I want to be optimistic about our President, I really do

Today I found out our Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama, has proposed billing the private insurance policies of our military service members for combat-related medical care. He wants to bill veterans' insurance companies to reimburse the Veterans' Administration in an effort to scrape up $540 million.

Why use the VA as a middle man? Why not command our soldiers to simply pay straight out-of-pocket? There's a hell of a budget cut for ya' ! Perhaps we could then divert the funds to the IRS to compensate for all of Obama's cabinet members' tax "indiscretions and oversights."

Justifiably so, our veterans (primarily via The American Legion) have expressed a rather strong opposition. In what is quickly becoming the President's apparent MO, Mr. Obama not only wants to make our soldiers pay for the wounds they volunteered to take protecting our nation, he criticizes them for turning attention to the wrong issue.

According to David Gorman, executive director of Disabled American Veterans, "... the president complained that instead of commending the significant budget increase for the VA -- an 11 percent increase in 2010 and $25 billion over five years -- the groups are complaining about [the private insurance] proposal. But Gorman said that the issue of third-party billing is fundamental to the VA and that it is a 'distraction' from discussing the budget increases."

Now, there is already plenty on the web regarding the cons of this proposal. I don't have the expertise, experience or foresight to even begin to touch on that.
All I wish to say is that the mere fact that President Obama even considered something like this completely blows away any hope I had of building faith in him.

His proposal has moral implications that go well beyond ANY possible budget savings/increase. It only reinforces the gut feeling I had a year ago that screamed to me "this man being in the Oval Office is a frightening possibility."

If by some ungodly act our Commander-in-Chief's ideas are made policy, I ask that a special provision be tacked on. If Obama sees this thing through I present that he be required to write a cover letter thanking our armed forces for their sacrifice, bravery and for protecting our nation and all that it represents, then reminding them to remit payment upon receipt of all medical services required as a result of injuries sustained in battle for the United States of America.

Oh, and it must be on official White House stationery adorned with his photograph and he must hand sign each and every one of them.

Let me know what you think.