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

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Here are the facts that the right-wing distorted in order to attack young Graeme:

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 Frosts 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.

Desperate to defend Bush’s decision to cut off millions of children from health care, the right wing has stooped to launching baseless and uninformed attacks against a 12 year old child and his family.

Right wing bloggers have been harassing the Frosts, calling their home numerous times to get information about their private lives. Compassionate conservatism indeed.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/08/attacking-graeme-frost/

I see they are not disputing the home's current market value.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here are the facts that the right-wing distorted in order to attack young Graeme:

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 Frosts 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.

Desperate to defend Bush’s decision to cut off millions of children from health care, the right wing has stooped to launching baseless and uninformed attacks against a 12 year old child and his family.

Right wing bloggers have been harassing the Frosts, calling their home numerous times to get information about their private lives. Compassionate conservatism indeed.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/08/attacking-graeme-frost/

I see they are not disputing the home's current market value.

Geez, it's not like their house is worth all this money, while other home prices have remained stagnant. I'd be interested in knowing what is the lowest value of home a family of that income level can own for you to be satisfied??? Can you find ANY homes in that area for substantially less?

Edited October 10, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[Dan J 277]

What's the poverty level for a family of 4?

You're not seriously suggesting that a family that lives in a $400K+ home is living in poverty, are you?

If that met the definition of poverty, then I'd be fcuking broke.

They might have a $400k asset which is not liquid until they try to sell it. Which, considering the downturn in the housing market, is easier said than done.

For a family of 6, living in a city, and making only $45,000 per year. You are definetly not living the American Dream.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Here are the facts that the right-wing distorted in order to attack young Graeme:

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 Frosts 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.

Desperate to defend Bush’s decision to cut off millions of children from health care, the right wing has stooped to launching baseless and uninformed attacks against a 12 year old child and his family.

Right wing bloggers have been harassing the Frosts, calling their home numerous times to get information about their private lives. Compassionate conservatism indeed.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/08/attacking-graeme-frost/

I see they are not disputing the home's current market value.

Geez, it's not like their house is worth all this money, while other home prices have remained stagnant. I'd be interested in knowing what is the lowest value of home a family of that income level can own for you to be satisfied??? Can you find ANY homes in that area for substantially less?

Look, somehow daddy decided to become self-employed. You and I are effectively subsidizing that desire. I fail to see how that is justified. If you cannot afford to go into business on your own, then you better stay employed. If you decide to stand on your own feet, then fcuking stand on them. Don't ask me to be your crutch. And if you do, then volunteer to be put up as the case for the expansion of an entitlement program that - in this scenario - would seem to be too far reaching already. How hard is it to understand that?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What's the poverty level for a family of 4?

You're not seriously suggesting that a family that lives in a $400K+ home is living in poverty, are you?

If that met the definition of poverty, then I'd be fcuking broke.

They might have a $400k asset which is not liquid until they try to sell it. Which, considering the downturn in the housing market, is easier said than done.

For a family of 6, living in a city, and making only $45,000 per year. You are definetly not living the American Dream.

I'm not saying that it is. But it is far from being desperately poor.

[GaryC 7]

Geez, it's not like their house is worth all this money, while other home prices have remained stagnant. I'd be interested in knowing what is the lowest value of home a family of that income level can own for you to be satisfied??? Can you find ANY homes in that area for substantially less?

That's not the point. If the dems were looking for a victim to rally their cause I am sure they could have found a better one. These people hardly typify "poor" or "victim" as was wanted by the dems. I wish I was that poor. They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

Edited October 10, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

[natty bumppo 297]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

right ... how will this happen ... that the system is NOT abused ??

[Heracles 417]

Back in my old state, Victoria, even with NHS we had to pay a compulsory premium on our vehicle registration each year to cover traffic accident victims. Approx $350 a year. This covered rehabilitation for injured people in car accidents.

Turning this into a Bush hates kids saga is stupid and anyone with half a brain knows it..

PS I also like how it is okay for some to use other's disabilities to promote their own agenda but not okay for anyone to question it..

Edited October 10, 2007 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

right ... how will this happen ... that the system is NOT abused ??

Well we need to face up to reality and realise that nothing is fool-proof. In and of itself that doesn't make it a bad idea.

[natty bumppo 297]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

right ... how will this happen ... that the system is NOT abused ??

Well we need to face up to reality and realise that nothing is fool-proof. In and of itself that doesn't make it a bad idea.

As compared too ... now. Where nothing is abused ...

How does this differ from what is available today ?

Are you for real ? Have you ever needed assistance ... and been denied ?

Edited October 10, 2007 by Natty Bumppo

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

right ... how will this happen ... that the system is NOT abused ??

Well we need to face up to reality and realise that nothing is fool-proof. In and of itself that doesn't make it a bad idea.

As compared too ... now. Where nothing is abused ...

How does this differ from what is available today ?

Are you for real ? Have you ever needed assistance ... and been denied ?

As I say - with any program (public or private) you have to expect at least some level of abuse. Its inevitable - I just don't see why that obvious observation is somehow shocking to you.

The idea seems to be that anything outside of the norm (say with regards to changing the status quo of how we buy healthcare insurance for example) somehow implies that it is headed for disaster. In the absence of specific proposals on the table, I think that is simply fear-mongering.

[natty bumppo 297]

They opened themselves up to the criticism by a poor choice.

Exactly. As they say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

maybe i need to apply for that program, i owe more than double what they paid for their house on my house and you need to get into line too, et

But that's what I am saying, Chuck. It just wouldn't occur to me to ask for help - even if I could - when I know that I am able make the choices that allow me to take care of my family myself. Those programs ought to be for people that - through no fault of their own - cannot support themselves.

right ... how will this happen ... that the system is NOT abused ??

Well we need to face up to reality and realise that nothing is fool-proof. In and of itself that doesn't make it a bad idea.

As compared too ... now. Where nothing is abused ...

How does this differ from what is available today ?

Are you for real ? Have you ever needed assistance ... and been denied ?

As I say - with any program (public or private) you have to expect at least some level of abuse. Its inevitable - I just don't see why that obvious observation is somehow shocking to you.

The idea seems to be that anything outside of the norm (say with regards to changing the status quo of how we buy healthcare insurance for example) somehow implies that it is headed for disaster. In the absence of specific proposals on the table, I think that is simply fear-mongering.

I see you ignored my question .... I rest my case ... thank you.