Why Do You Want This Job?
Robert McDonald was praised by Chairman Bernie Sanders and other members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs at a confirmation hearing Tuesday on McDonald’s nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The committee must approve President Barack Obama’s nomination of McDonald, a former CEO of the consumer products firm Procter & Gamble, before the nomination may be considered by the full Senate.
“I think Mr. McDonald brings to us two very important qualities,” Sanders said . “No. 1, he is familiar with the military because he has served in the military for many years and he brings with that service a passion to take care of our veterans. And that is obviously an essential quality that we want from our secretary. But the other quality that he brings is that he has been the CEO of one of the major American corporations which has many, many employees. There is no question that we need good quality management, we need transparency, we need accountability and I believe Mr. McDonald’s corporate experience will give him the tools that the needs to create a well-run and accountable VA.”
Sanders also praised the VA but said it must be equipped with enough doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to provide quality health care in a timely fashion. In a reference to recent troubles at some VA health care facilities, Sanders asked McDonald a blunt question: Why do you want this job?
