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Here’s the $52K Taxpayer-Funded ‘Patton’ Parody You Never Wanted to See

A $52,000 Department of Veterans Affairs video parodying George C. Scott’s famous “Patton” monologue surfaced Wednesday, as lawmakers, most notably Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA), have called on the agency to explain its costly taxpayer-funded junkets.

Wait — the VA spent $52,000 on a single video? Yes. Yes, they did.

For a bit of perspective, consider the following: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for the average American is $51,000, which, of course, means the VA spent more on a this video than the average American makes in a year.

And it was all taxpayer-funded.

The video was commissioned in connection with two VA conferences held last year in Orlando, Fox News reports.

“Those conferences,” the report continues, “ran taxpayers a total of $5 million and were held for HR workers — are now under investigation by the department’s inspector general.”

Here’s the video in question, [keep in mind this cost $52,000 to produce]:

“The video was obtained by the House Veterans Affairs Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, both of which are looking into the conferences,” Fox reports.

Since details of the VA’s lavish spending habits have come to light, department officials have promised to crack down on misconduct.

“Allegations of misconduct received by the VA Office of Inspector General regarding two training conferences in 2011 are unacceptable,” the department said in a written statement, adding that it plans to “hold accountable” anyone who “misused taxpayer dollars or violated our standards of conduct.”

The department has also ordered an outside review of its conferences. The IG’s office says it began the review back in April.

“Since then, a series of interviews have uncovered questionable activities and we have notified both the secretary and Congress of these issues,” the office said in a written statement.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Read Rep. Issa’s letter to the VA requesting the video and documents here.

Comments (43)

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  • olddog
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:19am

    Get rid of the Va and fund the military for insurance to go to their own DR.’s, we do it for the Senate, spend 2 yrs in the senate and your covered for Life and paid for Life. Who do we need most, senators to make laws and take from us or the military to protect us?

    Report Post » olddog  
    • JRook
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:11am

      So what’s new about the military wasting money??? For example, given Russia has few if any nuclear submarines, why do we still maintain a fleet of over 50??? At $billions of dollars to make and $100 of millions to operate they are a waste of money.

      Report Post »  
  • AllLost
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:17am

    It is ok because the VA takes such good care of our fighting men and women….whores of government each and every one of those VA bastards. To borrow a phrase from the General.

    Report Post »  
    • myway
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:12am

      When we arrive, “we will be their first?” WTF This is not about veterans or the VA making changes, these jerks can still lose your information. These people adjudicate claims and veterans wait years and end up committing suicide. If you see that drunk general tell him Marines can tell time! We sure as hell know when it is time for a change of command.

      Report Post » myway  
  • TheRiflemanNextDoor
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:48am

    so….the VA sees the need to spit on the iconic memory of America’s greatest fighting general of the 20th century to remind their legions of make-work proles to do their fking jobs????

    Report Post » TheRiflemanNextDoor  
  • Wrabbit2000
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:25am

    General Patton must be rolling in his grave at this. What a terrible use of a classic symbol. The money just adds insult to injury in my personal opinion.

    Report Post »  
  • Harvey1
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:37am

    Just think how many Vets could have been treated with the over the million dollars the first woman wasted on vacations showing off for her afriggen american friends. The two children also went on vacations with our money. None of these females were elected! The first dog ( no the four legged one ) was flown overseas on his own jet. How long can these POSs keep getting away with criminal acts and no prosecution?

    Report Post » Harvey1  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:15am

    They have to do something they hate and that is look backwards for some motivation even in parody. This stinks on ice as Beck would say! Get this rubbish out of here when and if we have another election where true patriots clean house, re-establish trust with the people.

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • Miami
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 11:22pm

    As a combat harden marine who is proud of his service, of his country and the sacrifices my brothers have made. Though not as proud of my Commanders & Chiefs‘ of who I’ve served under, I was not serving them but the Country. Great as it is, I pray that we come out of this bureaucratic era, where our finest are mocked and our riches plundered. As our history is destroyed and replaced egotistic tag lines from a would be dictator.

    Marking territory as if he had vanquished all, himself. Taking credit for others work, while rewriting history. Graffiti artist have more tact and class than this would be dictator.

    Hell, Castro could go hours without a Teleprompter or written speech and all without a stutter

    Report Post » Miami  
    • Miami
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 11:23pm

      PS Why are these morons wasting military money…?

      Report Post » Miami  
    • maverick4harlot
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:02am

      Miami I personally wish I knew you. I consider myself one of te biggest ******** alive. I believe in truth and honesty. I dont believe in our leaders. Not any of them. Love to meet you if you feel the same way. I might actually learn something.

      Report Post »  
    • myway
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:56am

      Semper Fi! The UNIONS run the VA. Pathetic parasites that need to be told to respect the veteran. I have to leave this story to honestly go to an appointment at the Houston VA.

      Report Post » myway  
  • Bum thrower
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 11:05pm

    WTF!!! who are these moreones? the could give a big hary rats anal region about the veterans………….BS……………….

    Report Post »  
  • simply one voice
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 10:22pm

    I think these people responsible at the VA should be forced to go to Blyth, CA, to the top of the ridge and forced to deeply study the magnificent Museum of General Patton. Outside there are tanks everywhere; vintage WWII from the European Theatre.

    For anyone to make a mockery of one of the greatest ‘Pit Bulls’ under Eisenhower who was intent on killing every Nazi he could for America’s freedom. Now, look at Germany today. The Nazi party is rising fast again, also in Greece. After the Marshall Plan after the war, we of course dropped the ball. Like in the movie, “Charlie Wilson’s War”, “…it’s the End Game we always **** up!

    Report Post » simply one voice  
  • TheFonz
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:43pm

    I know of some high school television and film production students who could have put together something just as good at no cost.

    Report Post » TheFonz  
  • Centurian
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:41pm

    I have a little tidbit for you VA “professionals”:

    My wife and I had got to watch her uncle DIE from the stupidity and ineptitude of the VA.

    He had problems with going to the bathroom and abdominal pains in January of this year. He went to the VA, who passed it off as it “non-threatening” and then proceeded to drag their feet for almost two months with tests and medications.

    Finally, in June, after months of getting the run around, he went to the hospital in Alpena, Michigan, where the doctors there ran the same battery of tests that the VA did. The outcome? They found large cysts engulfing his liver, and the immediately sent him to UM Hospital in Ann Arbor, where they confirmed that he had liver cancer.

    He was on meds to battle the cancer, but it got worse when his bile ducts clogged shut. He was rushed to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where they performed two operations, but to no avail. They could not get his bilirubin count down. He was sent home with the prognosis of a month to live. He died two weeks later.

    I had an uncle on my side who was a Vietnam Vet who lost his leg after coming back to the states. The VA hospital he went to screwed that operation up and he spent the next 17 years in pain up until he died.

    Thank you VA, for having some of the WORST medical care that my tax dollars can afford.

    Conclusion: Get rid of the VA! We have agencies and medical people in the private sector who can do what they do, and for less!

    Report Post » Centurian  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 10:42pm

      I am sorry to hear about your wife’s uncle. Unfortunately, this is not unusual of the standard of care at the VA.

      I am a disabled vet and for several years it was my only option for health care. During that time I was misdiagnosed several times. I have been given medication that was counterindicated for the condition and went into convulsions. And, you are right, they love to order tests and tell you nothing is life threatening. Only later to find out they were wrong. There is no accountability as you cannot sue the doctors for malpractice. Yes, you can file a tort claim against the government. However, in my case, since I am 100% disabled, I would never really be able to collect anything since I am already receiving disability compensation.

      For the lousy care I got, I had to travel 135 miles round trip. Once, I was told I should have physical therapy. Can you imagine traveling that far for treatment when there is a PT office litterally within walking distance of me. But, the VA won’t pay. The system is full of incompetent, careless practitioners, not all of them but many. A voucher system or system like medicare would save money and give better care. The VAs only mission is the mission to preserve the beuacracy.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • myway
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:15am

      I could not agree more! I have had it with UNIONS and the protection these jerks get. Sorry about your family this goes on all day long everyday non-stop.

      Report Post » myway  
  • The Bald Eagle
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:17pm

    Jerks can’t even get the award ribbons in correct order… If Patton was alive today he would slap those Son’s of Bitches for wasting funds on this crap when it should be going to relieve claims, and back logs.

    Report Post »  
    • Centurian
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:44pm

      If Patton were alive today, I believe he would be SHOOTING some of the people at the VA for the way they are treating the troops and veterans.

      Report Post » Centurian  
  • DSTSS2010
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:11pm

    VA= Veteran Antagonizers. If you want an idea what health care will be like under
    Obamacare, just go to a Veterans hospital.

    Report Post » DSTSS2010  
  • MMSands
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 6:43pm

    That’s actually pretty cheap for something that long, given what producers are likely to ask for these days… Not that it’s worth the money, just that it’s about what one would expect something that looks like that to cost. Of course, back in the day of clip bins, that kind of pricing was a tad more justifiable.

    Report Post » MMSands  
  • Vincero
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 6:15pm

    They even got the firearm wrong. Gen. Patton carried an 1873 Colt Single Action Army. Silver plated, engraved and IVORY grips, not pearl.

    Report Post » Vincero  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:06pm

      Or his S&W Model 27 .357 magnum.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • TheFonz
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:45pm

      That’s right. Pearl-handled pistols are for pimps in cheap New Orleans whorehouses!

      Report Post » TheFonz  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 11:54pm

      Patton carried at different times, .45 colt automatic in Mexico, in the First World World .45 colt revolver, and in WW two Smith and Wesson .357 magnums. He also carried at times pockets pistols. However I suppose he wore what ever he felt like and no one can say with certainty what he wore every day. The grips on the Colts. and on the S&W’s were Ivory.

      Report Post »  
  • LakeHartwellSailor
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:56pm

    Pure, utter GARBAGE! Watching these bureaucrats talking about how these HR “Professionals” feel connected to the veterans, and how they think the veterens are so important. Yet the veterans I know who go to VA hospitals in the Atlanta area for care tell me its a royal pain in the rear, the service is slow and apathethy is rampant. These government HR employees are talking like they “care”, but in the end, they are just lazy overpaid, bureaucrats who in general don’t give a rats patooty about our heroic veterans who put their lives on the line…they just want to do as little work as possible, and get the most money and vacation time as they can so they can retire and live “the good life”.

    Report Post » LakeHartwellSailor  
  • Libfreezone
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:39pm

    What a load of garbage! My Veteran father-in-law has to jump through 300 hoops to get anything out of the VA and they drop $52,000 for this? Why don’t they just do PowerPoint’s like the rest of the working stiffs!

    Report Post » Libfreezone  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:20pm

      I haven‘t been able to get into the closest VA Hospital for even a check up since about ’02. A little over 2 years ago I jumped through the hoops with the local VA office after getting some info in the mail. That was the first time I had received anything from them since about ‘02 as well. We managed to get some issues with my son’s college cleared up, but that is handled entirely through our state’s program. Just had to have about a dozen face to face meetings for the U.S. VA to admit that I was actually a veteran, even though I have a notebook full of paperwork. When I retired in the ’90s they said I could do all of that with just my ID and a DD214. Fun people to deal with.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • lukerw
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:37pm

    In WWII… there were 8 Million in the Military… and NO NANNYs to help them to ADJUST!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • jungle J
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:51pm

      you don’t want progress..people like you are the combat veterans enemy.

      Report Post »  
    • scjeff
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:52pm

      And General Patton slapped the “shell shocked” soldier and sent him back to the front.

      Report Post » scjeff  
  • Slowman101
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:30pm

    What a joke!

    Report Post »  
  • JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:28pm

    What crap!

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:27pm

    Couldn’t get George Clooney to do it pro-Bono?

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • DetritusScreener
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:26pm

    This is infuriating! Do you know how many veterans are waiting to get assistance right now? There are wounded veterans that have been waiting years to get proper medical treatment. This time and money should have gone to helping those soldiers. I know because I am one of them. The process is back logged and takes years to get medical and financial assistance. It makes me want to scream. The system is so wrong and many of the government employees don’t care one way or the other when you go for help, they just want to sit and get a pay check. They won‘t do anything they don’t have too. What a waste. This is typical. The soldiers that have done the hard jobs and given part of their life away and then the ones back here that are supposed to help them put their life back together just milking the system and wasting resources that the wounded troops need. AAAAAHHHHHHGGG!

    Report Post » DetritusScreener  
  • Small World
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:23pm

    That’s what happens when you spend others people money.This need to stop. Any wounder we are in such trouble.

    Report Post »  
  • FREEDOMoverFEAR
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:21pm

    I couldn’t watch more than a few seconds. When did boys stop growing up into men. Probably when we started letting women vote.

    Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:17pm

    Seems our pathetic Congress cannot keep up investigating the taxpayer funded boondogles as fast as the various departments can schedule and attend them…..

    Report Post »  
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