Conservative Bloggers Attack 12-Year-Old Who Gave Dem Address On Kids' Health Care

ABC News Political Radar:

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: With debate raging in Washington over children's health insurance, congressional Democrats found a new way to make their case for an expansion last weekend: Rather than have a senator or a congressman respond to President Bush's weekly radio address, they decided to have a child who was helped by the program speak directly to the public.

But the 12-year-old boy whom Democrats chose as their poster child is now at the center of a firestorm in Washington and beyond. Conservative bloggers who uncovered some details of the family's finances are blasting the family, calling the fact that they rely on federal insurance an example of how the State Children's Health Insurance Program has expanded beyond its original intent.

Read the whole story: ABC News Political Radar

Comments

[mirza]

All the Republicans do is smear---debate the issues --what a concept!

[DrMJG]

NO ONE in this country pays for thier health programs in toto. We band together to help each other. The MAJOR shift in the COST of insurance in this country came when insurance companies went from being mutual companies to being for profit investment companies. The purpose of the business went from supporting each other to making profits for investers. And the majority of THESE investors are other companies and not individual.

There have been some decryng the lack of an asset test here. Say they were to sell the assets which are the basis for their employment. Then what? The income of $45,000 is the HOUSEHOLD income. I see many who imply that that is HIS income and she has more because she works for a medical publisher.

AS one who sold medical coverage for individuals: His company might not be able to provide employee coverage. Insurance companies do not want to sell small business policies. So they price mom and pop stores out of the market. Many small individual policies are in effect feel good policies which have way to many exclusions to really cover many costs.

Finall, again, as I sold these policies, with two severely injured kids (they would be excluded)and his profession of woodworking, with a higher thn average injury possibility, any coverage that they COULD get could be prohibitively expensive as well. Yes, these MEGA health "affordable" policies one sees go out of their way to exclude most minimum wage blue color small busines firms who want to self insure.

Debate the reality as opposed to the ad hominum attacks from both sides and we just may get somewhere. The ad hominum attack on the boy (his sister too) and their family at best hides the real issue of the heath care crisis or exposes the ideological basis for not wanting to help each other, as mutual insurance was designed to do.

[Ammobob]

At least the Defeatocrats could have used a 12 year old with some 'street cred' on health care. His family sends two children to a premier private school costing the parents 40,000 big ones a year. The parents also own their own business and a commercial building outright. Their 'reported' income is 45,000 a year, riiiiiiiig­hhhtttttt!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1907687/posts

[BronxBorn]

The children are attending the school on scholarship.
But hey, don't let facts get in the way.

[CountryBeforeParty]

Way to avoid the real issues there.

Let's see the "mansion" this family lives in, in a most pristine of neighborhoods. Affordable private health insurance, probiding proper coverage, for a family of 6.

riiiight

Once again....y­ou lose...

[BronxBorn]

The Facts Bob:

1) Graeme has a scholarship to a private school. The school costs $15K a year, but the family only pays $500 a year.

2) His sister Gemma attends another private school to help her with the brain injuries that occurred due to her accident. The school costs $23,000 a year, but the state pays the entire cost.

3) They bought their “lavish house” sixteen years ago for $55,000 at a time when the neighborhood was less than safe.

4) Last year, the Frost’s made $45,000 combined. Over the past few years they have made no more than $50,000 combined.

5) The state of Maryland has found them eligible to participate in the CHIP program.

[serialcoma]

Facts mean nothing to repubs until they are facing a judge and looking at a long time in prison. Then they fear facts.. and truth.

republicans are the enemy.

[TakeBackAmerica]

Why do Republinazi's hate the truth? Why? Ammobob - if you want to have an intelligent conversation or debate, then you need to step away from the Rush/Hanni­ty/O'Liell­y talking points.

[Ammobob]

On the issue of the Frosts’ children attending the $20,000/yr Park School, Manley states the students have near-full tuition discounts. It’s not clear when or how long they’ve had those scholarships. For the record, Reilly, who has known the family for 10 years, told me it was his understanding the children’s grandparents paid the bill.

[AcitizenNJ]

Ammobob ..........­.

please, go whine with RUSH..... "street cred" your view of this kid along with his family is sad and bewildering. It has amazed me for years how conservatism politics has become barbaric with a kick'em when there down mentality. Is it that you feel someone is stealing your lunch money.

"Their 'reported' income is 45,000 a year, riiiiiiiig­hhhtttttt!

Maybe you should get their accountant , riiiiiiiig­hhhtttttt!

[MaryMullins]

Here is a little info for Americans.

If you have a 7 figure savings account at age 60 and then have a very serious illness that requires hospitalization, you could be wiped out in about 2 months.

[rwe]

True ,BUT HE CHOSE NLOT TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT HE COULD AFFORD!!!!!

[kay]

Oh, why do you think problems go away if you ignore them?

If he bought a base-level policy, which is all the self-employed can afford, and had two kids running up bills, he'd max it out anyway.
The hospital would treat, but he'd then have one of two choices: sell and spend all assets to pay the hospital, and then qualify for Medicaid,or discharge in bankruptcy.

Where did you get this wacky notion that "no one" pays for neccessary health care?

It's provided. Someone pays. It's not like if Republicans defund SCHIP his kids are going to die on the street. The bills will exist.

Get it through your head. It costs, it's ALWAYS provided, and pretending it doesn't is just silly.

[choada777]

At age 60?

[cynic]

Do you KNOW what health insurance costs for a single family? Group discounts are not available for the small-businessman. For a family of four it's around $1000 per month.

Okay, subtract that 12000 from the 45K annual income and calculate income tax. But, he will pay 15% on the 45K for FICA first (about 6500). Subtract those from the 45K and his AGI is about 27K. Assume that with his business etc he can exclude around another 7K. Income tax on 20K would be around 3K leaving him and his family 17K to live on for the year. Let's round that up to 18K and that leaves $1500/month to feed, clothe and house a family of four.

So, rwe... do you REALLY think they could afford that health insurance? Or are you such an ignorant asshole you'll parrot anything your masters tell you to?

[bdl0715]

How do you know he could afford it? A family of 4 living on $45000 per year? Doesn't seem there might be alot of extra cash for insurance there.

[AcitizenNJ]

Thank You Mary.... great point about healthcare that no one really wants to discuss and that is unless you are very rich you can't afford a major medical event.

This family, yes they could have chosen to buy some lower form of insurance but for all of you that found for one reason or another to condem them you need to go research your medical insurance policy to really understand that for most of you a major medical event such as this family endured and maybe, just maybe you'll sing a different tune.

[Purple Girl]

Yeah. Let's get fired up about this little family who might be getting an extra $100 a month- but ignore the Trillions in debt we are as a nation for the Repugs 'food stamp scam' for the Iraqi citizens -right (they aren't getting anything either) the welfre system is only for the Corps tha tneed our money, resources, reputation and blood for their liveihood. Let's really talk about the ones we provide 'welfare for' who are sucking this natioon (and the world ) dry. I'd be happier if my tax dollars were being 'wasted' on a family, then on a corporation that has no intentions of contributing to US or the world. WE ARE NOT GETTING GOOD RETURNS ON OUR INVOLUNTARY INVESTMENT INTO THESE CORPS. They plan to go 'bankrupt' and take their gold eggs and go to the next country to suck from (Iraq, Iran). their playing the Saudi's & Jordon right now .Mutal masturbation at this point- I think many of their cohorts are realizing the circle jerk has been broken, and are feeling used. Others are oblivious and are stroking the air in hopes of their return)

[WorkingClass]

The Democrats wont end the war or impeach the war criminals but they will pick a fight they think they cant lose over care for children. They wont propose health care for everybody but they will cautiously move a tiny increment in that direction. They wont pay for the program by taxing the rich. They choose instead a regressive cigarette tax. If people stop smoking the children will die? I am sick to death of Democrats.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

The Democratic Party Congress/Senators are BY FAR,
a better choice for the common good of the commom
working man in this counrty than Republicans WILL EVERY BE!

[only1Demvoter]

TAXmoney : Yep. If you're Working Class, and you vote Rethug... You're cutting off your own nose to spite your own face !!

Protect The Working Class !!

More to follow. -ralph

[itmaybetoolate]

Read the story more carefully. He cannot afford to cover himself, much less his children. That is the point - many, many people in this country, especially those who are self-employed, cannot afford health care for themselves and their families. That is why we need these programs. And, give me just one example of "liberal" bloggers who have harassed someone by calling their home, demanding personal information, and visiting their home! Just one example. These people (and those who support them) are traitors to this country - they are working for a theocracy. I guess we should just be glad they aren't sending blackwater to round us up - yet.

[itmaybetoolate]

I don't know why this posting is here - it was a response to a comment by resident chimp (further on).

[A Meat Beetle]

That happened to me in another thread a few minutes ago. I responded to one comment and my post showed up underneath another completely different comment.

Maybe we should all just turn our computers off and meet at a brew house. Since BurritoAssassin claims to be in the "upper income barckets", she (he? it?) can buy. Make mine a Sockeye Stout!

[MajorKong]

These people are like trained attack dogs and they will go after whoever their political masters tell them to.

[A Meat Beetle]

Attack dogs? Actually, they're like a pack of miniature poodles, annoyingly nipping at our ankles and making obnoxious little yapping sounds. One good kick and they sail like footballs.

[StillAmused]

When do the wingnut sickos cut to the chase and storm the neighborhood with pitchforks and torches?

Looks like the time-honored wisdom about a cornered animal applies to the suffocating right wing.

[VOTER]

So true. I want to know how much $$$$ these Republican hacks are being PAID FOR THEIR "PATRIOTIS­M."

Which insurance plans do they have? How much do they pay? What freebie have they received: gifts, trips, etc.?
Their military service if any? Volunteer work at Children's hospitals?

This young man hit the GOP right where their human hearts should be.

Hopefully he gives a speech at next year's Dem. convention and exposes these Republican creeps in front of the world.

[JuliaRain]

Taxpaying American citizens deserve health care!
Taxes are for health care.

Give it to them already! They work hard for their money and pay taxes so they are owed proper health care.

Don't tell me this family didn't deserve to get SChip or whatever it's called. They pay taxes too.

American taxpayers are being robbed of their health care.

Disgusting.

TAXES ARE FOR HEALTH CARE. So give it to the people who are paying them - THE AMERICAN TAX PAYER.

Enough with neo-con, fascist, evil, cruel, ignorant arguments. I hope you thugs all age painfully and quickly so you'll stop with the lies.

Some Americans don't seem to care at all about their fellow citizens or the taxpaying citizens of the future (we call them children, you call them liabilities).

Stop robbing your fellow Americans of what they've earned. You people are an embarrassment to humanity.

[Thaigold]

Newsflash
This country is guided by an 18th Century constitution that enshrines private property rights. That’s why we booted the King of England. It’s also why we are so selfish.
Billions for Iraqi “democracy­.” Nothing for our children. Shame.

[rabun666]

Thaigold narcissistic consumerism and the gluttony it creates and fosters is my right as an American because Bush told me so when after 9/11 he declared shopping was a display of patriotism. Of course god told Bush that narcissistic consumerism and gluttony by American is god inspired therefore god has given me the right, obligation to be a narcissistic consumer glutton because it is in the constitution therefore patriotic.

[kay]

It actually makes me laugh, because the idea is that they can convince the people who rely on SCHIP (and there are millions of them) that they don't need it.

By calling this family at home, conservatives will somehow convince their own voters that those who rely on SCHIP are irresponsible deadbeats.

But, SCHIP is wildly popular, and nowhere more popular than in low-wage, race to the bottom "red" states.

Big families, one earner, no employer-provided health insurance. It's true where I live. If you're looking for the SCHIP recipients where I live, head straight to the mega-church, and look for the homeschooling family with 6 kids.

Who do they think are relying on SCHIP in Georgia? Why do they think the GOP governor of Georgia is stumping against Bush? Because he knows who rely on the program. Conservative families, that's who. Conservative voters. "Liberal" families, too, of course, but it's not like if you're a Republican you don't sign up. IF that were true, it wouldn't be so popular in "red" states.

They can sell crap about Iraq because it's far away. It may be more difficult to actually contradict the daily facts of people's lives.

[rabun666]

In all likelihood their are millions of Republicans enjoying SCHIP benefits. Leave it to Republicans to gang up on a 12 year old. Since they have lost the war in Iraq they are conducting a domestic war against Americans, just as Hitler did when his foreign adventures started to fail.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

One thing that I have never heard mentioned on either a national or state level. The rightwing nutjobs are continually spouting off..."don­'t give people choices of government funded healthcare vrs. private insurance companies because they will choose the government sponsored service because it is BETTER". Gosh, golly, gee. Then the very next sentence is "If you want the same care the folks of New Orleans got, let the government handle health care". Which one is it, a**holes? And heaven forbid, someone want the BETTER program for their families..­.and see some benefit from all of the taxes they pay. You repubes are idiots!!! But....hey­, let's all go attack Iran.

[kay]

Conservatives are using bullying and coercion to chill political speech again.

I like the calls to the family employer.

Nice touch.

That'll shut 'em up. There won't be any more citizen ads disputing the official Party Line on health care. Not if it means a visit from the Speech Police.

I bet that kid doesn't even wear a flag pin.

[markusmarkus]

"I bet that kid doesn't even wear a flag pin."

I almost blew coffee when I read that line. Great line!

[only1Demvoter]

markus : Kay is one of our best and brightest.

kay : I wonder what slime they'll spew next... ( ? ) -ralph

[zull2]

Attacking a little kid. Well, if Republithugs cannot win an argument on the issues, they go after kids.

Or symbols. A growing number of people just aren't buying their message anymore, and that quite frankly terrifies them. They should be happy with the cash they've suckered out of this country, they should just take it and move out. And if you're a Republithug and you didn't get any cash, so sorry. Next time you sign on with a bunch of thieving scum, make sure you get your cut in writing first.

[ResidentChimp]

Huffers only like it when they are the ones using children. They used a poor example and now are trying to smear anyone who takes exception to their argument. Democrats used the child as a shield to hide behind and are smearing anyone who protests their actions.

[HypocrisyAlarm]

If you had done your research, you would know that the young man and his family WERE a good example. The publicans are using their typical attack the messenger, distorting and lying, to avoid actually confronting an issue. The spin is that the family CAN afford private schools but CANNOT afford health insurance. Underlying the FACT that the children attend private school, are also the FACTS that the son has a scholarship and that the daughter has special needs as a result of the car accident and that her tuition is largely funded by the state.

I can see, looking at my own finances, that supporting a family of four on $45-50 per year is tough duty.

[ResidentChimp]

The question still remains. Was the father being responsible not carrying insurance?

[HypocrisyAlarm]

Sorry, that was $45-50K per year.

[kay]

Did the brain trust on the Right really drive past these people's house?

Call them at work?

You're not waiting in the parking lot when school lets out, are you?

Pawing through the trash at the curb, looking for bank statements?

Is it incredibly embarrassing calling yourself a conservative yet?

The lengths you people will go to protect the insurance industry. And, unpaid! You're volunteers! Amazing.

[serialcoma]

Republicans and conservatives are shamed and embarrassed by nothing and the only thing they fear is truth and honesty (the two things that put them in jail).

[only1Demvoter]

kay : Just look at NOLA !! -ralph

[CountryBeforeParty]

The kid is proof that this program works, and works very well.

Just think, everyone here helped this kid and his sister in their recovery from a terrible accident.

Isn't that great? Isn't that American? Isn't that Christian?

[Rumplestiltskin]

I wonder if the Bushies will catch on this trick. Trot out a twelve year old Iraqi kid to make their points about the war, and the Dems can't say anything about about it, because that would be attacking a twelve year old. Hell, lets make twelve year olds the spokespeople for both political parties. They probably are smarter than the goofs in Washington.

[rabun666]

Rumples... FYI, the Republican pretend christian fundamenta­list-churc­hianity-re­ligionists use children all the time, especially in school to force schools to violate the constitution by sponsoring their phony religious doctrines which are the fornications of the bible. This is because the parents are chickenhawkshits and use their own children to do their bidding for them. Their biddings are false doctrines, therefore the doctrines of Satan which they want to use the public schools for as their megaphone, the doctrines of Satan. U don't seem to know that this is Republican party tactic.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Not to mention the last Pro-Choice march I attended, the groups of hillbillies with their four and five year olds holding up huge posters of dismembered fetuses and screaming obsenities at us. How would you like to have a look into the future at what kind of nutjobs these kids will be!!!

[A Meat Beetle]

Churchianity? I like that! Mind if I use it?

And you're right. I remember seeing a story on the news some years back about a group of anti-choice terrorists who had surrounded a women's health center. On several occasions some of their children rushed the police lines. They terrorist leaders claimed that the children were acting spontaneously, on their own, but an enterprising camera person managed to get up close to the terrorists and actually got footage and audio of the terrorist leaders telling the kids to storm the clinic. This was a particularly violent confrontation and these kids could have been hurt, but when you are a churchianity (I like it!) terrorist you put your twisted social agenda before the safety and welfare of your own children.

[only1Demvoter]

rabun666 : * Churchianity !! ( Good one... )

* New Sniglet. -rabun666

-ralph

[Grunty1]

Bush wouldn't be able to find a 12 year stupid enough to shrill for him.

[cynic]

You mean a shell-shocked, half-burned, homeless 12 year old?

yeah... shrubbie & co. would look soooooo smart trotting out a happy-go-lucky 12 year old Iraqi. If one were still alive.

Rumple, you are such an asshole. Why don't you shut up and clear the air for a while so people can breathe.

[loki]

This is a typical example of the republican mindset.

I only hope that HuffPo follows up with this story and keeps us informed on how the Repugs treat this story now that they know the truth..

Then again, the truth never does any good with a Repug. The truth only clouds their agenda.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

The repugs know the truth now and are traeting it just like they always do, ignore it and keep on yelling. Think about it for a minute. Have you ever heard O'Reilly or Limbaugh apologize for any misinformatio they put out there when confronted with te facts? they just change the spin.

[rabun666]

The Democrats need to introduce legislation condemning the Republicans public "high tech lynching[Clarence Thomas quote]"of a twelve year old. Afterall if the Democrats won't stick up for a 12 year old they won 't stick up for us.

[CountryBeforeParty]

The truth always gets in the way of a good story.

Like the Bible... ;)