The Lobbyist Who Should Count the Most
From CNN. With all of the special interest lobbyists swarming Washington in these final days before a vote on Health Care Reform, perhaps this little lobbyist's voice should matter the most. I certainly hope wavering Democrats and even Moderate Republicans like Rep. Cao (who was brave enough to vote for reform the first time around) take some time to reflect on the human side of health care reform through the heartbreak of people like Marcelas Owens. Over this year of endless debate, misinformation and nastiness, many of us observed that Democrats have not shown the faces of reform enough. With this touching story finally getting some attention, I suppose it's better late than never. It may be wishful thinking, but perhaps the message of Marcelas Owens will convert a few no votes to yes and reaffirm the votes of those who are already committed.
(CNN) -- While most 11-year-olds would probably celebratetheir birthdays with a party, Marcelas Owens was on the steps ofCapitol Hill rallying for health care reform.
He knows firsthand what's its like when a family loses health insurance.
"Icame out here for health care, I got involved because my mom was ahealth care activist, she testified and participated in rallies. Shewanted people to have health care and not wait till management level tobe offered health care," said Marcelas.
The fifth-grader iscontinuing the battle his mother can no longer fight. "She wasdiagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, she started missing work, andwhen she was there she was sent home early," he said.
"She lost her job and her health care with it" said Marcelas.
The 11-year-old's mother, Gina, passed away, but Marcelas says he believes if she had the proper care she would be alive today.
"I believe that if she did have her health care, she would be recovering a little at a time."
On Thursday, Owens was on the hill with Majority Leader Harry Reid and some other lawmakers trying to prove a point.
"Health care is not a privilege, it's a right," he said.
Here is his video from YouTube.
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People think it could not
And... many people who can
It makes me really sad that
From Media Matters. Oh,
From Media Matters. Oh, tell me even they would not "go there." Yep, looks like the far right-wing media (including Limbaugh and Beck) decided it was fair game to attack this poor 11 year old kid and his family. What are they so afraid of? Apparently, putting the faces of real people out there really hurts their cause and is putting them in panic mode.
Beck: "Where was grandma" when Marcelas' mother was sick?edition of his Fox News show, Glenn Beck attacked Marcelas' grandmother -- who appeared with Marcelas at the health care event -- for her work with the organization Washington Community Action Network. ..."Since all of these groups are so concerned and so involved now, may I ask, where were you when Marcelas' mother was vomiting blood?" Beck continued: "Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to help provide a decent quality of life for all -- at least, for one? You had somebody in your own ranks that knew -- her mother knew. Dare I ask: Where was grandma?"
Limbaugh tells Marcelas: "Your mom would have still died, because Obamacare doesn't kick in until 2014." On the March 12 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh aired a clip of Marcelas' remarks at the health care event and said, "Now, this is unseemly, exploitative, an 11-year-old kid being forced to tell this story all over just to benefit the Democrat Party and Barack Obama." Limbaugh later said, referring to Marcelas, "Your mom would have still died, because Obamacare doesn't kick in until 2014."
Malkin: Marcelas is the "new, dubious poster boy for Demcare"; targets Marcelas' family. In a March 10 post, Michelle Malkin wrote that Marcelas is the "new, dubious poster boy for Demcare." In her syndicated column that day, titled, "Desperate Dems cling to human kiddie shield," Malkin wrote that Marcelas "admits he doesn't understand the complexities of health insurance reform and doesn't 'think it's anyone's fault' that his mom passed away. 'But they could have done more' for her, he says." ... Malkin continued: "Never mind that there is not a shred of evidence that any health insurer ever 'abused' Marcelas. Never mind that the family has made no claim that Marcelas himself has survived without insurance."
Hitler used poor kids and
Hitler used poor kids and suffering women to manipulate emotions. So did Mao. Chavez does it all the time. And anyone with the ability to think rationally can identify emotional manipulation. But no such rational thought takes place here on this site. A bunch of pseudo-intellectuals still feeling the tingles crawling up their legs from the campaign rallies. Did Obama give you people cups of water like Jesus, as you fell to the ground benny hinn style with his message of Hope n' Change? Bi-partisan Obama? Lmao. Obama is the worst president in the history of the united states, and that says a lot because Bush was terrible. Yea, I trumped your attempt at fallacy: (typical liberals incapable of rational thinking assume that to dislike Obama is to love Bush, a logical fallacy).
Obama is a lying, corrupt narcissistic, megalomanical European style socialist, and all of you liberals running this site have been duped.
fallacies that you are about to commit:
A) Assume I am racist
B) Assume I love Bush
C) Assume I watch Fox News
liberals are incapable of reasoned debate, and nearly universally will apply one of the above fallacies when responding to the claim that Obama is a lying corrupt socialist.
Nah....I just assume you're
The most important
The most important lobbyist gets a front row seat for the signing ceremony! Awesome!
Marcelas Owens of Seattle, left, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., right, and others, look on as U.S. President Barack Obama signs the heath care bill in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 23, 2010. (AP / J. Scott Applewhite)