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News & ArtsWednesday, August 25, 2010
Politics Did Dino Rossi Complain About the U.S. "Spending Recklessly" to Help Wounded Veterans?
Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 4:19 PM
A lot could hinge on how this report, which aired on KOMO TV yesterday, was sourced:
In the report, KOMO reporter Ray Lane says: "Dino Rossi's campaign says Murray, and other Democrats, are spending recklessly on the VA."
Really? Rossi is coming out swinging against federal spending to help treat soldiers who have been wounded in America's wars?
If true, that's a huge mistake on the part of Rossi and his campaign. Which is why today, Rossi spokesperson Erin Daly is strenuously pushing back against the KOMO report while, at the same time, Murray's campaign is calling as much attention to that "reckless spending" line as possible.
In a conference call with reporters just now, Murray herself, backed by a hastily-assembled chorus of veterans from around the state, decried Rossi's statement.
“I was so disturbed to hear the news reports of Mr. Rossi’s views that we are somehow spending recklessly on veterans," Murray said. "Frankly, it is just wrong to be asking people to have fought for our nation to give back.”
And, just to make sure she'd been clear:
I will not tolerate anyone saying that we are spending recklessly on veterans' care... This is not a time to even question our funding for our veterans... America knows, as I do… that our country believes today that caring for our veterans is a cost of war… It is deeply disturbing to me that Mr. Rossi has apparently a different view on this.
- Rossi thinks we're spending "recklessly" on these guys?
Daly, the Rossi spokesperson, told me before the conference call that KOMO got the "spending recklessly" quote wrong.
“Never has that ever been uttered," Daly told me. "I don’t understand where they got any of that information because Dino is unequivocally pro-Veterans. Dino Rossi has never felt that spending was reckless on veterans. He supports veterans and he believes that we owe them what was promised to them, and that is great care.”
Which throws the ball into KOMO's court.
I'm told by Rossi's campaign that the station will be airing an interview with Rossi tonight in which he clarifies his stance on veterans.
Murray, in response to news of the impending Rossi interview, said on her conference call: "It sounds to me like Mr. Rossi has changed his position from yesterday. I understand why he would do that. But it does make me question his commitment and his understanding of the facts on this issue for him to turn this around."
And KOMO? So far, the station has not responded to requests for comment on how it sourced that "recklessly spending on the VA" line.
Stay tuned.
2
I love the idea that "we can do better with less money". I mean, don't get me wrong, I concur that in a lot of areas, things can be done better and cheaper at the same time.
But saying it without offering up concrete options is fucking stupid. The GOP is such a fucking joke of a Party.
But saying it without offering up concrete options is fucking stupid. The GOP is such a fucking joke of a Party.
4
I'm sure Dino budgets his millions frugally. I've even heard he's a real cheapskate. But I want someone to approach him and say, "You know, I think you personally can do more with less." And watch the color drain from his face.
Hell, the only reason he's riding that old Republican sawhorse trying to get into the Senate is so that he can add another two or three zeroes to his bank balance.
Hell, the only reason he's riding that old Republican sawhorse trying to get into the Senate is so that he can add another two or three zeroes to his bank balance.
6
There's a reason Patty is one of the only Democrats, and I believe the only woman, endorsed by the VFW.
Poor Dino. Every time he tries to talk, he goes and tells the truth as he sees it: "now's a great time to invest in foreclosed properties!" "we're spending recklessly on veterans!" and then has to make up some horseshit about what he really MEANT by what he said.
Everyone says he's a really shitty tipper, too.
Poor Dino. Every time he tries to talk, he goes and tells the truth as he sees it: "now's a great time to invest in foreclosed properties!" "we're spending recklessly on veterans!" and then has to make up some horseshit about what he really MEANT by what he said.
Everyone says he's a really shitty tipper, too.
9
"He supports veterans and he believes that we owe them what was promised to them"
& not one red cent more!!! because that was what was promised for any vet with a TBI or PTSD or even without a limb or two?
right Dino?
if funding that is pork; sign me up for a big ass Luau and some BBQ pork ribs and maybe some chops because we should all shoulder up and pay for these peoples needs, no matter the cost..
gads, he is such a smarmy bean counting shill of a hack, with no redeeming value at all.
& not one red cent more!!! because that was what was promised for any vet with a TBI or PTSD or even without a limb or two?
right Dino?
if funding that is pork; sign me up for a big ass Luau and some BBQ pork ribs and maybe some chops because we should all shoulder up and pay for these peoples needs, no matter the cost..
gads, he is such a smarmy bean counting shill of a hack, with no redeeming value at all.
10
As much money as you want for guns, nothing for bandages - a very typical right wing approach to war.
11
If Patty won't go so far as to rip his liver out and dump it burning on a VFW's front hall over this, she doesn't deserve to win.
I'm nigh as liberal as they come, and hate both wars (as much as I acknowledge the Taliban=have to go and the world is/would be better off with Saddam/Al Qaeda dead) but fucking really? The soldiers themselves in the war deserve utter support. It's not their decision to be wherever they are; but they're shedding their blood for us and the people where they've been spent. They deserve and are entitled to better doctors and medical treatment--for FREE to them--than myself or Dino do.
What a total Goddamn raging asshole. I hope you get an infarction, Dino Fucking Rossi.
I'm nigh as liberal as they come, and hate both wars (as much as I acknowledge the Taliban=have to go and the world is/would be better off with Saddam/Al Qaeda dead) but fucking really? The soldiers themselves in the war deserve utter support. It's not their decision to be wherever they are; but they're shedding their blood for us and the people where they've been spent. They deserve and are entitled to better doctors and medical treatment--for FREE to them--than myself or Dino do.
What a total Goddamn raging asshole. I hope you get an infarction, Dino Fucking Rossi.
12
Look, I don't like the guy, I think he's swine. I don't like the GOP, they make swine look good. I think we should spend on veterans, no question. I think his statement was extremely poorly phrased. However, a lot of what we spend on the VA is likely spent recklessly. I think we could likely do a much better job with the money being spent on the VA. That said, this guy's an idiot if he really said we "are spending recklessly on the VA"
13
SO I really dont know anything about this Rossi fellow as I moved away from Seattle some time ago. Is he hoping to win because he is pretty? So far his strategy is lie, not talk, look pretty.
14
@12:
Here's the thing: you have no idea if we're spending recklessly on the VA. Neither do I. I haven't studied their budget. I know squat about budgeting an enormous system of nationwide health care.
This is the point. Dino Rossi has no idea if we're spending recklessly on the VA, either.
I imagine a conversation like the following happened somewhere:
Rossi: I need some money to beat Patty Murray. She's kicking my butt.
Rich Guy: I'll give you money, but you have to do something about all of the money the Federal Government is spending on Veterans.
Rossi: How much money?
However, a lot of what we spend on the VA is likely spent recklessly. I think we could likely do a much better job with the money being spent on the VA.
Here's the thing: you have no idea if we're spending recklessly on the VA. Neither do I. I haven't studied their budget. I know squat about budgeting an enormous system of nationwide health care.
This is the point. Dino Rossi has no idea if we're spending recklessly on the VA, either.
I imagine a conversation like the following happened somewhere:
Rossi: I need some money to beat Patty Murray. She's kicking my butt.
Rich Guy: I'll give you money, but you have to do something about all of the money the Federal Government is spending on Veterans.
Rossi: How much money?
15
Yes, spending recklessly, you MORONS! This means, for example, they spend $100 for a shot that costs the rest of us $10, that is spending recklessly. Get some brains you stupid Seattle democrats! I have been living here almost half a decade and I cannot believe the stupidity of Seattle voters. How irritating you are! TIme to get us 3 witches of Washington out!
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