The media piled on when President Bush used his veto pen on this children's health insurance bill. They tried to drop the absolute moral authority bomb on it big time and paint him as not caring about children. Now it looks like a little backfire is on the horizon.
On September 29th, 12 year old Graeme Frost of Maryland got to do the Democrats’ radio address, in which he told his story of how he and his sister were seriously injured in a car accident, and if it hadn’t been for SCHIP, they wouldn’t be here today. The Baltimore Sun did a story on the family, in which it stated the family couldn’t get health insurance through their work.
"Bonnie Frost works for a medical publishing firm; her husband, Halsey, is a woodworker. They are raising their four children on combined income of about $45,000 a year. Neither gets health insurance through work."
There were many others in the media that swallowed the story whole with its hook. All of them were missing greatly in one major thing, facts.
Freerepublic's icwhatudo, managed to find plenty of missing facts using google:
"First, Mr. Halsey Frost, Graeme’s father, owns his own woodworking design studio, Frostworks, so his claim that he can’t get health insurance through work is shockingly deceptive. He chooses not to get health care for his family. Second, Graeme and his sister Gemma attend the very exclusive Park School, which has a tuition of $20,000 a year, per child. Third, they live in a 3,000+ square foot home in a neighborhood with smaller homes that are selling for at least $400,000. "
"I’m glad little Graham and his family were able to get help, and I hope he reaches full rehabilitation. But perhaps the Democrats ought to take more care in the spokespeople they choose, if they wish to tug at our heartstrings."
Then again, as Mark Steyn says:
"But who needs facts when you've got the human-interest angle sewn up?"
Roundup of blogosphere reactions at Stop The ACLU
—John Stephenson is editor of Stop The ACLU.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
This is priceless. I'm
October 7, 2007 - 21:45 ET by gueinThis is priceless. I'm beginning to think this current crop of Dems don't know anybody that is poor if they continue to trot out people like this before our eyes.
Mr Hedgefund
October 7, 2007 - 21:50 ET by botgthis is right up there with John Edwards lecturing us on two Americas
Support our Troops
I'm still puzzled
October 7, 2007 - 21:55 ET by pbthinkerI'm still puzzled about this one. These facts aside, and they are good facts, my understanding was he was in a car accident. Usually, in those cases, car insurance picks up the tab for medical care. Who was at fault, in the accident? Is Maryland a no-fault state? Did this family have automobile insurance? There seems to be a lot more to this story than we're being told.
Democrats: Specializing in "high tech lynching" since 1987.
She had an accident on
October 7, 2007 - 22:53 ET by Right2thePointShe had an accident on black ice and slid into a tree.
Maryland requires you carry medical coverage on your car insurance.
One kid hit the tree another a window, makes you wonder if they were wearing seatbelts.
These kids were fed to Reid/Pelosi by yet another Soros connected group called Family Matters.
Seems a little more
October 7, 2007 - 23:59 ET by Cape Conservativedigging is going to be necessary. Where's the accident report? Were the kids wearing seat belts?? Severe head injuries indicates to me they might not have been. hmmmmmmmmm
And, it's been my understanding that auto accident medical costs are covered by auto insurance. Was there none???
Lots of questions...and they are going to be featured at some big ceremony tomorrow with governors/senators etc. Wonder who's going to ask those questions. Looks like there's going to be more egg on someone's face!
That's REAL Voodoo economics!
October 7, 2007 - 21:57 ET by scamoramaThey can afford a 3,000 square foot house AND $40,000/year in tuition on an income of "about $45,000"?
Put those people in charge of Social Security! Now!
Maybe the Mrs made a
October 7, 2007 - 22:25 ET by HypocriteHaterMaybe the Mrs made a killing in the cattle futures with as little as $1000. Hey, if it can work for Hillary...
Fuzzy Accounting
October 7, 2007 - 22:54 ET by ArcherBIt's not that hard to do if you deduct everything. First, this guy owns his own business. That means everything he does is more than likely a business expense. His car is probably owned by his business. His house is probably deducted because he uses it for work. His wife's car? Probably a truck or something that he claims to haul wood in. That trip to Disney World was so he could look at some Orlando palm wood.
So even though this guy probably took in $200,000 in paychecks, he was able to claim $160k as business expenses so it didn't count. Any other expenses he had were paid for by the company.
I know a married couple that is truly are poor and have turned in negative tax returns for the past 10 years. Yet they have a modest house, a yard, two cars (nothing this century), and can go out for a couple of tacos and beer once in a while.
It's all in the accounting and it's all perfectly legal, although, I don't know if I'd call this guy ethical.
If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other. --George Orwell
They can afford a 3,000
October 8, 2007 - 06:51 ET by motherbeltThey can afford a 3,000 square foot house AND $40,000/year in tuition on an income of "about $45,000"?
Right, and click on this photo link from the main post, and check out the kitchen they're standing in....glass and cherry cabinets, granite counters... 3000 square foot houses are not just big, they are luxurious.
It's about priorities, folks. Why spend your money on what the government will provide for free? People who apply for this program, even now, should be made to PROVE they can't get or can't afford other health insurance.
If the Democrats ever ramrod their plan through, you can expect to see much worse than this.
File under fake but accurate
October 7, 2007 - 22:08 ET by acumenEvidently this requires a demedia UNwilling suspension of disbelief. Courage...
The audience tacitly agrees to provisionally suspend their judgment in exchange for the promise of entertainment. I'm starting to believe the above is how the new moonbat Dem Party came to power.
Evidently this requires a
October 8, 2007 - 07:42 ET by motherbeltEvidently this requires a demedia UNwilling suspension of disbelief. -acumen
No, it's a very willing suspension of disbelief. And a complete lack of desire to do any background checking that might land a fly in the ointment.
You gotta think the Democrats never even met this family before they filmed the shot. Some staffer went out and found them, said "I found a family with 4 kids, $45,000 a year, on SCHIP."
The bigwigs said: Great! Get 'em in here!
Someone's head is gonna roll! LOL.
Do you think they'll claim they were "duped" by this family????
Scholarships?
October 7, 2007 - 22:29 ET by kch50428I can see it come out that the kids are on scholarships...but then that would make one wonder, if mommy & daddy are not paying tuition, why can't they afford insurance?
Oliver Twisted
October 7, 2007 - 22:39 ET by BarkerThe Democratic Response:
"But, but, isn't it okay to lie and deceive in order to help the children? Is it wrong to exploit one child to help all the children? Doesn't the end justify the means, when it comes to the children? After all, it's for the children? Or could it be that you hate the children?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I loves the childrens too" ~ Michael Jackson
Baltimore SunScam
October 7, 2007 - 22:49 ET by Dave RI think we NBers should start a pool on exactly when (as in what time) the Baltimore Sun yanks the above linked non-story, or do they plan to pull a Dan Blather and stand by it to the bitter end. After all, it's for the children.
Bet it's gone by tomorrow am.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
There is a whole lot more
October 7, 2007 - 22:56 ET by Right2thePointThere is a whole lot more information in the comment thread over at FR.
Worth the read.
R2, That is infuriating.
October 7, 2007 - 23:12 ET by Dave RI think Mr. Frost should have to pay us taxpayers back every penny he jilted us out of.
I am beyond fed up with my hard-earned taxdollars going to irresponsible people. Particularly irresponsible people footing a $40k/yr tuition bill for their kids.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
Here is the freerepublic
October 8, 2007 - 07:28 ET by motherbeltHere is the freerepublic link, check out the story. BTW, I hadn't read it yet, but the author noted the cabinets and counters too; he points out that the house was 2000 SF when they bought it...they added on and remodeled.
Blue Crab Boulevard also has a great roundup of reaction.
My favorite is from the "Flopping Aces" blog (emphasis added):
"This is the family the Democrats chose to represent SCHIP? If there
was a more perfect family why SCHIP should not be expanded its this
one."
You know, this had better come out somewhere in the big media, because the regular outlets are going to ignore it.
They've admitted to reading us, so you'd hope the media notices.
October 8, 2007 - 07:29 ET by sarcasmoOne wonders how the public school lobby within the Democrats might feel about this family. I can almost hear the cries of "send 'em to public school and pay for insurance with the savings!" already from the left side of the fence. If the media reports the whole story honestly, that is....
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
They may tell them to send
October 8, 2007 - 07:34 ET by motherbeltThey may tell them to send their kids to public school, but they certainly aren't going to push them to buy their own health insurance.
Sadly, you're probably right...
October 8, 2007 - 07:40 ET by sarcasmoBut I'm still having these wild fantasies about pitting all the school-socialists who are firmly-entrenched in the Democrats against the newer and less-entrenched but increasingly-powerful anyway medicine-socialists...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
The IRS Needs To Visit This Guy
October 7, 2007 - 23:14 ET by Junk Science SkepticI have to wonder just how much cash business this woodworking studio does.
Anybody here ever priced hand-built furniture/cabinets?
The income figure of $45,000 sounds like the net from maybe 2-3 projects. I know a guy who does woodworking part-time, clearing closer to $90,000 a year from his hobby.
If just one more of his clients didn't insist on paying by check, we'd be hearing a sob-story about how they're scraping by on only $20,000 a year.
Send in the auditors!
Thompson/Giuliani 2008
I used to build oak
October 8, 2007 - 23:40 ET by MikeBI used to build oak kitchen cabinets for $175 a running foot upper and lower, or $150 a running foot for lower only. To build them for that low, I bought rough sawn lumber from local saw mills and planed the lumber myself. For walnut cabinets the cost would double. Cherry would have been around $700 a running foot upper and lower. And, I only used formica tops. Granite costs!
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
MikeB,
October 8, 2007 - 23:48 ET by Dave RSo, in essence, what you're saying is that I'm in the wrong business.
LOL-Damn, I knew it!
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
How about the kind of parent
October 7, 2007 - 23:18 ET by hungarianfalconthat lets their kids be exploited like that despite the dubious nature of their "poorness" or the apparent lack of responsibility for their kids injuries (i.e. not carrying medical on their auto insurance). Douchebags.
HF
I wonder - would this
October 7, 2007 - 23:23 ET by bws53I wonder - would this automatcially negate the "Bush only helps the rich" card the Democrats always play?
If I had any artistic talent I would draw an op-ed cartoon depicting Richie Rich giving this Dem response.
Graeme ? Gemma ? That's
October 8, 2007 - 00:07 ET by RackieGraeme ? Gemma ?
That's child abuse!
Stop the Lies and Half-Truths
October 8, 2007 - 00:51 ET by River CityI am so sick of the MSM going along with the democrats for the ride. They don't even want to pretend to earn a paycheck any more. Combine this poorly researched story with the union steel worker they trotted out to cry at the debate and we have a full blown pattern. I'm sure it isn't the end of the pattern either.
I'm not living near as well as these folks appear to be and we are paying our own way, and proud of it. I am about to blow a gasket. It is people like this guy and his wife who take advantage of the good nature of the American taxpayer and abuse us. We need to use this to our advantage during the campaign. He just volunteered to make himself a campaign issue.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” Ronald Reagan
!
October 8, 2007 - 06:03 ET by old croIt's been the democrat MO for as long as I can remember. I've learned over the years to let it roll off my back like water off a ducks. Don't go blowin any gaskets, they are a pain to replace, and expensive.
"After twelve years of therapy my psychiatrist said something that brought
tears to my eyes. He said, "No hablo ingles."
-Ronnie Shakes
With all the time
October 8, 2007 - 01:54 ET by sarcasmoDemocrats spend talking about poverty, you'd think could find an actually-poor kid to shill for them, instead of the middle-class son of a carpenter who'd like my taxes to pay for his kids' medical bills...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Are you kidding?
October 8, 2007 - 03:01 ET by well99Those elites wouldnt talk to working class let alone poor.It is beneath them.Sometimes I wonder.
In addition to dad working
October 8, 2007 - 07:36 ET by danboIn addition to dad working for a mean uncaring employer (himself) who doesn't buy health insurance for the workers. Something about a woman who works for a "Medical" Publishing firm being unable to get health insurance.
This sounds fishy. I suspect she could. But opted not to.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Ah. Mom wasn't working for
October 8, 2007 - 07:49 ET by danboAh. Mom wasn't working for a medical publishing firm at the time of the accident. She was working for the same uncaring person as her husband. Someone who bought $160,000 worth of property rather than insure his family. And was expanding and remodeling his home with granet countertops. She was working for her husband. So we should pay for his insurance.
So according to the democRATS. We should provide for the rich.
This is a sham.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
The rich get plenty of welfare already...
October 8, 2007 - 07:55 ET by sarcasmoSigh.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
That has been going on for
October 8, 2007 - 08:49 ET by well99That has been going on for along time.Worked at place when I was young owned by a Corp. out of Texas.The ranch was sold every 4 years because you had to be in the black 1 out 5 years to get subsides.At least in 70s.I was told that by some of the old timers.
Hey Sarcasmo.....9/11 truthers and Ron Paul.
October 8, 2007 - 09:12 ET by JayTeeIt seems that " The 9/11 truthers evidently raised millions for Ron Paul" as reported by Fox news.
Welfare for Ron ?
So why don't you Rally online with 9/11 truthers ?
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
Um, make some sense...
October 8, 2007 - 09:39 ET by sarcasmo"Truthers" may like Dr. Paul (funny how having a name like that would attract 'em to even a candidate who explicitly-disavows their theories!) just as Daniel Carver supported George W. Bush, but it clearly wasn't "Truthers" who raised all that money. It was instead noninterventionist constitutionalists. So quit whining about libertarians who want to cut the size of big government and just deal with it. Find some RINO-candidate to get excited-about instead, all this whinging is boring. I'll rally as I see fit, and that's with Ron Paul even if others seem to fear debating him.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
When Bush gave families like
October 8, 2007 - 08:06 ET by AntiMediaWhen Bush gave families like this a tax break the Demoncrats and the MSM called them rich.
This is EXACTLY WHY Bush vetoed the bill
October 8, 2007 - 08:55 ET by c5thenWhy should families in Mississippi be taxed more so that families in Virginia can get subsidised public health insurance when they choose not to buy private health insurance in the first place?
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
The heart bleeds
October 8, 2007 - 09:28 ET by GrannyGrump42It reminds me of a story I read in US News & World Report during the Carter administration. The article was lamenting what chaos the recession was creating in people's lives. One photo showed a woman wringing her hands, wondering where the money was gonna come from. To heat her swimming pool.
The heart bleeds.
Facts???
October 9, 2007 - 12:15 ET by goobliegookABC has said that the kids are on nearly a complete scholarship paying $500 a year.
If true I would like to see a correction that we are always expecting from the big boys.
Goober, The way
October 10, 2007 - 10:12 ET by JoeBobGoober,
The way I understand it, they didn't get those scholarships based on academics but rather on hardship. After all, when you only earn $45,000/yr (forget about the 3000sqft house, the business, etc.), people need to help you out, right? Sounds like the school got taken, the same way the CHIP did.
Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. - Confucious