Proof Why the Majority of Conservatives Are Shameless

In response to Mr. Bush's weekly radio address from September 29th, the Democrats selected 12-year-old Graeme Frost to deliver the party's response to Bush's comments regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Democrats and Republicans alike are working together to hopefully expand CHIP, which provides health insurance for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but can not afford to purchase private insurance. Here is an excerpt from Graeme's response: "Three years ago, my family was in a really bad car accident. My younger sister Gemma and I were both hurt. I was in a coma for a week and couldn't eat or stand up or even talk at first. My sister was even worse. I was in the hospital for five-and-a-half months and I needed a big surgery. For a long time after that, I had to go to physical therapy after school to get stronger...My parents work really hard and always make sure my sister and I have everything we need but the hospital bills were huge. We got the help we needed because we had health insurance for us through the CHIP program."

Considering the fact that he is only 12 year olds, you would probably think that Graeme is immune from insults by Republicans. Guess again? Politicians and pundits from the right verbally attacked Graeme and his family. Unfortunately those attacks consisted of nothing but lies. The following is just a short list of those lies, as well as the actual truth:

1. Lie: Graeme attends an exclusive private school with a tuition of $20,000 per year.
Truth: Since Graeme was awarded a scholarship, his family is only required to pay $500 per year.

2. Lie: Frost's sister, Gemma, also attends an expensive private school in the Baltimore, MD area.
Truth: The State of Maryland pays the $23,000 annual tuition in full for this school, which assists Gemma in dealing with the brain injuries she suffered during the accident.

3. Lies: The current market value of their partially remodeled house (3 stories and 3,040 square feet) is estimated at more than $400,000. A photo of the family's kitchen shows what appear to be granite counter tops and wooden cabinets with glass fronts.
Truths: The Frosts purchased their 71-year-old “lavish" home for $55,000 in 1990 and a 2006 assessment from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation estimates the property value at only $263,140. At the same time, one online real estate service (Zillow.com) does estimate the property value at $360,633. However, by taking an overhead view, you will notice that the house is not located in one of the more luxurious areas of the city. (Conservative nutjob Michelle Malkin should know this since she supposedly drove by the Frosts' residence. Of course, Malkin describes the area differently on her blog.) The Frosts have obviously experienced what millions of other homeowners in the United States have experienced over the last few years: a previously booming housing market. (And they should not be punished for it.) In regards to the remodeling, Graeme's father, Halsey, has performed the majority of the renovations. How? Because he is a WOODWORKER! Therefore, his occupation probably provides him with the ability to perform certain tasks, such as...I don't know...install wooden kitchen cabinets! By the way, the Frosts ensure their counter tops are concrete.

4. Lie: Due to the value of their house and the fact that Graeme's father previously purchased a commercial property for $160,000, the Frosts must earn enough money on an annual basis to be ineligible for CHIP benefits.
Truth: The commercial property for Mr. Frost's company, Frostworks, was purchased in 1999 but unfortunately that business folded in 2000, partially because of the cost of health insurance. Mr. Frost has worked for various small companies since then and is presently self employed. Mrs. Frost currently works part time at a medical consulting firm. At the same time, the family only earned approximately $45,000 last year and, in the State of Maryland, a family of six earning less than $83,000 per year qualifies for CHIP benefits. FYI: Personal assets, such as property investments, are not considered in the Maryland administered version of CHIP. (Now if the Frosts have been financially irresponsible in the past, then obviously some of the blame for their health insurance troubles falls on them.)

Aside from conservative blowhards such as Malkin and Rush Limbaugh, politicians from the right were also involved with the smear campaign conducted on the Frosts. The Communications Director for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sent an e-mail with disparaging (and false) information regarding the Frosts to reporters. As a result, numerous right wing lemmings...I mean, bloggers...repeatedly contacted the Frost residence and demanded personal family information.

One final note on this subject: Conservatives have been attacking the Frosts for not possessing family medical coverage. Due to pre-existing medical conditions, the Frosts have been rejected by various health insurance companies. Aside from those pre-existing conditions, the father is self employed and the mother is ineligible for medical coverage through her part time position. Therefore, health insurance would be extremely expensive for the Frosts, a family of six. I personally know this to be true because my father-in-law is self employed. Even though he only raised two children, my father-in-law experienced how expensive health insurance can be in that situation. As a result, until my mother-in-law returned to work as a teacher, my wife's parents only had medical coverage for their two children due to the high costs. Now if any right wing hacks decide to blow their top and attack my father-in-law for his previous decisions regarding health insurance, I welcome the opportunity to put those individuals in their place.