PrintWhen all is not as it appears to be
Do you remember 12 year old Graeme Frost from Maryland? He's the young man who gave the Democratic radio response to President Bush following the veto of the chidren's health care program SCHIP.
In that heart tugging speech, Graeme pleaded with Congress to pass SCHIP and extend coverage to the middle class because without that program, he and his family would have been in a lot of trouble following a car accident the young man was in last year.
Following up on the story, the Baltimore Sun reported that the two income family could not afford health insurance on their own and didn't receive any through their employment - the mother working in a medical publishing firm and the father as a "woodworker."
It turns out, that's not entirely accurate.
A poster over at Free Republic found some additional information on Mr. Frost that calls into question why the family couldn't afford insurance. Kim Priestap at Wizbang summarized the information: *
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.
(Hat Tip: Mark Steyn at The Corner)
I know of several independent business people who have excellent health insurance coverage for their entire family by purchasing it through group plans at associations like the National Association of Independent Businesses (NFIB) or other small business groups. In fact, most people join those organizations just to get the benefit of being able to purchase health insurance in a group, which lowers the price considerably. I daresay that If Mr. Frost can afford a $400,000 house he could easily find private health insurance to cover his family.
But that's not the point. The blatant dishonesty of the Democrats in using a 12 year old as a prop in a political soap opera whose family's financial situation was misrepresented should be exposed for the cheap trick it was. If the President had dared to be that dishonest, the press would have been all over him. Instead, the media has played along with the Democrats and will make it appear that the President and Republicans are heartless monsters for denying little Graeme and his family the benefits they deserve.
A pretty low manuever by the Democrats.
* I originally neglected to credit Ms. Priestap with summarizing the post at Free Republic. I apologize for that oversight.
