[Vision2020] And Just When You Thought You've Hear Everything

[Tom Hansen]

http://tinyurl.com/2uywfh

 

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Conservatives target 12-year-old boy and his family in S-CHIP debate


It seemed like a straightforward political move. In the midst of the debate
over the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), before the
president vetoed expanding access for millions of low-income children,
Democrats invited a 12-year-old boy, Graeme Frost, to deliver the party's
radio address. The point, obviously, was to humanize the policy debate -
instead of just another politician reading talking points, here
<http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/12year_old_to_give_
dems_weekly.html>  was a kid who was able to get the medical care he needed
after a serious car accident caused severe brain trauma, paralyzed one of
his vocal chords, and put him in a coma.

That was two weeks ago. Over the weekend, several conservative activists and
bloggers decided it was time to do what the right does best: smear anyone
who gets in their way. The Conservative Attack Machine decided
<http://www.memeorandum.com/071007/p59#a071007p59>  Graeme Frost and his
family didn't deserve benefits under S-CHIP and went after the Frosts with
<http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/08/attacking-graeme-frost/>  a vengeance.

A poster at the <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1907687/posts>
Free Republic propagated information alleging that Frost was actually a rich
kid being pampered by the government. Among other bits of information, the
post by the Freeper "icwhatudo
<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1907687/posts> " asserts that
Graeme and his sister Gemma attend wealthy schools that cost "nearly $40,000
per year for tuition" and live in a well-off home.

The smear attack against Graeme has taken firm hold in the right-wing
blogosphere. The National
<http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDAzYjY5OWVkMmQxZTJmNTZlNDNjZTlhOG
U3NjNlZDA=>  Review, Michelle
<http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/08/graeme-frost-and-the-perils-of-democra
t-poster-child-abuse/>  Malkin, Wizbang
<http://wizbangblog.com/content/2007/10/07/the-not-so-poor-voice-of-schip.ph
p> , Powerline <http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/10/018686.php> ,
and the Weekly
<http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/10/daily_blog_buzz_1.asp>
Standard blog have all launched assaults on the Frost family. The story is
slowly working its way into traditional
<http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/dems-poster-chi.html>
media outlets as well.

It would merely be regrettable if the right invaded the Frosts' privacy and
attacked them for speaking up, but this is much worse - the conservatives
launching the attacks got their facts wrong.

For example, the right hammered Graeme for attending an expensive private
school. What his attackers neglected to mention is that the school only
charges the Frosts $500 a year.

The right hammered Graeme's sister, who suffered brain injuries in the
family's car accident, for also attending an expensive private school,
without noting that the state covers her tuition.

The right blasted the Frost family for living in a neighborhood where some
homes sell for nearly a half-million dollars. What their attackers neglected
to mention is that the family bought their home 16 years ago for $55,000, in
what was once a less-safe part of Baltimore.

By any reasonable measure, the Frost family is struggling. The parents'
combined income is $45,000. They have four kids, all of whom qualify for
S-CHIP, and all of whom would have no insurance without the state benefits.
The right has decided to characterize the Frosts as an example of a wealthy
family on welfare. The reality is that conservatives are smearing a family
in need of a hand.

What's more, Michelle Malkin claims she went
<http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=8823>  to the Frost's home and workplace
yesterday. A co-worker of the father said the family is "struggling," but
Malkin remained skeptical.

Now, when dealing with a large group of conservatives who oppose healthcare
for poor children on principle, I suppose it's best to keep expectations
low. But this is perhaps the most vile smear the right has launched in
recent memory. The Frosts are not political candidates. They are not
publicity-seekers. They are not political players of any kind. This is a
family who can't afford healthcare for their kids who need it, and they
showed courage asking the president to do what's right for other families in
similar circumstances.

And for that, the right has made this family a target. Conservatives are
having trouble winning the policy debate on the merits, so they're going
after a 12-year-old child and his family. Worse, conservatives launched
their smear before getting the facts straight.

I'm old fashioned, but I like to believe there are certain lines of decency
that shouldn't be crossed, even in the course of heated political debate. As
this story makes clear, there are far too many on the right for whom these
lines are invisible. They are shameless, they are callous, and they are
scary.

Digby
<http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/fetid-compost-where-their-hearts-sho
uld.html> 's take, of course, was terrific.

"This is so loathsome I am literally sick to my stomach. These kids were
hurt in a car accident. Their parents could not afford health insurance -
and sure as hell couldn't get it now with a severely handicapped daughter.
And these shrieking wingnut jackasses are harassing their family for
publicly supporting the program that allowed the kids to get health care. A
program, by the way, which a large number of these Republicans support as
well.

They went after Michael J. Fox. They went after a wounded Iraq war veteran.
Now they are going after handicapped kids. There is obviously no limit to
how low these people will go.

They'd better pray that they stay rich and healthy and live forever because
if there is a hell these people are going to be on the express train to the
9th circle the minute they shuffle off their useless mortal coils.

Scum."

Indeed.

 

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007) 

 

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