President Trump blasts terrorists as “evil losers in life” that must be “obliterated” #ManchesterBombing pic.twitter.com/nK9Aop7WEJ— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 23, 2017
Many Republicans will probably echo his message.
Before they go superimposing the Union Jack on their avatars and offering their "thoughts and prayers," Republicans should make an examination of conscience. Those who voted for Trump and this GOP Congress also voted for the budget that plans to make $616 billion (with a "b") cuts to children's healthcare and Medicaid, according to The New York Times.
Chemical attacks in Syria, where children are among a plurality of the victims, and terrorist attacks like the one in Manchester are, of course, outrageous. Children should be protected and safe.Changes to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program would save the federal government money, but would reduce the number of people with insurance. Medicaid savings are estimated at $610 billion over 10 years. The administration would shift some costs to the states, by setting annual limits on federal payments to each state, starting in 2020.
But Republicans are waging a war of life or death here at home against children and low income families. Nothing can be more hypocritical than Donald Trump's remarks about the children of Syria and Manchester when the health of American children is at risk.
Donald Trump campaigned on an "America First" platform. Crocodile tears for children who are attacked en masse and visibly are meaningless when our own children are put in peril by heartless legislation.
Hillary Clinton, as First Lady, fought hard to get health care insurance for children (Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). From Politifact.
The late-Sen. Kennedy received much of the credit for CHIP because the Massachusetts Democrat shepherded the legislation through a Republican-controlled Congress. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch was the lead Republican co-sponsor.
Yet, in 2007, Kennedy told the Associated Press that Hillary Clinton played a critical role.
"The children's health program wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue," Kennedy said.
Nick Littlefield, a senior health adviser to Kennedy at the time, agreed.
"She wasn't a legislator, she didn't write the law, and she wasn't the president, so she didn't make the decisions," Littlefield told the Associated Press. "But we relied on her, worked with her and she was pivotal in encouraging the White House to do it."
Read more >>>>
During the 2016 campaign Hillary said, "When it's your kid it's a big deal. It should be a big deal for your president, too."
Apparently it is a big deal for Trump and for the GOP - a big deal budget cut! This budget is a form of terrorism. When you leave families and kids in fear and destitution in the face of disease and disability, you are a terrorist.
So until these cuts to CHIP, Medicaid, and other social programs (e.g. SNAP, and disability) are removed from this budget, let's reject the hypocritical sentiments and hand-wringing from Republicans of every stripe - including our friends on social media who voted for this bunch. No teary emoticons :'( . No Union Jack avatars. No candles. No b**s**t!
Protect our own kids before you go crying about others. What happened to America First?
“Resist, insist, persist, enlist.” Call your Reps! Call your Senators.
