This post has been updated.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is selecting former Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald as his choice to be secretary of Veterans Affairs.
McDonald, 61, is a native of Gary, Ind., who grew up in Chicago. He was at the helm of Proctor and Gamble from July 2009 to July 2013.
If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would replace Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson, who replaced Eric Shinseki as head of the agency.
Shinseki resigned May 30 after apologizing for the agency’s problems.
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Cannot wait to hear of his qualifications. At first take I was bothered that he was not a combat veteran himself but perhaps by not having worked his way up through the ranks he might tend to be less patient and tolerant of VA bureaucracy.
Maybe he’ll treat those who served America more like the stockholders we truly are instead of treating us as impositions on someone’s daily routine of dodging having to make decisions.
You best bring a big stick and an iron stomach to this job sir!
great comment - I also want to see what he brings to the table. Vets deserve so much better than they have typically received and cleaning up the VA is a BIG job.
What, what???
POTUS has nominated someone who doesn’t have any experience with serving in the military but just so happens to have loads of experience heading up a corporation that sells consumer products (some of which are medically related) to head up the VA?
No fucking way.
What the VA does NOT need is some former corporate head who doesn’t understand the medical needs of veterans but certainly understands THE BOTTOM LINE of balance sheets and - what a coincidence - probably can figure out ways to privatize parts of the VA until there’s no trace of government involvement at all. Oh, - and did I mention that P&G would be selling lots of their products to the gov’t. for a nice price?
See, this is what I was thinking about when Shiseki’s head was served up as an offering to the powers that be who think that the gov’t. has no business in running the VA. Mind you, it’s still OK for the gov’t. to send you to war but has no obligation to take care of you once you’re maimed. Hope Ms. Duckworth is happy with the outcome she helped to facilitate.
No.
EDIT: Apologies. Turns out he had served in the military many years ago. The remainder of my feelings still stand.
McDonald also graduated “at the top of his class at West Point” unlike the C+ Yale graduate who became president. If the VA buys P&G products at a discount, that shouldn’t be a problem because the majority of household in this country use them. Unless of course this is nothing but a fiendish plan on his part to increase sales. He’s a successful manager, and at this point the VA needs one desperately.
He is a veteran (5 yrs in 82nd airborne) and a 1975 graduate of West Point. He worked his way up through the ranks at Proctor 'n Gamble and has done very well. As CEO he increased the share value by 50% in his several years as CEO. This may be a strong choice.