Bob O’Leary

What politician would be against sick kids? Especially those that claim to be “compassionate conservatives” who practice “family values.”

Well, not only does George W. Bush veto the SCHIP act that would provide children of middle-class families health insurance, but his lapdogs Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin think it’s perfectly okay to go after Graeme Frost, a 12-year-old boy who delivered a two-minute speech supporting SCHIP and asking Bush to reconsider his veto.

Graeme and his sister are recovering from an auto accident. Grame had been in a coma. His parents, both working, would have lost everything paying the hospital bills had it not been for the state health insurance. Graeme’s parents are not poor, but Graeme’s dad is a self-employed woodworker.

But the right-wingers accused the Frosts of lying, exaggerating their income, and pointing out that their kids attend private school (they do, but on scholarship). One published their home address. Stalkin’ Malkin even went to the boy’s house. The family has received hate mail and even death threats (see The Swiftboating of Graeme Frost in Time).

And who gave these human media slime this personal information? One source was a staffer of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), according to Keith Olberman.

GOP attacks 12-year-old

This cuts too close to home. My son is insured through the state program in Florida, although we pay almost $2000 a year. It is still better than what private insurers offer, since my employer does not offer any health insurance. Since I have type-2 diabetes, no private insurance will touch me. The bill that Bush vetoed would help families like the Frosts and mine.

Compared to adults, kids are a bargain. An occasional cold, some shots, and maybe a broken bone is the most that they need for medical care. But when kids get seriously ill or hurt, no middle class family can afford the bills.

You would think that Republicans would help out the self-employed and the middle-class with a bill like SCHIP. The main recipients would be the self-employed middle class. But no, they would rather help out their millionaire health insurance executives.

Denying affordable health insurance for children is low. Attacking the family of a 12-year-old who says he needs the insurance is unforgivable.