I'm a liberal. I don't understand why Malkin and company are wasting their time trying to disqualify a family that's already qualified for S-CHIP.

Are they trying to roll back the existing program, to add more uninsured to the 47 million Americans already without healthcare?

Are they proposing a new bill to make assets like cars get counted against eligibility?

I'm really confused what the message is they're really trying to send here.

Since I support a national program that ensures health coverage for all citizens, expanding this program to cover 4 million more children seems like a reasonable place to start.

I don't think most Americans know who most of these people even are. But the polls show 2 out of 3 Americans want universal coverage for Americans. I should think a mandate like that is something our public servants should respond to.

It's really as basic as that.

This article reads like a bad message board post ... full of spin and misinformation citing claims that have since been discredited.
The Republican party has already been bloodied and bruised enough over the Frost incident and I see no benefit in your paper making the situation even worse. Are you secretly working for the Dems?

In typical fashion, liberals such as Kevin miss the whole point of the deceit propagated by the democrats. The Frosts are upper middle class by any definition and certainly can afford health insurance. Story over. As for the liberal chant for universal health care for the "47 million Americans", where do you liberals keep coming up with these bogus numbers? If one subtracts the estimated 30-38 million illegal residents and the 6 million or so residents that pay for their health care out of pocket, what are we left with? Uninsured people, citizens or not is just another liberal canard for socializing medicine and our country. Oh and by the way, where is the link to the poll showning 67% of Americans want universal coverage?

Robert:

You exemplify what is so wrong with political discourse in the media. Not only are you more concerned about who is right in an argument which completely avoids the issue of child health care, but you can't help throw a few additional digs that are infantile (the last one about Al Gore in particular).

All I've seen is hate from the right about Al. Guess what? He is an American and I am damn proud that we can still be honored and respected given the last 6 years of insanity.

Al Gore sticks in you craw because everyone, and I mean everyone, knows he would have been a better president the GW Bush could ever be.

In fact if the media spent more time looking at real qualities for our leaders instead of gawking as if it was a beauty match, America would be better off. Oh one more thing.. if you draw two columns on a piece of paper - one for Bush's lip slips and mistaken remarks and one for Gore - which person would require more sheets of paper?

Nice to see an assistant editor of a major newspaper be so clear on their bias.

Repubs bloodied by the Frosts? How can anyone justify asking me to pay for the healthcare of people with more assets and income than myself? Only one bloodied by this is the democrats who try to pass of a family as needing public support when they have more income and assets than most of our country's population.

Kevin and Lillie: You don't get it, and I'd guess that's because you think the government should subsidize people like this family. Yes, if the nation could afford it, along with everything else to which we take a notion we have a right, it would be wonderful. And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

The plain experience of the world, from the first year of the Plymouth Plantation through the Soviet Union's planned economy, to the current shortages of decent health care in Canada and the UK is that most services, (not all, but most) are rendered worse and scarcer when they are placed in government hands.

Kevin, the vast majority of Americans used to think women should not vote and minorities should not have civil rights. Even if 2 out of 3 US citizens were to want universal health care, it would still be a terrible idea that would lead to the rationing of inadequate (and sometimes lethal) health care as is already effectively the case in the UK and Canada.

I resent that my tax dollars paid for the Frost's choice of a life-style that meant they couldn't afford to support the children they chose to have.

Don't be waiting aroud for those poll link.
Push Polls are the bread and butter of the left just like that phony 47 million figure which includes 20-30 million of illegals. A key poll result when asked and the Clintonites leave out is when asked , people want there OWN healthcare insurance LEFT ALONE ! The left lives by the Herr Goebell's rule , Tell a LIE long enough and people will think its the truth . Its the CORE strategy behind all there phony stats and half truths .

I'm a twelve year old black female who has grown up in poverty and been the victim of repeated sexual abuse.

I oppose S-CHIP.

Remember, you can't argue with me, because I'm a twelve year old black female who has grown up in poverty and been the victim of repeated sexual abuse.

Don't you dare trace my IP address and determine whether I'm telling the truth about my identity. That would be attacking a twelve year old black female who has grown up in poverty and been the victim of repeated sexual abuse.

Are we done here? I think we are.

Beak, there are several polls from the past two years that show the 2 to 1 ratio of support.

I don't know where the Frosts - a family of 6 - would qualify as upper middle class at $45K to $50K. The US census places Maryland's median income more than $10K higher.

I'd ask for your link to all those illegal immigrants, since that's 2 to 3 times the numbers the White House has reported, but it's irrelevant, since I referred to 'citizens', not immigrants here illegally.

I'm not a socialist, as that would require nationalizing all industries. I only support a few social programs that developed Western countries commonly provide without terrible budget problems. Social Security, Medicare, food assistance, unemployment insurance, FHA and VA housing programs, and healthcare. Ours is a capitalistic country, by far, and should remain so.

Hayden,

In answer to your question: If those with substantial assets such as the Frosts already qualify for S-Chip, that only only makes the argument for expanding S-CHIPS eligibility requirements even stronger.

When those less wealthy (in terms of salary + assets), who pay for their own health insurance, are taxed so that the Frosts can enjoy their 3 SUV vehicles plus residential plus commercials properties without having to pays for their kids insurance, that's unjust.

Democrat = Socialist

Mr. Hayden states:

"47 million Americans already without healthcare."

Really? Without healthcare? How is that possible? You cannot be denied service at a hospital due to an inability to pay--that's the law.

Show me an example of one person without healthcare. You can't. I'll assume you're just ill-informed, rather than being dishonest.

Kevin at least makes clear his agenda; he wants to nationalize American healthcare so expanding SCHIP under false pretenses is a "good start". Goody, a system with all the efficiency of the DMV and customer service of the IRS. Not to mention, making doctors, nurses, pharmacists, phlebotimists, et al, "civil" servants.

GOOD show, lefties!

No one, not Malkin or Steyn, have attacked the 12 y/o; they have just brought to light the cynical, dispicable pimping of a child for policy points.

Gee folks, I'm really getting tired of some of our elected officials giving away my hard earned tax dollars to people that have screwed up priorities.

I can tell you one thing....after watching the screwed up priorities of the 110th Congress I will never ever ever vote for another Liberal.

No more chances Democrats.....you've betrayed all of us hard working Americans for the last time.

Here is a link for Beak.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/US/healthcare031020_poll.html

However, Beak probably would not trust a poll by the liberal ABC News or Washington Post.

If the Democrats would be honest about the cost of national healthcare, we could have an honest debate. What services are going to be offered and at what cost, and why, NOT 47 million Americans are without healthcare. How many of those 47 million have chosen status or comfort items over health insurance? What other programs or budgets (usually the military) are going to have to be scrapped in order to reduce the INITIAL cost of implementation to sell to the public? Is it going to be blended with Social Security or some other entitlement program to hide the real costs? Why should the federal government manage it with a record of fiscal irresponsibility? Finally, how much of the plan will be done behind closed doors? The Democrats have had a propensity for that kind of legislation, since they took the majority.

In Kevin's first sentence he misses the entire point of what Michelle Malkin was saying. She and other conservatives are pointing out the hyperbole that the Dems are using to pass a program that would include coverage for people that can afford it on their own. The Dems should not use children to attempt to influence national policy. I mean really. Are we going to now put our countries domestic and foreign agenda into the hands of 12 year olds? If the Dems cant win on the facts and have to trot out children for photo-ops what does that say about their whole argument? If you want national healthcare for all, care a policy that will break this countries budget, just say so. Dont use children for props. The American People are smart enough to see thru this political stunt.

I'm a Realist. I don't understand why Liberals want to expand a program that already allows participants that can afford their own medical insurance to forgo that insurance and use a tax funded program to cover their medical expenses. Since this case highlights the fact that low income families who can not afford health insurance are already covered (the family in question own three vehicles for which they must pay auto insurance, they certainly can afford medical insurance yet they are eligible for S-Chip), why is there a need to expand it? To provide "universal coverage?" It looks to me that we already have "universal coverage" to those who wish it.

It's obvious that the only "expansion" Reid and his supporters want is an expansion of the number of people who will vote for the democrats. Why don't they call this bill what it is? The Universal Vote Purchase Bill. Vote for Democrats and we'll cove all your medical expenses. A chicken in every pot and two doctors in every home!

If only the folks new what comes of Universal Health Care..In Europe and Canada..there are long lines at the "clinic" and some countries DO NOT ALLOW private Doctors...You pay at least half your salary in "taxes" and even then it is NOT FREE..their is always a FEE of some sort and in some countries a Chronic or Genetic illness that is under control but must be checked on a regular basis earns you ANOTHER FEE/TAX...France is a great example of "Socialized Medicine"..remember the Hot Summer a few years ago when so many Ill and Elderly patients DIED? They died in "hospitlas and nursing homes.. while Most of the "workers" were off on a month's vacation..and the few left behind..who are generally the lowest on the Unionized/Socialized seniority list ..meaning the "newest" were left in charge. Of course there were few there to notice that the Patients needed fluids, fans and even Air Coditioning ..I guess the Media missed that heat wave and had no clue ..perhaps they were on vacation or they just didn't have "time" to worry..or the pregnant mothers about to be who must be flown on the National Dime to the US. from Canada to give Birth in a Hospital with a Bed and some additional equipment and staff with additional abilities!

I wonder what would happen to the Democrat Poster Boy had he been in ..say France during the Vacation Month? Of course those Democrats think 50% of your salary in taxes is no burden and Americas forget about their Fees, Fines and Sales Taxes, Local Income Taxes, etc. etc. You wake up one morning and find that you have little left to Live on. Up here they always tell us the latest tax increase is just the equivalent of a cup of coffee..and any request for a tax DECREASE is met with the question from our dems.."What good is a couple of hundred a year?"...or "we know better how to spend that money!"...What they do not realize..and I remember one Brilliant Dem. saying "why one cannot even buy a winter coat for a couple of hundred"...by careful shopping at the same time..I managed to buy TWO winter wool Dress Coats..wool and Wwarm for $39 bucks a piece..careful and lucky shopper I am...They plan to use INCREASED CIGARETTE TAXES AND ALL THE WHILE THEY DO ALL THEY CAN TO STOP SMOKERS! SO WHEN THE TAXES STOP FLOWING IN..WHO DO YOU THINK WILL PAY FOR ALL THE HEALTHCARE?

In an extensive ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll, Americans by a 2-1 margin, 62-32 percent, prefer a universal health insurance program over the current employer-based system. That support, however, is conditional: It falls to fewer than four in 10 if it means a limited choice of doctors, or waiting lists for non-emergency treatments.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/US/healthcare031020_poll.html

In other words, if no one pays for health care, and the services are unlimited, 62% favor it, but in the real world where health care costs money and expensive procedures are turned down if there is no budget for them, 40% favor it.

The one point everybody seems to be missing is that the Frost family already qualifies for the program. The veto is not denying them any coverage.

If a federalized universal health care plan is so wonderful, why do so many Canadians come to the US for medical care?

When conservatives start footing the bill that Medicare is picking up for their elderly family members then they may have a leg to stand on. If you're going to bash SCHIP I want to hear you bashing the VA Hospital system (a true socialized medical program), Medicare and Medicaid too.

I can personally attest that Medicare and Medicaid recipients receive much better health care benefits than their privately insured peers. Here is an opportunity to address a bigger problem in our society but both sides want to play propaganda games.

When are politicians going to stand up for the people they were hired to represent?

I am a conservative and I find the chronic and obvious factual errors in Malkins work of great concern. She needs to check her facts and not be a continuous embarassment to other conservatives. All of the unnecessary personal attacks detrack from the actual question at hand: Is SCHIP worthy of funding.

The personal attacks do not add to the debate: they simply personalize it, intimidate the opposition and remove clarity and sound decision making from the equation. Malkin and similar ilk can only resort to personal attcks against a 12 year old and his working class family, she does not deserve our attention and should stay out of the debate.

Conservatives, look to what is good and right and worthy of communicating about your movement. Not what you preceive is wrong with others ... especially a 12 year old child.

Sound to Borat like Dumocrats running scared. First Pretty Boy John Edwards hide behind wifes frock, now Harry Reid use little 12 year old to hide his behind. When Harry going to realize most Americans have need not for their help. Americans by nature very resourceful. Intelligent, too. So why all American politicians think people too stupid too take care of self??? Think I do that politicians are ones who need care of people. Like at hospital for insane persons. Either way, you dumbos in DC, leave average American alone. To them, you people "STUCK ON STUPID".
OK? Got message? Good little weasels. Time you goo Bye-Bye.

What the author and Malkin don't seem to get is that the Frost children don't qualify for insurance, because of the pre-existing conditions.