Obama on VA: “I always take responsibility for whatever happens,” But This Was Really Bush’s Fault

There are several stories here. 

First, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned today, after meeting with President Obama:

The president said Mr. Shinseki told him “that he could not carry out the next stages of reform without being a distraction himself.”

“And so, you know, my assessment was, unfortunately, that he was right,” the president told reporters. “We’ve also got to deal with Congress and you guys.”

The president said VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, who has been in his post only three months, will take over on an interim basis.

Later, he was asked if he was responsible for the problems, and gave this classic Obama answer:

“I always take responsibility for whatever happens” in his administration.

The next sentence?

But he also said the VA’s problem “predates my presidency.”

So, yeah, he’s totally responsible, as he always does, but let me make it clear: