Obama Campaigned Against VA Waiting Times, Care in 2007; Called Long Waiting Times "Dishonorable"

Though the Obama Administration is saying that the President is "madder than hell" at extremely long waiting times and that he would take action, Mr. Obama actually campaigned against what is going on now in 2007.

In a speech entitled "A Sacred Trust" that then-Senator Obama gave on August 21, 2007, Mr. Obama slammed lengthy waiting times and the mishandling of VA wait times and health care. At the time, Obama was campaigning to win the Democrat nomination for President.

"To keep our sacred trust," Mr. Obama explained, "I will improve mental health screening and treatment at all levels: from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life. No service-member should be kicked out of the military because they are struggling with untreated PTSD.

"No veteran should have to fill out a 23-page claim to get care," he continued, "or wait months - even years - to get an appointment at the VA. We need more mental health professionals, more training to recognize signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care."

[caption id="attachment_26309" align="alignnone" width="478"] Senator Obama[/caption]

He later explained then, that the actions of his administration now are dishonorable: "When a veteran is denied care, we are all dishonored. It's not enough to lay a wreath on Memorial Day, or to pay tribute to our veterans in speeches. A proud and grateful nation owes more than ceremonial gestures and kind words.

"Caring for those who serve - and for their families - is a fundamental responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief," he added.

And in an extremely ironic statement, Mr. Obama went further: "It's time for comprehensive reform. When I am President, building a 21st century VA to serve our veterans will be an equal priority to building a 21st century military to fight our wars. My Secretary of Veteran's Affairs will be just as important as my Secretary of Defense. No more shortfalls - it's time to fully fund the VA medical center. No more delays - it's time to pass on-time VA budgets each and every year. No more means testing - it's time to allow all veterans back into the VA. I will immediately reverse a policy that led the VA to turn away nearly 1 million middle and low-income veterans since 2003."