Daniel TilsonThe grandstanding of Gov. Rick Scott and other politicians around veterans’ health-care revelations leading up to Memorial Day weekend has been something to behold, and condemn.
If there were one issue you’d hope to see both political parties rally around and use as a teachable, actionable moment for themselves and America, this would be it. Instead, we’ve been subjected to the spectacle of politicians on both sides of the aisle jumping on the grandstanding bandwagon, trying to turn a grave national challenge into another “Gotcha Obama!” moment.
Everyone agrees delays in medical care for veterans at VA hospitals and health-care facilities nationwide are a national disgrace that can’t be allowed to continue. The reported but still unverified existence of “secret waiting lists” at certain facilities, if proven, sounds like it may be a criminal offense. No question, heads will have to roll, and they will.
Reforms will be made. The Obama administration has made that clear, and an aggressive investigation into the entire mess will guide the way.
But instead of pushing the envelope on the investigation and calling for an overhaul of how we address and fund not only health care, but also housing, employment and other needs of our veterans, Scott and other 2014 candidates nationwide are going kneejerk and calling for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.
Maybe a deep investigation into the health-care failure and other failures will indeed indicate a change at the top is needed. But focusing on that first is a missed opportunity to understand the entire veterans care issue more deeply — including understanding why and how the Republican Party since 2010 has given the Obama administration $2 billion less than requested in annual “discretionary” funding, which pays for veterans’ health care and other support services.
Wondering how veterans themselves feel about the kneejerk politicizing of this? Look no further than the leaders of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans of America, who’ve responded in scathing terms to North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr’s insistence that they join the hunt for Shinseki’s head.
Now, note that although political grandstanding has a negative connotation for most people, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Putting on something of a show, having a kneejerk reaction, using exaggeration to make a point, trying to impress people — let’s face it, that’s pretty much part and parcel of the job description of a successful politician.
Campaigns and elections are built in large part on that sort of thing. That’s why they drive most folks outside of politics crazy. And there’s a credibility gap that can widen quickly when politicians grandstand without adequate restraint, and foresight.
President Obama found that out this year when his infamous 2009 health reform sales pitch, “If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period.” came back to haunt him.
But why he was grandstanding is critically important. It was to gain passage of a groundbreaking piece of social legislation that, popularity aside, is helping countless millions of people and will change America for the better in historic fashion, over time. He was on the right side of that issue. That matters.
Compare and contrast that with the purely political grandstanding we’ve seen recently on veterans’ issues. The fact that it mostly concentrates on kneejerk sound bites, rather than searching for long-term, comprehensive solutions, makes it shameful.
It’s how, and most especially why, politicians grandstand that matters. The answers to those questions determine whether they maintain credibility, and achieve worthy goals.
Daniel Tilson has a Boca Raton-based communications firm called Full Cup Media, specializing in online video and written content for non-profits, political candidates and organizations, and small businesses. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
