MSNBC host Chuck Todd ripped what he called a "wave of manufactured outrage" Tuesday over Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald comparing wait times for vets to people waiting in line at a Disney theme park.
McDonald's comments sparked anger on both sides of the aisle given the VA's horrific scandal first uncovered in 2014, when endless wait times and secret waiting lists led to the deaths of dozens of veterans and no care provided for thousands more.
"When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line? Or what’s important? What’s important is, what’s your satisfaction with the experience?" McDonald said during a Christian Science Monitor event on Monday. "And what I would like to move to, eventually, is that kind of measure."
Combat veteran and U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.) called the remarks tone-deaf, and Republicans like Sens. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), also a veteran, and Roy Blunt (R., Mo.) called for his resignation.
However, Todd, in an unusually strong tone on Meet The Press Daily, dismissed the rhetoric from upset politicians as mere pandering in an election year.
"It seems we are not living in a post-political correctness world," Todd said. "This week, you saw lawmakers on both sides get their sense of righteous indignation up, wrapping themselves in the flag following these comments from Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald."
After playing audio of the remarks, Todd snarked that candidates who were facing tough campaigns in 2016 were among those expressing criticism.
"Well, a wave of manufactured outrage, and some of it real, washed over McDonald in the day since those inartful comments made headlines," Todd said.
McDonald would not apologize directly for the comments Tuesday on MSNBC. He told Andrea Mitchell that "if I was misunderstood or if I said the wrong thing, I’m glad that I have the opportunity to correct it."
He made a more conciliatory printed statement, however, saying he did not intend to sound like he didn't take veterans' care seriously.