Confidence? Is VA chief Eric Shinseki the problem? In a word, 'yes.'

Right now, it is not really about who should or should not have known about the problems at the VA medical centers -- at least when it comes to the question of whether or not Secretary Eric Shinseki should remain as chief of the VA.

The questions about the actual unraveling of this scandal are for another time.

But the reason why the VA chief should go is that it would be difficult for anyone to believe that he could be trusted to fix the mess.

Not because it is all his fault.

Not because he is dishonest or untrustworthy.

The reason we need new leadership is that he did not speak up -- out loud -- and stomp his feet letting the world know there was a problem that he was addressing, that he knew existed and that he had been briefed on previously.

He did not let the country know that there was a crisis when it comes to the treatment of the nation's veterans -- or, possibly, even worse, he did not know there was one.

He either is a terrible and naive manager -- or he was not familiar enough with what he was managing to know the signs or to respond to the concerns.

That doesn't make him a bad man -- he is a war hero himself. It just makes him not the right person to fix a multibillion-dollar department that is in crisis.

It is not going to be easy to find someone to take over the reins at the VA. Who would want to take on the job now?

But there is no question we need someone -- quickly -- and not someone whose appointment is a political plum or a way to defuse criticism in advance of a tough mid-term election.

We need someone with the chops to get this problem addressed and the job done.

We need a leader -- probably on the level of at least Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower -- who is going to take command and get this mission accomplished.

And someone who will take no prisoners and someone who owes no one any favors.

It will be one tough bill to fill, but it is what the VA needs.

Published in Editorials on May 30, 2014 11:37 AM