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>> it's clearly politics, but so far it has been for the most part in a very divided era. it has been extremely bipartisan. you may see that starting to break down now. i noticed on your broadcast, there were hints of that. but overall, so far, it's been kind of a unanimous, we need to fix this attitude. >> lastly, actually, one more question for you, dennis. do you see evidence that veterans groups are organizing to take these complaints public? there have been a long history in this country of veterans' protests. is this something that is visible, let's say, on the streets of arizona, or is ...

It seemed like a fairly tepid response to what has gone on here, and he's been excoriated for that response even on the floor of the house as congressman david scott just pointed out, a democrat. what do you think about the president's approach to what's going on here? >> well, clearly, this thing has, you know, metastasized far beyond just a partisan problem. it's become something that he's taking incoming from both sides of the aisle, and i think a big reason for that is president obama campaigned, said this was a cause, one of the causes of his presidency. he said that yesterday, which is g...

You if there's misconduct it will be punished. >> a fired up commander-in-chief speaking at length today about the widening va scandal and vowing any misconduct will be punished. those remarks at the white house came after an oval office meeting with veterans affairs secretary shun shin and rob nabors. preliminary results could come as early as next week. that, however, is not enough for some lawmakers and critics who continue to call for shinseki's ouster. for now president obama is expressing confidence that the man at the center of the scandal will fix the problem. >> rick shinseki, i think...

Mr. president, we need urgency! we need you to roll up our sleeves and get into these hospitals! >> reporter: the danger for the obama administration is that the va represents an established form of government-controlled health care. now, we've all known that the va's had problems through many, many administrations both democratic and republican, but this time it's occurring at a time when the obama administration is establishing another form of government-controlled health care, that, of course, being obamacare. and the white house needs to ease fears that obamacare does not serve, rather, i ...

Witnesses and being told by va, you don't need that witness, here's the witness we want to send. and they have done that over and over and over. patti ann: doug mckelway is live at the white house with more on this story. hi, doug. >> reporter: hi, patti ann. three senior officials from the department of veterans affairs did not show up for today's business meeting of the house committee on veterans affairs, even as they were asked to comply with a subpoena that means bring with you under the penalty of punishment. the committee wants thomas lynch, joan moody and michael huff to answer questio...