The despicable Alan Simpson does it again---this time he goes after Vets.

RALEIGH, N.C.—The system that automatically awards disability benefits to some veterans because of concerns about Agent Orange seems contrary to efforts to control federal spending, the Republican co-chairman of President Barack Obama's deficit commission said Tuesday.

Former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson's comments came a day after The Associated Press reported that diabetes has become the most frequently compensated ailment among Vietnam veterans, even though decades of research has failed to find more than a possible link between the defoliant Agent Orange and diabetes.

"The irony (is) that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess," said Simpson, an Army veteran who was once chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee....

"It's the kind of thing that's just driving us to this $1 trillion, $400 billion deficit this year," Simpson said. "It's not that I'm an uncaring person, but common sense is the most uncommon thing in Washington."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/31/897864/-Simpson-to-disabled-vets:-You-cost-too-much

for serving their country and getting hurt or sick.Who do they think they are...financial institutions?

After telling Veterans who were poisoned by our own chemical weapons that they are "not helping save the country" from this fiscal mess?

Yeah why not.

Unlikely but if some on the right want it it could happen.

Three guesses, and the first two don't count!

Just get it over with. :wtf:

Say you are doing it to protect vets.

For Pete's sake stop siding with stupidasses! :grr:

Unfortunately for him he's well-camoflaged among his peers, he'll probably never get the diagnosis and treatment he's crying out for.

He needs an intervention, from people who are not addicts like him.

Perhaps he should tell it directly to a group of veterans.

The crack about social security was offensive. This sinks to an even lower level. Simpson has always had a mouth but I wonder if the Grumply Old Pissant is losing it.

So he can gauge just how extreme he can be in his report. Sounds like he has the go ahead to eliminate SS and VA....

Maybe Obama was being very clever to put A.S. in the spotlight? He's truly despicable.

Alan has always been a loose canon but this shit is getting pathological.

Now here's the old geezer Simpson with a steady record of offensive remarks and yet no one is asking HIM to pull over and resign immediately....

Now more than ever.

this is the last straw. This is absolutely 180 degrees opposite what the President said tonight. The President needs to silence this guy immediately. I thought his last comments were terrible - but this goes beyond the pale. I'm calling the White House the first thing in the a.m. and asking for Obama to fire this guy. There are no second chances. What was it Bush tried to say:

Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. Don't be fooled twice by this ass Mr. President. Fire him from this commission and silence him before he strikes again.

The White House phone number is: 1-202-456-1111. Everybody out there that believes in our veterans that allow us to have the life we have here in this country - needs to call the White House tomorrow and put pressure on the President to fire him.

No apology accepted this time.

It's a good thing that he is not an uncaring person. Pure Prick!

perhaps he should turn his attention to what the "training" mission in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan (including all contractor costs) are doing to the deficit - not only now but for "future generations". Just think of the money (not to mention the pain & heartache, but politicians don't much care about those) that could be saved if we didn't continue to create more disabled veterans.

I can't believe Obama will let him get off this time. Well, maybe I can.

Does that mean Obama is an apologist for right wing turds?

It is really really bad :(

So a big STFU to Mr. Simpson (not worthy of the Sen. moniker these days)...

Mamma is furious with this piece of shit, President Obama I demand you remove him at once.

By not nailing him over his SS statements. Simpson will continue to go after the most vunerable among us.

Maybe this insult will get him canned.

We've got to put pressure on the administration to fire this guy. Any suggestions - is there somewhere we could flood with letters or something?

I think in this time of financial concern, we must insist that Congress become a volunteer organization. Common sense would dictate that those willing to serve their country for no renumeration would set an example of fiscal responsibility. As of Dec. 31, 2010, all Congressional salaries and benefits should cease.

Maybe I'll also mail it WITH my donations (VFW; Eastern PA Paralyzed Vets; e.g.).

He seems immune from his own stupidity.

The sad thing is that they put out voting recommendations in their newsletters, and I don't see them encouraging their vets to vote for Dems if this is coming from their camp.

It's the American way. :sarcasm:

I posted a thread this morning on AO --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9055248

Simpson or Obama for not firing his sorry ass.

Obama makes his pretty speech about helping the vets from Iraq the other night. Meanwhile, he appoints Simpson to slash our benefits yet again.

When are you going to be ready to bring out the tar and feathers?

F8ck Off. There is absolutely NOOOOOOOOOOOO history of diabetes in my father's family. Add Agent Orange to his genetics and there ya go! My dad has diabetes.

None of his 9 siblings had it. Neither of his parents. And certainly not his grands or great grands.

The problem is that Simpson has to be replaced by a republican. And there's no one that I can think would be any better. I hope his Dem colleagues freeze is mean ugly ass out.

what is Obama's problem?

Do Democrats WANT TO LOSE?

That's the only thing I can figure out as they work to FUCK OVER those in this nation who have done more for it than Simpson ever could.

Honestly, this govt is broken when someone like Simpson is allowed to continue to insult Americans with impunity while he makes money fucking over the poor, sick, elderly and children of this nation.

Ebeneezer Simpson, at it again - WITH OBAMA'S APPROVAL.

anymore or the cost of the no bid contractors who are making record amounts of money.

"for the good of the country".