"For a president who came to office hoping to restore public faith in government as a force for good in society, the mess at the Department of Veterans Affairs threatens to undercut his reputation for effectiveness," writes New York Times reporter Peter Baker in a "news analysis."

That's a little like describing the Monica Lewinsky scandal as a blemish on Bill Clinton's reputation for marital fidelity. Yet while the premise that Barack Obama ever had a "reputation for effectiveness" is dubious,...