Robert McDonald: VA Secretary, Liar

Another liar in the Obama administration-- Robert McDonald.

McDonald is responsible for bringing even more shame to the already messed up VA.

'I have no excuse': VA Secretary reportedly admits to false claim of special forces service http://t.co/uMEz45ZUFj pic.twitter.com/xCYA3tXzDn

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 24, 2015

From FOX News:

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald has admitted that he lied about serving in the special operations forces in a conversation with a homeless veteran that was caught on camera earlier this year.

McDonald made the claim in January while he was in Los Angeles as part of the VA's effort to locate and house homeless veterans. During the tour, a homeless man told McDonald that he had served in the special operations forces.

"Special forces? What years?" McDonald responded. "I was in special forces." The exchange was broadcast on "The CBS Evening News" Jan. 30. McDonald's misstatement was first reported by The Huffington Post.

McDonald graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 and completed Army Ranger training before being assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division until his retirement in 1980. According to the Huffington Post, while McDonald was formally recognized as a graduate of Ranger School, he never actually served in a Ranger battalion or other special operations unit.

"I have no excuse," the website quoted McDonald as saying in its report. "I was not in special forces."

Oh, my God.

What a stupid thing to do!

No kidding McDonald has no excuse. What excuse could you possibly have for saying you were in special forces when you weren't? Just a temporary lapse into Brian Williams mode?

In a statement released Monday by the VA, McDonald said: "While I was in Los Angeles, engaging a homeless individual to determine his veteran status, I asked the man where he had served in the military. He responded that he had served in special forces. I incorrectly stated that I had been in special forces. That was inaccurate and I apologize to anyone that was offended by my misstatement."

McDonald told the Huffington Post that he had "reacted spontaneously and ... wrongly" in response to the homeless man's claim.

"As I thought about it later, I knew that this was wrong," McDonald said of his false statement.

"As I thought about it later"?!?

How about not letting a lie come out of your mouth in the first place?

"I knew that this was wrong."

Ooh, good for you, McDonald. What great moral fiber you have! You knew that LYING about your military service was wrong. Wow. What a guy!

The White House released a statement Monday evening saying that it had accepted McDonald's explanation.

"Secretary McDonald has apologized for the misstatement and noted that he never intended to misrepresent his military service," the statement said. "We take him at his word and expect that this will not impact the important work he’s doing to promote the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans."

I'm sorry, but what a load!

"[H]e never intended to misrepresent his military service"?

WHAT???

What did McDonald do? Lose control and UNINTENTIONALLY misrepresent his military service?

The statement from the White House is truly insulting.

I would appreciate an honest statement, something like "Obviously, McDonald lied but we don't care." This "he never intended to misrepresent his military service" is ridiculous.

I'm really sick of these flat-out liars.

Of course, the worst liar of all is Obama.



Disgusting.

Is conscience passé? Is integrity dead?

It's all very disillusioning. I used to think most people were basically good. I'm not so sure about that anymore.