Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John Cornyn are seeking a probe into reports that veterans had been recruited for tests on drugs linked to suicide, ABC News reports. An ABC News/Washington Times story noted that vets were given the anti-smoking drug Chantix in government tests, but for more than three months, VA doctors did not tell patients about possible serious side effects.
"It is outrageous and unacceptable that our government would irresponsibly endanger veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our country," Obama said yesterday. The White House shot back, criticizing the news report, which focused on one veteran. It was irresponsible to take "the experience of this one veteran and trying to leave the impression that this was a situation for all veterans," a spokesman said. (More veterans stories.)