Michael Gerson sees why the VA problem have stuck to the Obama team.
But I'd contend that the stickiest scandals are the ones that confirm pre-existing suspicions -- that draw neon outlines on an existing portrait. The Iran-contra affair confirmed a public impression that Ronald Reagan was disengaged. Bill Clinton's infidelity was further evidence of indiscipline. More recently, the image of Chris Christie as a bully was reinforced by a staff that engaged in malicious bullying.
This is precisely why President Obama's Veterans Affairs scandal is the most serious and damaging of his presidency. It is the Obama administration in sum and in miniature: incompetent management of a health system defended by crude media manipulation.
Now maybe more problems will stick.
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