Last week, Hillary Clinton said that problems at Veterans Affairs hospitals were not as widespread as Republicans had made it out to be. Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) took issue with Clinton's comments and accused the Democratic presidential nominee for politicizing the issue for her gain.
"Hillary Clinton said that the problems in the Veterans Administration were not as serious as Republicans make it out to be and Republicans are making a political issue. For the first time, the veteran's issue Hillary Clinton has made a political issue," McCain said.
The Clinton campaign was forced to defend her comments and said that Clinton would be releasing her plan to reform the VA in November. Brian Fallon, Clinton's press secretary, said that Clinton's comments were being taken out of context. He added that when Clinton is elected president that she is looking forward to working to reform the broken system.
"When she says that the problem isn't as bad as we are painting it out to be, no, it's worse. And so she doesn't understand the veterans. She doesn't understand what they need and she is politicizing the issue. Shame on her," McCain said.
The VA has been criticized for long wait times to see doctors as well as denying veterans access to care by saying they are no longer accepting new patients. In 2014, a CNN investigation revealed that veterans were dying while waiting for care because of the use of "secret lists" at the Phoenix, Arizona location.
Other Republican presidential candidates have criticized Clinton's statements, calling her out of touch.