Allahpundit included this in his QOTD thread last night, but it’s worth a look on its own for its naked political hypocrisy. We’ve heard plenty from Republicans about Obama administration incompetence in the VA scandal. What we’re not hearing, at least so far, is Democratic outrage over the same incompetence. CNN’s John King told his panel yesterday that Democrats don’t want to say anything publicly, but privately they’re furious over Barack Obama’s lack of engagement and flat-footed response to nearly every crisis that arises (via Common Cents and TWS):

“Forget for a moment that Republican outrage,” said King on his CNN show this morning. “More and more Democrats in key 2014 races are calling for the president to get a spine, they say, and fire his Veterans Affairs secretary. And what more and more Democrats are saying privately is scathing, calling the president and his team detached, flat footed, even incompetent.

“Maggie Haberman,” said King turning to a panelist, “that’s what strikes me, what democrats are saying privately in the wakes of the healthcare.gov problems, they see a president who doesn’t want to take command, doesn’t want to act fast. Raising the competence question. Some Democrats, who believe in government, [are saying] this White House doesn’t appear to have its hand on the lever.”

Haberman of Politico agreed, cited more examples, and added: “All of this adds up to somebody who just doesn’t seem at all involved.”

It’s good to know that Democrats are offended by Obama’s incompetence and spineless response, too. But if that’s the case, then why is that outrage being expressed sotto voce? Is it more important to protect Obama from criticism than it is to take action to put an end to the crisis at the VA? If they’re admitting this privately, then the veterans at risk deserve better than the public silence that equates into tacit support for Obama’s lack of action at the VA.