When liberal MSNBC provides more balanced coverage than NBC, you know there’s a problem. On Monday, Nightly News completely ignored the gaffe of Barack Obama’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs comparing wait time for medical treatment to that of lines at Disneyland. On Tuesday, the Today show, a four hour-long program, allowed a scant 35 seconds on the controversial remarks. Yet, MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell actually grilled Secretary Robert McDonald.
Talking to the official, she demanded, “Can you understand why people were offended by your analogy of the Disney lines to the wait times for care for people, some of whom have actually died, according to all the testimonies, while waiting to be seen by the VA in the past?” After he avoided apologizing, Mitchell followed-up: “Given all that, are you sorry you said what you said?”
McDonald only managed, “I were misunderstood or if I said the wrong thing, I am glad I have to correct it.” On Monday, talking to reporters, the Secretary blurted, “When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line...What's important is, what is your satisfaction with the experience?”
Mitchell pressed McDonald: “Have more people been fired for manipulating wait times?” She even brought up the Obama administration: “Is the White House weighed in on this at all privately with you?”
In contrast, the NBC Nightly News never mentioned the controversy. On Tuesday, this was all the Today show allowed:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Republicans and veterans are reacting after some controversial comments made by veterans affairs secretary Robert McDonald. On Monday, McDonald compared wait time for VA health care to the hours people wait for rides at Disney's theme parks. McDonald argued that people shouldn't view wait times as a measure of success. He said what is important satisfaction with the experience. Well, House Speaker Paul Ryan called that comparison flippant. He tweeted, “This is not make believe, Mr. Secretary. Veterans have died waiting in those lines.” The VA later issued a statement saying it has, quote “a solemn duty we take seriously.”
This amounted to a mere 35 seconds.
A transcript of the MSNBC Live segment is below:
MSNBC Live
5/24/16
12:16ANDREA MITCHELL: And the VA Secretary Robert McDonald joins me now. I want to give you a chance to respond. The House Speaker the latest to criticize your analogy.
ROBERT MCDONALD: Well, Andrea, as you know, I am here and I took this job and I came out of retirement to take this job to fight for veterans and to do that, to transform the VA to provide a better veterans experience. I mean, as you know, I went to west point and I was Airborne Ranger in the 82 Airborne Division. I joined the Proctor and Gamble company. Worked there for a number of years. Ended up being CEO. And when I got the call from the White House, it was clear to me that this was an opportunity to bring all that experience together to transforming the VA, to improve care for veterans. That’s why I am fighting for my brothers and sisters to who are veterans. We are working hard to improve the veterans experience. Look, we get it. Wait times are important. There’s no question wait times are important. But there is more to the veterans experience than just wait times.
MITCHELL: Well, I want to give you a chance, because a year ago, a little more than a year ago on Meet the Press, that you said that you were, you know, firing people. That you were taking changes. Yet, there is a new GAO report indicates there are still long wait times of 180 people who have been surveyed only 60 had gotten in for primary care. So, have you fixed the problems you were hired to fix?
MCDONALD: We are in the midst of our largest transformation in our history. There are five strategies. The first is improving the veteran experience. Over the last year we had about two million more completed health care improvements than before. We have hired over 1200 new doctors. Over 2300 new nurses. We’ve opened up over four million square feet of new space, which means more access for veterans. We’ve improved productivity for providers. So, we’re working really hard to get all veterans in for care. Our average wait times are three days for mental health, five days for primary care and six days for specialty care. Now, we know those are averages and there are people on either end of the bell curve that we need to do a better job serving and we are working hard to improve to do that. The work is not done yet.
MITCHELL: Have more people been fired for manipulating wait times?
MCDONALD: There have been people fired from wait times. Since I have been the Secretary, we have 2900 people terminated for wait times. Not all for wait times but various offenses.
MITCHELL: Can you understand why people were offended by your analogy of the Disney lines to the wait times for care for people, some of whom have actually died, according to all the testimonies, while waiting to be seen by the VA in the past?
MCDONALD: Andrea, I am a veteran. I have put my life endanger for this country. I have served with those who put their own lives in danger. I came out of retirement to do this job because I care so deeply about those men and women who serve our country. I have been to over 300 VA facilities in about 20 months. I sit down and I talk to veterans and I listen to them and I listen to their concerns. Nothing drives me crazy more than our inability to provide timely care for them. I am working as hard as I can to do this and I am bringing together all the experience that I have to do this. Things are improving but they are not where they need to be and we are working hard to give them there.
MITCHELL: Given all that, are you sorry you said what you said?
MCDONALD: Look, as I said, I am here to improve the veterans experience and giving veterans for care and reduce the disability claims black log. Wait times are important but it is not the only measure of veterans experience. That's what veterans are telling us. We talked to a lot of veterans. It is important and if I were misunderstood or if I said the wrong thing, I am glad I have to correct it.
MITCHELL: And, do you think you need to communicate to Congress given the criticism that you are now facing from the Speaker of the House?
MCDONALD: We report to Congress frequently. We had a hearing several weeks ago and, in fact, there’s a hearing today. We have many opportunities to communicate to Congress. The leaders of Congress know why I am here. I had the House, the Republicans head of our House committee, the Republican head of our Senate committee actually come out and say that they wanted me to stay for the next administration. You know, I don't know what's going to happen but I am focused on one thing. I am only focused on one thing and that's better caring for veterans. That's my job. That's why I am here and that's what I am working hard to do.
MITCHELL: Is the White House weighed in on this at all privately with you?
MCDONALD: I been off site and the reason I am dressed casually is I have been off site of a development where we train leaders out of the VA. I have not been in my office. I have not been communicating with many people. I do much of that training myself and me sitting here talking to you is obviously, taking my time away from the training and that training is about again, improving the veterans experience and getting more people in the care.
