video: Obama explains pick in exclusive NBC interview ( Shinseki as VA secretary)

[cal04]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28086865#28086865

President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary, telling NBC News in an exclusive interview that "he and I share a reverence for those who serve."

Obama will announce the selection of Shinseki, the first Army four-star general of Japanese-American ancestry, at a news conference Sunday in Chicago. He will be the first Asian-American to hold the post of Veterans Affairs secretary, adding to the growing diversity of Obama’s Cabinet.

“I think that General Shinseki is exactly the right person who is going to be able to make sure that we honor our troops when they come home,” Obama said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” to be broadcast Sunday.

[bertman]

1. This is SWEEETTTT!! and should get wide praise from vets everywhere. Shinseki was the

Army Chief of Staff who was forced into retirement by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld because he told Field Marshall von Rumsfeld that he needed more troops to secure Iraq once the war was won.
Of course, Rumsfeld was wrong and Shinseki was right.

Now our President-elect will rub the NeoCons noses in their own turd.

It will be so beneficial to have a Veterans Affairs Secretary who will be on the side of veterans. This is a very good pick.

[Libertyfirst]

2. GO Obama GO!

Great pick. Now our veterans will have someone who understands and cares about them. This is a hot button issue with me and this guy will kick ass to get things done.