A real investigation - not a witch-hunt - is the only way to determine what happened at the Phoenix VA and others like it, who is responsible, and how to fix it.
Why is this important?
The allegation that veterans died while waiting to receive care at the Phoenix VA -- and that managers "cooked the books" to cover up inadequate wait times -- is a tragedy, deserves an investigation, and an appropriate response.
Unfortunately it has become a political football, with the loudest voices often the same people who voted against increased funding for veterans health care just three short months ago.
Many Republicans have yet to forgive current VA Secretary General Shinseki for speaking up about the force size needed to secure the kind of victory in Iraq neoconservatives were saying would be easy in 2003.
But it’s time for them to put that aside and focus on getting the answers our veterans — many of whom are seeking care after returning from Iraq — have earned and deserve.
That's the only way to determine what happened and improve the system for current and future veterans.
VoteVets Action Fund