The problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs are bad enough. What’s making matters worse, however, is the political posturing of elected Republican officials who only want to help veterans when it’s convenient for them. I can’t help but notice this level of outrage wasn’t present when it was announced in Februarythat in 2013 military families became more and more reliant on food stamps. The same food stamps that were on the chopping block for Republicans in the House and Senate. I can’t help but notice this level of outrage wasn’t present when just after going to war with Iraq, the Bush Administration shifted $14 billion from veterans to tax cuts for the rich. Or that no additional funding would be needed by the VA when the Bush Administration’s Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs testified before Congress.

While Republicans are already taking their charter bus up to the moral high ground, could you possibly stop by one of the mental health facilities that once helped veterans that was cut due to The Sequester? Or perhaps drop by to visit Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to ask they stop blocking Sen. Al Franken’s bill that would help give $40 million in funding to mental health facilities that also help veterans?

How Republicans have the nerve to stand up and say they support the troops when we have year after year of cuts after cuts while an increasing number of veterans who need services are coming home is beyond me. My fear, is that they make these cuts in efforts to make the system not work, then when it doesn’t work they stand up and use it as proof it doesn’t work and a reason to be shut down or privatized. The VA has worked for years. It’s done more and more with less and less each year – and there is no reason to turn it over to just another government contractor who is going to jack up the price to three times as much. It’s bullshit. And Jon Stewart says it best:

Jon Stewart: YES! These Republican Senators have always stood up for veterans …. when they think it can help them slam the President. It’s slightly different when no one thinks they are watching…

Wow… Jon Stewart just went in full attack mode Monday night in response to the insanity at the Veterans Administration. It’s reasonable to see why he’s as mad as hell, those of us who watched our friends and family go off to war are just as pissed off to see them not be able to get the care they need when they come home. THIS is the appropriate response:

JON STEWART: So it’s clear love and respect ain’t gettin’ the job done. So there’s only one way to put our full government resources behind anything. If we really want to improve the life for these veterans, I’m afraid we have to declare war on them. Congress, write a blank check to fund Operation Enduring Wait List: A War on Error. Because if you want Americans to feel shock and awe you’ll fund this f*ckin thing.

(a version of this also appeared on BNR)