White House defends Obama’s pick to lead veterans affairs

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Monday defended President Barack Obama's choice to lead the troubled Veterans Administration, stressing that the nominee is a seasoned manager and dismissing concerns that he may lack a understanding of issues facing recent war veterans. Obama announced at the Veterans Administration building that he is nominating Bob McDonald, a former chief executive of Procter & Gamble, to be the next secretary of veterans affairs. Obama called McDonald "one of our nation's most accomplished business leaders and managers." "We've got to regain the trust of our veterans with a VA that is more effective, more efficient and that truly puts veterans first. McDonald, 61, would succeed Eric Shinseki, who resigned amid a scandal over widespread delays in getting healthcare to veterans.