Secretary Robert McDonald's comparison of the deadly wait for medical care at Veteran Affairs facilities to lines at Disneyland understandably caused outrage and prompted calls for his resignation.

Hopefully, the contemptible metaphor will bring public attention to acts that speak louder than words.

Taking the mickey

Thousands of soldiers were "thanked" for their service with homelessness and a lack of medical care and condemned for existence in torture and misery.  While America's defenders were dying on the streets or in wait-for-care lines, the V.A. has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on "projects" that, despite a variety of names, invariably end up with money and results disappearing into thin air.

The V.A. does take veterans for a ride on the front row of Space Mountain while blowing billions on "green energy," playing Obama's favorites, and repeating the discriminatory mantra "V.A. takes pride in serving LGBT veterans.  LGBT veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in accessing quality health care."

It's really simple – the most deserving citizens were turned into the most ostracized and vulnerable population.  Meanwhile, we keep hearing provocative and emetic "we care"-style speeches.

Snooping

In an insane turn of events, patriotism and integrity become the objects of scrutiny.  No wonder that veterans are once more the targeted population.  Since the V.A. worked really hard for the reputation of the serial violator of veterans' rights (and the department's own policies), whistleblowers are naturally not welcomed.  Apart from "monitoring technologies" to retaliate against whistleblowers, the V.A. has been using V.A. police to "persuade" unruly veterans not to commit crimes such as…hanging American flags on the walls of the V.A.'s Disney Palace.

It's quite ironic that the V.A. police have been "inspected" by their employer, too, and some police officers objected to secret surveillance by filing a lawsuit.  Will the V.A. police find courage and integrity to truly "serve and protect those who served" by opposing and disclosing coercive tactics used against veterans?

Goofing around

No matter if V.A. employees are organizing psychic medium parties at work or are directly involved in waitlist scandals – they are staying under the protective wing of the V.A.

 The unfireable squad's antics greatly contribute to the Kafkaesque image of the department, led by "value-based leadership"-preaching Robert McDonald.  Serial and compulsive "misstatements" of the V.A. secretary have already brought him Glenn Kessler's "four Pinocchios" trophy, and Citizens Against Government Waste named him April's Porker of the Month.

Recently, the V.A.'s mismanagement became so blatant and its lies so desperate that it looks as though Pinocchio & Co are afraid of the arrival of The Donald.  They sense that they won't be in Disneyland anymore.

Such a turn of events would mean many more interesting awards for Secretary McDonald, who seems to ignore a rule that every rookie on a dangerous turf either knows by heart or learns the hard way: if you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.