Seriously, why does Mitch McConnell insist on going after the families of 12 year old kids?
First it was 12 year old Graeme Frost, who dared to speak out in favor of expanding SCHIP, which was responsible for him and his sister receiving health care after their accident. For this "crime", his family was drug through the mud with lies in the right-wing blogosphere. And what did Mitch's office do? His Communications Director Don Stewart spread those lies in an email going out to reporters, goading them to dig into his family's background. And when Mitch himself was confronted about this by Mark Hebert? He looked into the camera and lied. Blatantly lied about his offices having no involvement in spreading this dishonest smear.
And now we have Heaven Ryan, the 12 year old who dared to ask her Senator questions about the Iraq War on film. And what does Mitch do in response to her "crime" of free speech? He goes directly after her mother, allegedly threatening to cut off Paducah's pork if she is not fired.
Let us not assassinate these lads any further Senator. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
Here we are on Christmas eve, so let me tell you a story about the Kentucky Grinch. The man who seeks to strip children of their health care. The man who seeks to block new student loans that would allow more kids to go to college. The man who would seek to smear the family of a child simply because he advocated the expansion of SCHIP, from which he benefited. And then lie about it on camera. The man with…. no lips.
And only so he could fill his coffers with insurance company dollars.
First, let's go back to early Septmeber as Mitch joined the small fringe minority who don't care if you poor kids can afford college.
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell today voted against the bi-partisan College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, a bill which will benefit tens of thousands of Kentucky students and families and make the single largest investment in student aid since the GI Bill.
"As the cost of college continues to rise and more and more Kentuckians feel the pinch, Mitch McConnell has turned a deaf ear to the need to make college more affordable," DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Kentuckians want a leader who will work for their children's education, not one who stands in the way of it."
The bi-partisan legislation passed 79-12.
Today, McConnell Rejected Largest Single Student Aid Investment Since GI Bill. The bill McConnell voted against this morning - which passed 79-12 with overwhelmingly bipartisan support - will cut roughly $20 billion from lender subsidies and use the funds to beef up aid to college students and cut interest rates on subsidized loans in half. It also includes a $1,090 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award and debt forgiveness after ten years for certain public-sector employees. "This bill will do more to help students and families in this country pay for college than any effort since the GI Bill," said House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller. [Vote 326, 9/7/07; CQ Today, 9/6/07; Wall Street Journal, 9/6/07; HELP Press Release, 9/5/07]
New Student Aid Bill Will Benefit Tens of Thousands of Kentucky Students and Families. In the 2005-06 school year, nearly 80,000 Kentucky students received federal Pell grants. Still, though, more than half of Kentucky's college seniors graduate with debt. [HELP Committee, September 2007; US Department of Education, 2005-2006 Federal Pell Grant Program End-of-Year Report]
Debt Forgiveness Program Will Be a Huge Benefit for KY Nurses, Teachers and Law Enforcement Officials. Under the bill McConnell opposed today, a starting teacher in Kentucky earning $30,619 with the state average loan debt of $15,861 could have loan payments capped at 15% - reducing his or her monthly payments by 29%. After 10 years of teaching, all remaining debt would be forgiven - in this case, a benefit worth $9,049. [HELP Committee, September 2007]
But Mitch's plot to stick it to poor kids did not end there. Later that month, Mitch once more joined the fringe minority in the Senate to vote against the expansion of SCHIP for the children of low-income families.
Great news from the Senate yesterday, as the expansion of SCHIP, (providing health insurance to children of poor families) passed by a veto proof majority of of 67 to 29.
And who was part of that radical fringe minority who delight in sticking it to poor kids? Our own Mitch McConnell, of course. Thanks for writing our own campaign commercial scripts for us next year, Mitch.
This truly sickening stance taken by McConnell and the Bush Administration is laid out in full detail here:
“The Bush administration has argued that some parents drop their children's private health insurance to enroll them in cheaper, taxpayer-funded coverage through the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that for every 100 kids who enroll in the program now, 25 to 50 were previously covered in the private market.”
I see. So families that are struggling to get by on a low income, paying through the nose for crappy insurance, having to deal with predatory lenders, and trying to care for their children on the scarce money that is left….. it's those families that we shouldn't lend a hand too. They should continue to be in a situation where they have to choose between paying health care for their child or being able to pay all of their bills and living expenses.
And the reason why Mitch doesn't want to expand this coverage? Because it doesn't let the insurance industry squeeze every sinlge penny it possibly can out of the working class.
This vote is the perfect encapsulation of who Mitch McConnell is. If you are not a big money contributor, you do not exist.
After Bush vetoed the popular, bi-partisan legislation that 80% of Americans supported, what did Mitch do? Vote against it again.
For the sixth time in recent months, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell led a small segment of his Republican colleagues in voting against the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program today – despite changes made to the bill to address Republicans' stated concerns and a recent poll showing that over 80% of Americans favor expanding the program. McConnell's vote to deny 51,500 Kentucky children health care comes just weeks after he was caught on tape misleading Kentuckians about his office's role in a smear campaign against 12-year old Graeme Frost.
"It seems like every day Mitch McConnell makes another bad choice on children's health care," DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Between getting caught in a smear campaign against a 12-year old boy and voting against children's health care yet again, Mitch McConnell probably wishes the SCHIP debate would just go away. But the thousands of uninsured Kentucky children can't be swept under the rug, and neither will McConnell's decision to turn his back on them."
McConnell Votes Against Children's Health Care… Again. For the sixth time in recent months, Mitch McConnell voted today to block a bipartisan bill to expand health care to an additional 51,000 children in Kentucky.[ Families USA Report;
Well, Mitch has done it again. His first ad was a monumental failure. It starred a creepy sexual harrasser, and gave the finger to the Club for Growth with his ode to big porky earmarks. Kentuckians were not impressed, as he plummeted to an all-time low approval in the next SUSA poll.
Mitch's new ad is another lemon, fortunately. McConnell actually thought he could win brownie points with Kentuckians by mentioning health care. Really, Mitch? Aren't you the same guy that continues to vote against the expansion of SCHIP, giving health care to millions more children from low-income families? The one with very broad bipartisan support that Bush continues to veto, with your approval? Aren't you the same guy whose office spread lies smearing Graeme Frost's family to national reporters, and then lied to the face of Mark Hebert when asked about it?
If Mitch McConnell wants to keep on mentioning what he's done to and for the health care industry, by all means, you have my blessing.
The DSCC already pounced on him:
One Month Before Touting Support for Medical Research, McConnell Voted Against It
Mitch McConnell began airing ads yesterday touting his success in securing funds for medical research centers at Kentucky universities. What the ad fails to mention, however, is that time and time again McConnell has voted against funding for medical research, including a vote against the Labor-HHS bill to provide $1.4 billion in increased research funding only one month ago. The ad also covers up McConnell’s disastrous overall record on healthcare, which includes leading the fight against children’s health care.
“Only Mitch McConnell would have the gall to run ads touting medical research just a month after voting against it,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Kentuckians are looking for progress on healthcare, not commercials on healthcare, and Mitch McConnell has consistently failed to deliver it.”
McConnell Led Effort to Reject New Medical Research Funding. McConnell introduced a motion that rejected $1.4 billion in new medical research funding, supporting instead President Bush’s proposed 1.7% cut — the fourth consecutive year of flat or declining funding for medical cures. [Vote 390, 10/23/07; Research!America, 2008 Federal Research Budget Update; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 11/16/07]
Even Newt Gingrich Disagrees with McConnell’s Cuts to the National Institutes of Health. “NIH funding has been flat since 2004, undermining the gains earned through the doubling of the budget and slowing the pace of progress in biomedical research. The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget would cut $329 million from last year's allocation of $28.6 billion. Biomedical inflation significantly compounds the impact of this reduction. This is exactly the wrong course for the country.” [Newt Gingrich and G. Steven Burrill, SF Chronicle, 6/27/07 ]
McConnell Has Voted Against Children’s Health Care Six Times. Mitch McConnell voted six times this year to block a bipartisan bill to expand health care to an additional 51,000 children in Kentucky.[Families USA Report; Vote 307, 8/2/07; Vote 352, 9/27/07; Vote 353, 9/27/07; Vote 401, 10/31/07; Vote 402, 11/1/07; Vote 403, 11/1/07]
McConnell Received $1,664,483 From the Health Industry Since 1989. Since 1989, McConnell has received at least $1,664,483 in campaign contributions from health industry interests. McConnell received $490,878 from industry PAC’s and $1,173,605 from individual donors. [Center for Responsive Politics, 10/9/07]
Once more, Mitch McConnell chooses to side with the extreme fringe minority, voting against the bipartisan legislation to expand SCHIP. Matthew Miller at the DSCC sums it up:
For the sixth time in recent months, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell led a small segment of his Republican colleagues in voting against the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program today – despite changes made to the bill to address Republicans’ stated concerns and a recent poll showing that over 80% of Americans favor expanding the program. McConnell’s vote to deny 51,500 Kentucky children health care comes just weeks after he was caught on tape misleading Kentuckians about his office’s role in a smear campaign against 12-year old Graeme Frost.
“It seems like every day Mitch McConnell makes another bad choice on children’s health care,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Between getting caught in a smear campaign against a 12-year old boy and voting against children’s health care yet again, Mitch McConnell probably wishes the SCHIP debate would just go away. But the thousands of uninsured Kentucky children can’t be swept under the rug, and neither will McConnell’s decision to turn his back on them.”
McConnell Votes Against Children’s Health Care… Again. For the sixth time in recent months, Mitch McConnell voted today to block a bipartisan bill to expand health care to an additional 51,000 children in Kentucky.[ Families USA Report; Vote 307, 8/2/07; Vote 352, 9/27/07; Vote 353, 9/27/07; Vote 401, 10/31/07; Vote 402, 11/1/07; Vote 403, 11/1/07]
What’s the Excuse for Voting Against Children’s Health This Time? The revised children’s health bill explicitly addressed the Republican excuses for opposing the first version of the bill, for example reiterating that illegal immigrants are ineligible, more rapidly excluding childless adults, and capping eligibility. [Statement of Administration Policy, H.R. 3963; HR 3963, 2007]
81% Support Expanding Children’s Health Care. According to an October 17 CBS News survey, a whopping 81% of American favor expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. In addition, only 22% of those polled say they approve of Bush’s handling of health care after he vetoed the children’s health bill. [CBS News, 10/17/07]
McConnell Aide Admitted to Sending Email Pushing SCHIP Smear. In October 2007, a McConnell aide admitted that he had sent an email to reporters highlighting inaccurate charges made on conservative blogs accusing the family of a child who helped promote the SCHIP program of being undeserving of federal assistance. In the email, the McConnell aide wrote, “bloggers have done a little digging and turned up that the Dad owns his own business (and the building it’s in), seems to have some commercial rental income and Graeme and a sister go to a private school that, according to its Web site, costs about $20k a year — for each kid — despite the news profiles reporting a family income of only $45k for the Frosts.”Could the Dems really have done that bad of a job vetting this family?” [ Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/16/07]
McConnell Was Aware That His Staff Promoted Swift-Boating of Child. In October 2007, it was reported that McConnell had been aware of the email sent by his staff alerting reporters to blog attacks on the family of a child that had spoken out on SCHIP legislation, even while he denied that his office had been involved. McConnell’s staffer admitted that he had told McConnell about the emails on Thursday, the day before he denied the accusations during a TV interview. [ Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/17/07]
Mitch, whereas you find brain-damaged 12-yr. olds scary enough to smear in the press with LIES, we find your lack of basic human decency frightening. From the DSCC:
Also, I have it from a very good source that Stan Lee does not celebrate Halloween, because that is the holiday of Satan and Drag Queens. More details to follow….
This year, I’ll be a KY Democratic candidate who refuses to renounce an endorsement from Frank Simon.
Yesterday we found that Mitch McConnell’s poll numbers have tanked, with his disapproval jumping to 45%, an all-time high. Additionally, his numbers among women dropped from 49/39 to 44/46, and among moderates plunged even further, from 42/50 to 37/57.
But that’s only the beginning of the bad news for Mitch.
This SUSA poll was conducted from 10/12 to 10/14. This is beforeJim Carroll’s C-J article in which McConnell’s office first responded to and verified the charges that they sent out the false smear of the Frosts to reporters. This was beforeMark Herbert came out with the video of Mitch McConnell LYING to the face of all Kentuckians, claiming that his office had non involvement whatsoever in doing so. This is before the C-J and LHL wrote damning editorials on Mitch’s behavior in this entire fiasco. This is beforeHawpe, Keeling and Leonard called Mitch out on his shameful behavior.
If this poll shows that soccer moms hated McConnell a week and a half ago, just think of what their opinion of him is now.
11 days ago, when it was first discovered that Mitch McConnell’s communications director was spreading the false smear of the Frost family to reporters, we called on Mitch to fire Don Stewart.
Not only has that not happened, but Mitch has sent Stewart out to spread even more falsehoods to reporters and in his C-J op-ed.
As we immediately expected when Herbert first revealed the comment by Mitch that his office had “no involvement whatsoever” in pushing the story to reporters, Mitch LIED. He looked into the camera and blatantly LIED to his constituents.
He owes everyone in Kentucky an apology for LYING to them. Now.
He owes the Frost family an apology for his office spreading false smears about them to reporters. And the only way to properly do that is to fire Don Stewart. Now.
We’ll be watching and waiting, Mitch.
UPDATE: As Judy suggests in the comments, how about we just flood his office with calls asking him those questions?
James Carroll follows up on the story that is now spreading like wildfire throughout the internet. Mitch McConnell knowingly LIED to Mark Herbert last Friday when asked if anyone on his staff was sending the Frost lies to reporters.
WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell knew last week — at a time when he was denying it — that his staff had sent e-mails encouraging reporters to look into the background of a 12-year-old boy used by Democrats to support expansion of a health-care program.
In an interview Friday with WHAS-TV reporter Mark Hebert, the Kentucky Republican said his staff had not been involved in trying to push reporters to look into the financial situation of the boy’s family.
But McConnell’s communications director, Don Stewart, said in an interview Monday with The Courier-Journal that he had told McConnell about the Oct. 8 e-mails sometime around Thursday, the day before the interview with Hebert.
Stewart also said, however, that he had told the senator he had sent follow-up e-mails within a matter of hours warning reporters off of the story because “the family is legit.”
McConnell declined to comment on the matter last night.
Declined comment? Why don’t you just go ahead and lie again like you did Friday to Mark Herbert? Don’t tell me you’ve grown a sense of decency over the weekend, Mitch?
This story is NOT going away, no matter how much McConnell and Stewart try to spin, lie and deceive. The only possible way out of this clusterfuck is for Stewart to resign and McConnell to publicly apologize for lying to Herbert and his constituents. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
