Today\’s quote comes to us from Chuck Todd who, on today\’s “Morning Joe” offered Republicans advice – which, by itself, should raise about 37,491 red flags for Republicans.
Here is Mr. Todd\’s wit and wisdom:
“Itis \’Takeaway Time\’, and it\’s an issue that we haven\’t touchedon the show yet, and it is the scandal that surrounds the VA. It\’sgrowing. Two facilities now under investigation due to allegationsthat vets were ignored, mistreated, may have died while waiting fortreatment. Now here\’s what we know. Two whistle-blowers, allegedworkers at the Phoenix VA Medical Center developed a secret waitinglist to hide delays. And in Cheyenne, Wyoming an email written by aVA staffer appears to instruct other employees on how to adjustdates. Admitting the practice is quote gaming the system a littlebit, unquote. So facing this increased pressure, Secretary Shinsekihas ordered inspector generals to review the activities as Shinsekihimself is scheduled to appear before the Senate Veterans AffairsCommittee this Thursday. This is going to get probably a little ugly.On the Sunday shows, former and current Defense Secretaries Gates andHagel defended Shinseki but said he must hold those responsible fortheir actions accountable. Meanwhile, more Republicans andDemocrats are expressing concerns over Shinseki\’s leadership. Andit\’s this bipartisan outrage that\’s the reason why this VA issueand scandal is a much story right now frankly than the investigationin Benghazi. It\’s the outrage from both sides of the aisle coupledwith the competency issue of the Obama administration that they werefacing since the health care website debacle that could be actually areal political problem for this presidency and perhaps for Democratsmoving forward. But this one has legs and it\’s very dangerous for theWhite House much more so frankly than the partisanized Benghazi.”
What great advice. I\’ll just bet that RNC Chair Reince Priebus is developing strategy to exploit the opening identified by Mr Todd even as we speak.
Or…..
…maybe Mr. Priebus and other Republican strategists realize that if they go after Obama on the VA issue, it immediately will be pointed out by the supposedly devastated Democrats that outrages such as these have dogged the VA since well before Barack Obama took office, including during the Bush administration – which would at the very least neutralize the issue, and possibly even put Republicans on the defensive instead.
Then, if Republicans tried to go back to Benghazi as their main focus, Democrats would be able to say “See? It\’s all political. They jumped to the VA and when that didn\’t work they jumped back to this. These people are shameless opportunists”, and it would actually have a great deal of credence.
Though Republicans, as a group, may not be very politically savvy, I think they are smart enough not to take advice from someone whose sympathies are so clearly on the other side of the aisle. I think…..
But effort counts. Especially creative effort. Therefore, I award Chuck Todd Quote Of The Day honors, because, although I suspect it won\’t work, that is one helluva good try.
Very resourceful, Chuck. You win.
