It's a shame this ***** ever got elected. He's worse than
Bush, since he knows what he's saying.


From Think Progress:

Rep. Gingrey Blames Soldiers For Walter Reed Squalor: 'If You Leave Food
Around You'll Get Mice'
Yesterday at the House Armed Services Committee hearing on veterans care,
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) attempted to stand out from the rest of Congress
and argue that the conditions in Building 18 weren't that bad. Instead of
criticizing the cockroach infestation, he said, "I was glad to know that
those cockroaches were belly up. It suggested to me that at least someone
was spraying for them."

He also tried to blame the soldiers for the conditions, stating, "And, of
course, if you leave food around in a motel room or a dorm room at a
college, you're going to get some mice show up at some point in time." Watch
it:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO GINGREY



Gingrey further blamed the media - specifically the Washington Post - for
the fallout, saying he was "shocked" that Army Secretary Francis Harvey and
Walter Reed commander Gen. George Weightmann were fired. "[A]sk the
Washington Post whose head should roll, I think [President Bush] probably
would be.the only satisfaction." He then added, "[L]et's try to take some of
the politics aside and some of the rhetoric, and try to solve the problem."

(HT: TP reader PC)

Digg It!

Transcript:

I want to say for the record that, Mr. Chairman, that, um, I have been to
Building 18. I have been to Walter Reed on a number of occasions, but
specifically in regard to this issue went to take a look first-hand.

Having grown up in a motel, when I was going to medical school and living
in one of the rooms, when I saw this old Walter Reed Motor Inn, it really
reminded me a lot of, Mr. Chairman, of a, of the motel that my parents had
in Augusta, Georgia. It's not a five-star hotel, make no mistake about it,
but it's not a flophouse. It's not a dump. It's not a dive. It needs some
work, no question about it. I'm not making excuses, of course. And when I
read the Washington Post report I was glad to know that those cockroaches
were belly up. It suggested to me that at least someone was spraying for
them, Mr. Chairman.

And, of course, if you leave food around in a motel room or a dorm room at
a college, you're going to get some mice show up at some point in time. But
there's no question that there's a problem. I've heard some of my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle suggest that specific heads should roll. I don't
know that, ah - I was a little bit shocked, quite honestly, that the
Secretary of the Army was relieved of his command and the commander at
Walter Reed, General Weightmann was relieved of his command and a change has
been made there.

I don't know what comes next, but I would guess if you ask, since General
Schoomaker has had to recuse himself, ask the Washington Post whose head
should roll I think it probably would be the Commander-in-Chief, would be
the only satisfaction, and that would be President Bush.

But here again, let's try to take some of the politics aside and some of
the rhetoric, and try to solve the problem.

It's a shame this ***** ever got elected. He's worse than
Bush, since he knows what he's saying.


From Think Progress:

Rep. Gingrey Blames Soldiers For Walter Reed Squalor: 'If You Leave Food
Around You'll Get Mice'
Yesterday at the House Armed Services Committee hearing on veterans care,
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) attempted to stand out from the rest of Congress
and argue that the conditions in Building 18 weren't that bad. Instead of
criticizing the cockroach infestation, he said, "I was glad to know that
those cockroaches were belly up. It suggested to me that at least someone
was spraying for them."

He also tried to blame the soldiers for the conditions, stating, "And, of
course, if you leave food around in a motel room or a dorm room at a
college, you're going to get some mice show up at some point in time." Watch
it:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO GINGREY



Gingrey further blamed the media - specifically the Washington Post - for
the fallout, saying he was "shocked" that Army Secretary Francis Harvey and
Walter Reed commander Gen. George Weightmann were fired. "[A]sk the
Washington Post whose head should roll, I think [President Bush] probably
would be.the only satisfaction." He then added, "[L]et's try to take some of
the politics aside and some of the rhetoric, and try to solve the problem."

(HT: TP reader PC)

Digg It!

Transcript:

I want to say for the record that, Mr. Chairman, that, um, I have been to
Building 18. I have been to Walter Reed on a number of occasions, but
specifically in regard to this issue went to take a look first-hand.

Having grown up in a motel, when I was going to medical school and living
in one of the rooms, when I saw this old Walter Reed Motor Inn, it really
reminded me a lot of, Mr. Chairman, of a, of the motel that my parents had
in Augusta, Georgia. It's not a five-star hotel, make no mistake about it,
but it's not a flophouse. It's not a dump. It's not a dive. It needs some
work, no question about it. I'm not making excuses, of course. And when I
read the Washington Post report I was glad to know that those cockroaches
were belly up. It suggested to me that at least someone was spraying for
them, Mr. Chairman.

And, of course, if you leave food around in a motel room or a dorm room at
a college, you're going to get some mice show up at some point in time. But
there's no question that there's a problem. I've heard some of my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle suggest that specific heads should roll. I don't
know that, ah - I was a little bit shocked, quite honestly, that the
Secretary of the Army was relieved of his command and the commander at
Walter Reed, General Weightmann was relieved of his command and a change has
been made there.

I don't know what comes next, but I would guess if you ask, since General
Schoomaker has had to recuse himself, ask the Washington Post whose head
should roll I think it probably would be the Commander-in-Chief, would be
the only satisfaction, and that would be President Bush.

But here again, let's try to take some of the politics aside and some of
the rhetoric, and try to solve the problem.