VA Clinic Manager's Supervisors: We Think Veterans' Suicides Are Funny, Too

by JASmius



You know what they say about cockroaches only scattering when the lights are turned on:

The supervisor responsible for an internal email at Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center that appears to mock veteran suicides has been removed from her post and put on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.

IOW, creating the appearance of disciplinary action without any actual discipline under the kerfuffle blows over.

But the hospital’s leaders remain mum about why they didn't take those steps when they first learned about the email about two months ago.

Obviously, they thought that veterans' suicides were as funny as Miss Paul did.

Roudebush Director Tom Mattice apologized for the email in a statement announcing the removal of Robin Paul, who manages the hospital’s seamless transition clinic.

“The email message that was sent out by Ms. Paul is completely and totally unacceptable. It in no way reflects the attitudes of our staff toward our patients,” Mattice said. “I ask Veterans to accept my apology for this failure, and to allow us to continue to demonstrate to you our commitment to your health and well-being.”

He's apologizing because they got caught.

Hospital officials have acknowledged that they've known about the email for about two months. Previously, they said they handled the matter administratively but would not elaborate on what action was taken.

i.e. None, whatsoever.

Mattice, whose statement today is his first public comment on the issue, did not address why he waited so long to launch an investigation or remove Paul.

Obviously, he had no problem with his employees mocking veterans' suicides.

His decision to remove Paul comes after pressure from members of Congress and some of the nation’s largest veterans groups, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Exposure of the emails set off a firestorm of criticism on social media. In just two days, a petition circulated on Facebook garnered more than 5,200 signatures calling for Paul to be fired.

But it'll all blow over, and then they can get back to poking fun at vets killing themselves in despair.

Laughter, for Obamunist bureaucrats as for the rest of us, really is the best medicine.