VA secretary facing bipartisan firestorm over Disney comments

Published May 24, 2016 2:12pm MST

U.S.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald is scrambling to calm a growing bipartisan firestorm after downplaying veteran wait times at VA hospitals by comparing them to wait times for rides at Disney theme parks.

McDonald made the comments Monday morning, and faced a backlash from Capitol Hill almost immediately.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., went so far Tuesday as to call for McDonald's resignation.

"Secretary McDonald's preposterous statement is right out of Never Never Land," Blunt said in a statement. "I call on him to resign because it's clear he cannot prioritize getting our veterans the health care they deserve and have earned in a timely manner."

One of the toughest condemnations came from Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat and Iraq war veteran who lost her legs in Iraq and still receives health care at a VA hospital.