Veterans Group Blasts Right Wingers Pushing “Death Book” Claim As “Cruel” To Veterans

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Today Rush Limbaugh used Ted Kennedy’s death to keep pushing the “death book” tale, that claim being spread on the right that Obama’s veteran’s agency is distributing manuals urging veterans to hurry up and die.

“No government of ours should ever become a partner in snuffing out a life,” Rush declared on the air. “Ted Kennedy didn’t have to read a death book. Ted Kennedy wasn’t asked to say, `Is my life worth living?’”

That’s unsightly enough on its own. But it turns out Rush’s broadside comes a day after the Vietnam Veterans of America, a national advocacy group, defended the manual and strongly denounced “death book” claims as “hysteria” and as “cruel” to veterans themselves.

“This booklet was developed with guidance from clerics, and it addresses options most of us and our loved ones will have to sort through as we live our final years,” the group said in a little-noticed statement that was sent my way. “To play politics with veterans’ end-of-life choices is not only irresponsible politically, but it is cruel.”

“It is our hope that sane minds reject fear-mongering, and that veterans recognize these scare tactics for what they are,” the statement adds.

Alas, these pleas from a group representing veterans have gone unnoticed by Rush and others. Karl Rove, for instance, yesterday claimed the Obama administration was pushing vets towards “assisted suicide.”

Who has the vets’ best interests at heart: Rush, Rove and company, or the Vietnam Veterans of America? Tough call.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/politica...el-to-veterans/