"Encouraging Veterans to Commit Suicide"

by reader run

“Encouraging Veterans to Commit Suicide”

Appearing on Fox News “Fox and Friends” in an effort to mislead the elderly, disabled, and veterans; the GOP’s chief spin-meister Michael Steel declares healthcare reform would result in the same bad public policy as shown in a 1997 VA manual encouraging veterans to commit suicide. The manual which encouraged veterans to write “Living Wills” was retired in 2007 for a rewrite and updating. “Your Life, Your Choices.”

Attempting to put additional spin on healthcare reform alleged death panels, which so many of the elderly believe will be a part of healthcare reform; Steele claims the VA and its manual (even though retired) encourages veterans to commit suicide. This is another example of what length the GOP will go to construe the issues and mislead the public with blatant lies, smoke and mirrors, and subterfuge to derail healthcare reform which will benefit Americans at the expense of healthcare insurance corporations, healthcare associations, and a privilege few. Michael Steele’s words:

“If you want an example of bad public policy, let’s look at this situation with our veterans where you have a manual out there, telling our veterans stuff like, ‘Are you really a value to your community?’ and, you know, encouraging them to commit suicide. This is crazy coming from the government, and this is exactly what concerns people, what puts them in fear of what government controlled health care, of health care, will look like.” (Link here).

Veterans for Common Sense (nonprofit veteran advocacy group) Executive Director Paul Sullivan called Michael Steele’s comments a lie:

“Let me be absolutely clear, Steele lied. There is no VA manual encouraging veterans to commit suicide,” said Paul Sullivan, the executive director of VCS, a non-profit based in Washington, DC providing advocacy for veterans, especially veterans with mental health conditions.” “Veterans Demand an Apology from the GOP and Fox News”

Steele’s attempt at demagoguery to sway the public is an insult to the intellect of all veterans who do not need or desire to be burdened with the lies of a few who wish to profit and gain from the direction of public policy. One would have to wonder what Steele’s healthcare insurance policy is like and “who” pays for it.

Hat Tip to Pace and the Veterans for Common Sense.