President Barack Obama speaks in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House following his meeting with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The White House moved Wednesday to address the growing furor over allegations of misconduct at the Department of Veterans Affairs, summoning VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to an Oval Office meeting, hours before the House was scheduled to vote on a bill that would grant the secretary more authority to fire or demote senior executives.
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Just three months ago, Senate was poised to pass a big bill expanding VA funding. It was blocked by a GOP filibuster: reuters.com/article/2014/0…
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Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) May 21, 2014****
'When Fox News Shrugged Over A Veterans Care Scandal (Hint: Bush Was President)'
mediamatters.org/blog/2014/05/2…
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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) May 21, 2014****
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NPR: Obama: People ‘Will Be Held Accountable’ For Veterans Affairs Problems
Anybody found to have manipulated or falsified Veterans Affairs records “will be held accountable,” President Obama said Wednesday. The president condemned the reported widespread problems at the VA, defending Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. Obama spoke after he and Shinseki met in the Oval Office Wednesday morning with White House deputy chief of staff Rob Nabors, who since last week has been detailed to work with the VA. Neither of those men attended the president’s news conference. Speaking about reports of long wait times — and efforts to cover up the delays — Obama said that if they’re proven true, the behavior is “dishonorable” and “disgraceful.” “I will not stand for it,” Obama said. “None of us should.”
The president said that Nabors is heading to Phoenix today to look into reports that a facility there had produced misleading statistics about veteran care. Obama mentioned accountability several times in his prepared remarks; he also noted that some employees had already been put on administrative leave. He said that his administration will continue “bringing the VA into the 21st century – which is not an easy task.” Obama also defended Shinseki, saying, “No one cares more about our veterans.” But Obama added that he told Shinseki today that he expects accountability and improvement in the full report on the VA’s problems.
More here
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The Obama Diary 
Seriously?
Congrats 57 !!!
I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop in……..
So close!
Great tweet, Japa. I RTed it immediately.
Wait til you see the next one.
Thanks a TRABILLION Nerdy!
You’re welcome, Chiparoo.
Wow. That was quick and informative NW.
Thank you.
57andFemale took the 1st prize: It’s Golden 😉
You’re welcome.
Tough question there amk…hmmmm
MSM.
Ahhh japa, that’s a good one and true too!
Several young people arrested in Iran for taking part in a YouTube tribute to Pharrell Williams’ hit song Happy are released, according to reports.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27509813
Good move. That’s the last thing Iran needed at this point in time.
He looked very stern.
In that last pic, Jon Karl looks almost depressed. It’s as if he desperately wanted PBO to say that he was going to fire the VA Secy – with no further investigation.
Republicans outraged over treatment of veterans filibustered better healthcare for vets in February
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/21/1300939/-Republicans-outraged-over-treatment-of-veterans-filibustered-better-healthcare-for-vets-in-February#
Reposting 57andfemale comment from previous thread.
It was ‘budget-busting’.
It is breathtaking to me that they can lie with such righteous outrage and never blink.
Breathtaking.
ROFL!
TOD tweeter brigade is on Fire today!
🙂 Can’t keep up with Japa though, GGail, he’s too perfect today #Annoying
Just trying to catch up. Haven’t done much twittering lately.
I hate people with lives.
When Jonathan Karl lied about that big to do email he got from some Republican snitch, it turn out the email was alot of nothing. Did Jonathan Karl get fired by ABC?
5-21-14
Jay’s Wed at WH Press Briefings is coming soon LIVE
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-203
BBL
They are the ones who should be FIRED!
I just sent that to CNN as a ” News Tip ” and dared them to report on it .
All that is going to be part of the “investigation” that PBO talked about and we’ll be hearing about in the coming months.
Well, miracle of miracles. The WHPC has got more color on the front row. It still remains to be seen if the level of stoopid will be diluted.
You saw the same thing too 🙂
Okay….then, it wasn’t my imagination 😉
Naw. The regular ‘jackals’ are off on another mission somewhere.
Wow I just peaked in to the WH presser and saw more women and people of color more than ever.
Wow…..Chips and Co Twitter TOD brigades……I see your handiwork got a change at least for today…….Hmm?
Great Job TOD!
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BBL 🙂
Oh Mothers and what they do.
Thank all Mothers and Fathers too.
The kids are probably like, “Dad’s crazy.” But laying that aside, he’s making me and Mark Knoller quite hungry. Mmmmm. Grilled grilled cheese.
❤ ❤ ❤
Access Hollywood’s interview with First Lady Michelle Obama and Sara Jessica Parker on Turnaround Arts and the White House talent show. Great stuff!
http://www.accesshollywood.com/michelle-obama-and-sarah-jessica-parker-celebrate-the-arts_video_2170537
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Wednesday named 5 Democrats to the GOP-led select committee on Benghazi, announcing that her party will fully participate in the investigation.
The members:
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member, Armed Services Committee
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Committee on Appropriations (Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations), Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), Committee on Ways and Means (Subcommittee on Oversight)
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Armed Services Committee, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/the-5-democrats-benghazi-committee
I’m glad Alan Grayson was not selected – he would have turned this into a circus and made it all about him.
Indeed, HF2! I cringed when words were flying around that he’d be on the committee. Nope. No way. Sorry-oh! Go away, Mistah-Me-Me-Me!
And that’s really a shame: he has amazing ability and quite often his heart is in the right place. What a great force he would be, if he’d learn to see the big picture and discipline himself.
That is exactly what I thought when I first heard the idea of sending Grayson to represent the Dems alone. In this case fighting fire with fire does not do what we need. We need sensible people there that will contrast with the crazy GOP legislators.
tammy duckworth will be taking care of business, that’s for sure. looking forward to her doing this to these sham republican/news media proceedings:
that guy in the video has since committed suicide. the privilege progressives were trying to bully alan grayson onto this committee, and certainly they’ll be whining as usual about this delicious snub to him and them, and of course rep duckworth will get real things accomplished instead of putting on a show. great job, rep. pelosi!!
It’s been a pleasure to watch her grow as a speaker and a great representative and public servant. So genuine.
Wasn’t Adam Schiff the District Attorney in Law and Order?? 🙂
Cummings is a pitbull. Just ask Issa. Any hopes of the GOP getting away with anything just went out the window.
Lynne and Dick Cheney Confronted on Torture Program
They can run, but they cannot hide. America is watching.
Heads up!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/05/21/seattle-seahawks-in-the-house/
LMAO! Since PBO gave his remarks on VA situation earlier today, Ron Fournier has been literally unhinged on Twitter….he has spent the last 2 hrs bashing the President, even dragging Ezra Klein into it calling Klein an “Obama apologist” – which we all know Ezra isn’t and has never been.
Something in PBO’s speech must seem very threatening to Ron…because his anxiety levels are a tad too high and not even a megadose of Valium would calm it, it appears.
He must’ve forgotten to take his anti-psychotics this morning. He might finally get that jacket he’s been vying for — the straight one w/ ties that bind the sleeves! 🙂