Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) railed against President Barack Obama on Wednesday, accusing him of mishandling the scandal currently plaguing the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The inspector general is investigating reports of misconduct at 26 VA facilities nationwide, including the Phoenix facility where 40 veterans allegedly died waiting for care while records were manipulated to hide excessive wait times. Fox News' Sean Hannity asked Palin why she believed Obama chose not to go after VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
“When you hold someone accountable, it takes an energy and resource. And Barack Obama is lazy,” Palin said. “In fact, he warned us that he was lazy and he attributed that to having been brought up in Hawaii. His words, not mine.”
Palin was probably referring to a 2011 conversation between Barbara Walters and Obama, in which the president admitted he may have picked up his "laziness" from growing up in Hawaii.
In the Fox News appearance, Palin added that the problem "starts at the top," saying Obama has "not been engaged."
“Another thing is, Barack Obama still doesn’t see what the main problem is. The main problem is government. It is not the solution, like Ronald Reagan said. It is the problem,” Palin added.
Obama spoke out Wednesday for the first time on the VA scandal, saying the situation is "dishonorable" and "disgraceful" if true. Though some expected the president to announce Shinseki's resignation at the Wednesday press conference, Obama said a full-scale investigation would predicate any action.
"I know people are angry and want swift action. I sympathize with that," he said. "But we have to let investigators do their job. The families deserve to know the facts."
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