Jean Schmidt: Walter Reed situation "OVERBLOWN", not a "real" issue.

[Bluebear]

Like all Americans, I was sickened to read about the deplorable living conditions that our injured soldiers were reported to have been subjected to at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center , located here in Washington , DC . This week I took several hours and traveled to the Hospital complex to see the situation first hand.

...While I found the situation at Walter Reed to be overblown by both politicians and the media, I hope that future accounts will bring more light to the real issues. We need to do more to make sure that our veterans get the level of healthcare they desperately need. Which is why, in the supplemental bill the House will debate next week, there is $3.5 billion in new funding to improve the veteran healthcare system.

In light of recent events, several people have asked me about Cincinnati Veterans' Medical Center , which I have had the opportunity to visit on several occasions. I have toured this facility's operating rooms and living spaces, and visited with patients there over the years. In my experience, I have found this fine institution to provide quality care and outstanding service to our veterans.

Few issues are as important to me as those concerning our troops. That is why I went to Iraq last year to talk to our troops, and it's what led me to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital this week to tour the facility. It's also why I support increasing funding by $3.5 billion for our veterans healthcare to ensure that they will receive the quality care that they so richly deserve.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh02_schmidt/walter.html

[EnviroBat]

1. Shut the fuck up SKANK! n/t

[bdamomma]

2. delusional and in denial of the facts.

[cooolandrew]

3. It's intresting how all their crimes are not ''real issues''.

[genie_weenie]

4. Of course she is right. Wounded soldiers are

a drain on the economy.

It's unfortunate we have such advanced medicial theories and applications that we are able to save them. If they had died on the battlefield I could have ascribed and placed all sorts of jingostic patrotism on their dead lips to help me get re-elected.

See, in reality I supports the troops that's why I want them to die...

:cry:

[maine_raptor]

5. Check her voting record!!!!!

I'm willing to bet she voted against the supplemental (the one with the timeline).

I'd check, but I'm not sure which bill number it is.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. The Dems need to splash this statement all over the freakin' news! Let the people know just how much

"support our troops." It's only a vote getting slogan to them. They couldn't give a shit less about the troops. ALL they care about is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the defense contractors which finds its way back into THEIR pockets. Freakin' wench!

[SpiralHawk]

7. Why do republicons hate America's veterans?

Yet another example of the chickenhawk republicons trashing our American soldiers and veterans.

How cowardly. How low.

[City Lights]

8. She is one creepy human.

:scared:

And a kook to boot. I wonder if she's related to Uncle Zell.

[KG]

9. ack! she scares me!

:scared:

[Beer Snob-50]

10. Jean Schmidt's brain is directly tied to that of the RW political

machine. I have not heard a single original thought come out of her mouth. When she talks does Karl Roves mouth move also? just curious

[Virginia Dare]

11. Throw her in a feces encrusted cell and let the rats nibble her toes..n/t

[Dr. Death]

12. So support = visiting weeks after problems revealed?

"This week I took several hours and traveled to the Hospital complex to see the situation first hand."

Gee, thanks Jean, you showed up to have a look around Walter Reed several weeks after the story broke. Big of you. Where were you BEFORE word of the awful conditions leaked to the media? Would you have ever spoken about this had the story not been revealed? We all know you would not.

[maine_raptor]

13. Cut her some slack, though.

Don't ya know she couldn't go until Bush went first? She worships the very ground he walks on.

:sarcasm:

Myself, I do the same, but only if it's quicksand he's on. :rofl:

Edit for too damn quick on the post button.

[Eurobabe]

14. I didn't vote for this dumbshit. Some folks in OH-2 have a brain

Schmidthead only "won" in '06 by contesting the votes, and she was narrowly re-selected by the CONS in OH-2.

She is really not qualified to be walking the halls of Congress.

[mod mom]

23. Schmidt "Beat" Hackett in '05 due to delays caused by high humidity.

kkkarl put her on his list of congress people who need help because he realizes Ohio now has a SOS who will conduct fair elections. Schmidt's days in office are numbered.

[Eurobabe]

29. let's work on it. schmidthead needs to go, NOW.

she's a disgrace. :grr:

[Ino]

15. Does she EVER untie that hair?

Not that it would help -- just curious what it would look like.

[lonestarnot]

22. When she gets on her broom.

[gollygee]

16. Even the Republicans I know are outraged about this

How can anyone say it's an overblown reaction to be outraged about our troops being sent into an unwinable war in an incredibly dangerous region, let them get injured, and then put them in a hell-hole like that?

[Touchdown]

17. Blucher!

[dysfunctional press]

18. i heard tammy duckworth talk about this- and it is somewhat overblown...

tammy lost her legs in iraq, and then lost a tight congressional race, running as a democrat- here in illinois. she's now part of the illinois department of veterans affairs.

the way she explained it- walter reed has been so OVERWHELMED with injured servicepeople from iraq, that they were forced to re-open and use building 18- which had been condemned, closed down, and was going to be demolished. the pictures of the lousy conditions were taken in building 18. that's something about the story that doesn't get a lot of airplay.

[mwb970]

25. But the problem goes way beyond Walter Reed.

The problem is mistreatment of the troops in general, before, during, and after their deployment in the meatgrinder. Unfair recruiting practices, not enough armor, not enough troops, not enough training, not enough rest, a shifting mission, stop-loss, the surge, cuts in veterans' benefits, insurance scams depriving troops of needed care. AND some of the veterans' hospitals have mold and cockroaches.

The only sense in which Walter Reed is "overblown" is that it is being used as a stand-in for the wide range of troop abuse committed by this administration.

[dysfunctional press]

27. walter reed is being unfairly scapegoated.

in a way that isn't going to help the overall system.

[bluestateguy]

19. Who is running against that bitch next year?

We need either Wuslin or Paul Hackett to run again.

[Nikki Stone1]

20. NOW she supports increasing veterans funding.

Only after being embarassed to death by the atrocities in healthcare at Walter Reed.

[Joanie Baloney]

21. Poor microphone!

Ease up on the death grip there, Jean. I pity the man in her life.


:wow:

[mwb970]

26. She *is* the man in her life. /nt

[youthere]

24. Look at that picture of Schmidt and tell me...

[saltpoint]

28. Mean-spirited and dumb as a stone is not a great combination for

public service.

I would love to see voters in that district turn Congresswoman Schmidt out of office. It was a fairly close race last time.