In the wake of the diabolical attack on tweens attending last night's Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, we are likely to see an outpouring of sympathy from all sides. Here is what Donald Trump said.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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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.
Hillary Clinton 