Kerry’s gaffe that bad education/lack of skills were not “backdoor drafts” people “chose” to sign up for the “voluntary” military. So in that sense, there’s no difference.

Frankly, what I’m seeing in response to my argument is a bunch of emotional appeals. We don’t want socialized medicine for all, but Vets deserve socialized medicine. Which implies that socialized medicine is BETTER than what the free market can offer a consumer and thus, suggests is the way we should go writ large.

Now to those who say “trust us, you don’t want healthcare the way the VA (under Bush policy) has been treating us the last ten years.” To that I say, I agree Bush VA policy on healthcare has been an absolute nightmare. But I never heard anyone claim Dubya “hated” the troops as a result. Or maybe I missed all those stories in the right wing blogosphere.

As of now, no bill has been introduced to congress which slashes vet health benefits. Until then all the substantive things wrong with VA health are leftover from the previous, supposedly “pro troop” Administration.

DeathToMediaHacks on March 18, 2009 at 3:00 PM

You make a good point, finally, and for that I commend you, but I don’t agree with your argument. The nature of the military’s role means they are required to have a large contingent dedicated to caring for the wounded in time of battle, but does it make sense for these personnel to remain idle during peace time? It would be a waste of resources to let this medical knowledge, equipment, and manpower sit idle during peacetime and outsource their care to a civilian style system.

You could suggest that the military simply outsource all of their care to a completely separate system, but when combat begins how will you ensure these civilians will enter combat and won’t just resign in mass? The fact that the military has a medical system of it’s own is just commonsense and has nothing to do with socialized medicine being superior.

Funniest thing about that clip.

FinallyRight on March 19, 2009 at 9:17 AM

The Dean got taken to the woodshed a dozen times at least throughout this thread. Nobody thinks this wounded vet policy of Obama’s was remotely okay.

I actually agree with Obama on this one; let the public sector workers (such as the military) pay their own way instead of taking it from me.

The Dean on March 18, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Ok – this was way early on in 4 pages of comments. I will read the rest as I get the chance. But I am really, really, really hoping some of you guys have already dragged this idiot across the coals. War Veterans = PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS? Seiously? SERIOUSLY? How about if these brave men and women take back all the rights and protection that they have provided to you? Then you can worry about the return of your tax dollars. OMG!

what a dope…but he’s OUR dope!

gordo on March 19, 2009 at 3:21 AM

He’s not my dope!
I didn’t vote for him.

what a dope…but he’s OUR dope!

See, all you people thought Stewart wouldn’t rip Obama….people like me who watch him every nite knows he rips everyone.

athensboy on March 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM

When it’s safe.

See, all you people thought Stewart wouldn’t rip Obama….people like me who watch him every nite knows he rips everyone.

athensboy on March 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM

So that’s 1,818,266,177 jokes about Bush. And about Obama.

Yes you are correct sir, Steward is fair and balanced.

“It’s un-American to take care of wounded soldiers”

Reid says:

“Soldiers make us sick”