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Look Again At The Frost Facts...And Don't Back Down
freeper research, Baltimore Sun, Others ^ | 10-11-07 | icwhatudo

Posted on 10/11/2007 11:19:24 AM PDT by icwhatudo

Conservatives often complain that republicans back down, that they have no spine, that they wilt when faced with criticism of "but its for the children!" Will the fight over the S-CHIP expansion veto be a repeat?

Many media outlets and left wing blogs are crowing about all the supposed falsehoods contained in my original post.

Before you go running for the hills, tail between your legs, can we at least take a look at each and every point made in that post? You know, the one that "attacks a 12 year old boy".

I keep hearing how all my info was wrong, how it was all debunked as lies etc etc etc... but really there was only 1 major thing i was off on- the family paid a lower tuition amount at the exclusive Park school due to financial aid. This does not change the fact they are still paying for private school, just at a lower rate, while others are paying for their kids health care costs.

So that's what I was off on. Lets see what I got right:

"Graeme Frost, who gave the democrat rebuttal to George Bush’s reasons for vetoing the SCHIP Bill, is a middle school student at the exclusive$20,000 per year Park School in Baltimore, MD.

100% true

---------------------------

"Graeme was in a severe car accident three years ago, and received care paid for by the government program known as SCHIP-(State Children's Health Insurance Program)"

100% true

---------------------------

"I was in a coma for a week and couldn't eat or stand up or even talk. My sister was even worse," Graeme wrote. "My parents work really hard and always make sure my sister and I have everything we need, but we can't afford private health insurance."

Direct quote from article

---------------------------

"His sister Gemma, also severely injured in the accident, attended the same school prior to the accident"

100% true and now we learn that all 4 attended private school. After the accident, Gemma began attending a new special needs school paid for by the state.

---------------------------

meaning the family was able to come up with nearly $40,000 per year for tuition for these 2 grade schoolers.

Dealt with above.

---------------------------

Confirmation both attended Park found here using edit-"find on this page"-Gemma. It will take you to an article in the schools newspaper about a fundraiser for Gemma class of 16, and Graeme class of 13.

100% true

---------------------------

"Here are photos of the school's 44,000 square foot Wyman Arts Center: two galleries, an outdoor ampitheater, Meyerhoff Theater, Macks-Fidler Black Box Theater, practice rooms, rehearsal space, and ceramics, 3-D sculpture, woodworking, jewelry, painting, photography, digital graphics studios, recording studio, and keyboard lab.

100% true

---------------------------

In a Baltimore Sun article the family claims to be raising their four children on combined income of about $45,000 a year."

100% true

---------------------------

"Bonnie Frost works for a medical publishing firm; her husband, Halsey, is a woodworker. They are raising their four children on combined income of about $45,000 a year. Neither gets health insurance through work."

Direct quote from article. Somewhat misleading to say he can't get it through work, when he's self employed.

---------------------------

"What the article does not mention is that Halsey Frost has owned his own company "Frostworks",since this marriage announcement in the NY Times in 1992

True, under the name Frostworks to 1999/2000 and then, after working as an architectural designer and manager of a small custom cabinet shop, under a new company name. The Baltimore Sun confirms he is presently self employed.

---------------------------

..."so he chooses to not give himself insurance. He also employed his wife as "bookkeeper and operations management" prior to her recent 2007 hire at the "medical publishing firm".

100% true

---------------------------

As her employer, he apparently denied her health insurance as well.

Unconfirmed, hence the "apparently". Its safe to say she would not have switched jobs away from one that offered health insurance to one that doesn't.

---------------------------

His company, Frostworks, is located at **** E BALTIMORE ST.

Which it was, and is still is according to Baltimore.com's business search for cabinet makers. Changing the name you use for your company does not change your business location.

---------------------------

"A building that was purchased for $160,000 in 1999."

100% true

---------------------------

"The buildings owner is listed as DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIAL DESIGN CENTER, LLC whose mailing address is listed as *** S Collington Ave which is the Frost's home."

100% true

---------------------------

"The commercial property he owns is also listed as the business address for another company called Reillys Designs"

100% true

---------------------------

Which leads to the question of whether rental income is included in the above mentioned salary total.

100% true-The fact they receive rental income has been confirmed but the Baltimore Sun did not ask if it was included in their claimed 45-50k combined "income" (though they did ask for access to a tax return and the Frosts refused.)

---------------------------

"The current market value of their improved 3,040 SF home at *** S Collington Ave is unknown but *** S COLLINGTON AVE, also an end unit, sold for $485,000 this past March and it was only 2,060 SF.

100% true

This has also been a source of many claims of mistaken information. While other blogs or radio shows may have made the mistake of saying all homes in the area sell for 400-500k- or that the Frosts paid 485k for their home, my information was correct. I compared the home to a recently sold SMALLER home only a few doors down that was also an end unit. Citing tax assessments of 260k (which are always lower than market value) is disingenuous. A fellow freeper early in the thread posted a zillow estimate of approximately 350k and Michelle Malkin's infamous "stalking tour" led her to say that estimates of 500k were too high. So much for the idea that the blogger mob were not interested in getting their facts straight. I'm sure all the media trucks Time magazine says are parked near the home will also be called stalkers-right?

---------------------------

"A photo taken in the family's kitchen shows what appears to be a recent remodeling job"

100% true. The home remodeling has been confirmed by the Frosts in the Sun article.

---------------------------

with granite counter tops

FALSE-The kitchen had concrete counters rather than granite. The left is really milking this one and its mention in this AP article was the only example they used from my entire post. This is such a silly point and was simply an observation about the photo the Sun used to show the family... but since even USA Today is making a big deal out of it, sigh, lets take a look:

"Concrete countertops are a custom crafted material for high end use and are often specified by designers or architects.

Consumers, in some cases think of concrete as being a cheaper alternative to other available countertop surfaces. Concrete countertops should be sold (or bought) based on being a beautiful, custom, handmade, relatively unique product. Customers going in thinking the countertops will be low budget items will quickly find out otherwise.

Concrete countertops range from $65 to $125 per square foot.

Granite countertops range from $60-$120 per square foot.

So the funny thing is, according to these links, concrete counters are actually MORE expensive than granite so I don't quite get the left's glee on that one.

I'm sure Olberman will have something to say like "Just when you think this story could not get any lower, we are now reduced to arguing cost differences of granite vs concrete countertops". Yep, it is silly. Maybe the AP and USA Today should stop harping on it and instead focus on whether families of higher means than than the Frosts really need tax payer financed health care.

---------------------------

and glass front cabinets

100% true

---------------------------

One has to wonder that if time and money can be found to remodel a home

100% true

---------------------------

send kids to exclusive private schools,

100% true

---------------------------

purchase commercial property

100% true

---------------------------

and run your own business

100% true

---------------------------

maybe money can be found for other things...

My opinion.

---------------------------

maybe Dad should drop his woodworking hobby and get a real job that offers health insurance rather than making people like me (also with 4 kids in a 600sf smaller house and tuition $16,000 less per kid and no commercial property ownership) pay for it in my taxes.

My opinion. On second look, a bit snippy but the central point is true. There have to be jobs out there with healthplans for someone with:

"over twenty years experience in architectural construction. Fine architectural woodworking/ cabinetmaking Residential and commercial construction. Industrial systems manufacturing, pipefitting, electrical control. Architectural design, CAD 2D & 3D modeling & rendering (Vectorworks/Renderworks)Construction management(All types)."

I know we all would like to be our own boss but sometimes you just have to settle for a good job with health insurance.

--------------------------

Not being a reporter and doing this all in about 3 hours using Google can bring me all the criticism in the world, but to say my info is all lies or has been disproved is not correct. As is the assertion that I somehow "attacked" a 12 year old.

BTW, I hope the Sun spent a little more than 3 hours researching their story.

"I am incredibly thankful," said Frost, who works full time for a medical publishing firm.
Baltimore Sun September 27

vs

"...while Bonnie works part time for a medical publishing firm."
Baltimore Sun October 11, 2007

----------------------


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: frost; graemefrost; justthefactsmaam; schip; standandfight
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To: Steve_Seattle
After all this, we still don’t know who’s paying the tuition

I have read several versions of who and how it is being paid. From they got a grant and don't pay a dime. To the Grandparents pay it. To they got a reduced rate. To they got financial aid. To they got financial aid and a reduced rate.

61 posted on 10/11/2007 1:41:58 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: Suzy Quzy

Gosh Suzy, I have no clue. I have my taxes done by a pro. The IRS is relentless if you make even a simple mistake!


62 posted on 10/11/2007 1:43:05 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: Sgt_Schultze

$2,500 per person? I’ve carried $100,000 per person for years. That might not have been enough to pay for everything following that collision, but it would have been better than $2,500 each.

It’s another peg that indicates Mr. Frost doesn’t consider insurance as a priority item. Insurance is always a bet. You’re betting that your choice - no insurance, minimum insurance, adequate insurance - is going to be the correct balance of cost vs coverage. Mr. Frost seems to tend to make choices that give him lower cost, betting that he won’t have a loss that the insurance won’t cover.

IMO, I should not be forced to pay for Mr. Frost’s losing bets.


63 posted on 10/11/2007 1:47:18 PM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra; All

Are there NO TAX EXPERTS that are Freepers????


64 posted on 10/11/2007 1:49:58 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her PHONINESS is REAL!!!)
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To: icwhatudo

FABULOUS!!!! BRAVO!!!! You need to TEACH reporters just HOW to do their work!!!


65 posted on 10/11/2007 2:02:57 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her PHONINESS is REAL!!!)
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To: savedbygrace

No, he bet and he won.


66 posted on 10/11/2007 2:10:43 PM PDT by jennyjenny
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
All I can find is that it was Dec 2004, Baltimore County, Maryland.

I guess it could have been icy at that time of year.

Black ice is a condition most often seen on highway overpasses and bridges. On secondary roads its seldom seen except in tree shaded areas during spring thaw.

My best guess would be that it was a case of “Too fast for weather conditions”, seeing how she hit a tree taking her kids to school and it wasn’t in spring.

Without exact location, time, date, its hard to say. Either way the SUV should have had the 4X4 engaged at the time if ice was suspected to be likely.

67 posted on 10/11/2007 2:23:37 PM PDT by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: jennyjenny

I see what you mean. LOL. (No, wait - that’s not laughing, that’s crying.)

He won because the nanny State covered his losses with our money. That’s the meaning of ‘he won’.


68 posted on 10/11/2007 2:27:55 PM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
I heard that the Grand Parents just happen to ‘donate’ $40,000 to the school, which just ‘happened’ to give a scholarship to the kids.

The Grandparents took a deduction for their ‘gift’ to charity.

Right??

If the grandparents gave or paid for the kids, I suspect that would be taxable income for the Frosts.

But the way they have it setup is they get the kids in school, keep the family income down and grandparents get a deduction. Wink wink, nod nod.

69 posted on 10/11/2007 2:29:18 PM PDT by Leisler (Sugar, the gateway to diabetes, misery and death. Stop Sugar Deaths NOW!)
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To: icwhatudo

This man has found a hundred ways around the tax code. I suspect that an audit would find how he pays for cars, meal and entertainment has a way of helping the family too. It is very possible that supplies used in his company have also found their way into repairs or upgrades of his home. We are not talking about bringing home a couple of pencils.


70 posted on 10/11/2007 2:43:00 PM PDT by q_an_a
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To: Ditto; icwhatudo

Even if everything Ditto says is true regarding the cost of the remodel, he could have used the time and resources to do a remodel for a paying customer to get more income to provide security for his family, and lessen the taxpayer burden. In fact, the cheaper he was able to do it the worse it is that he didn’t do it for profit.

The kitchen is an extravagence no matter which way you slice it. Don’t fold on this point.


71 posted on 10/11/2007 2:49:02 PM PDT by HundredDollars
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To: HundredDollars
Grrr!

extravagence = extravagance

Can we please get automatic spell checking? I don't like misspelled words and I don't like correction posts. It's a conundrum.

72 posted on 10/11/2007 3:07:56 PM PDT by HundredDollars
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To: AppyPappy; tuliptree76

PING to you, Tulip, for your expert input.

We have two kids, in this story, attending a private grade school — so, they’d still be counted as dependents on their parent’s tax forms — with annual tuition of $20K but the parents are paying far less owing to some scholarship money the kids are getting.

Seeing as the children are depndents, how does the IRS view that money? Is it counted as “Income” when April 15th rolls around?


73 posted on 10/11/2007 3:11:30 PM PDT by HKMk23 (Nine out of ten orcs attacking Rohan were Saruman's Uruk-hai, not Sauron's! So, why invade Mordor?)
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To: icwhatudo
BUMP

The left should not be allowed to leave the impression that these claims have been debunked so they can quickly sweep them under their very big and exceptionally dirty rug.

74 posted on 10/11/2007 3:22:15 PM PDT by Route66 (America's Main Street - - - President Fred D. Thompson /"The Constitution means what is says.")
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To: Lancey Howard; Ditto
Granite began fading as a preference for many up-scalers who were putting in new kitchens when it became more publicized that granite can actually be pourous enough to hold bacteria. Over the past three or four years people have been opting for sealed concrete and other faux granite look-alike materials.

I am planning to move out of state ,and may build a house in my new location.

I am a guy.

I care for what's practical.

Would stainless steel be a good idea for a counter-top?

Waterproof, rust proof, chip proof.

And best of all, maybe I could get it with a seemlessly integrated stainless sink, so there would be no lip around the edge of a sink to trap grundge.

I'm thinking it would be easy to clean--worse case scenario, I could Brillo it. And if it dents, rubber mallet it out.

What do you all think?

75 posted on 10/11/2007 3:22:43 PM PDT by Age of Reason
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To: Lancey Howard; Ditto

And I don’t like kitchen cabinets.

I prefer shelves, roll out carts for under counters, and a pantry.

And for any cabinets I might have, I was thinking stainless steel.

Stainless is what commercial kitchens use, so I figure it must be practical and easy to maintain—efficient—which is why I like the idea.


76 posted on 10/11/2007 3:26:37 PM PDT by Age of Reason
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To: Abundy; Albion Wilde; AlwaysFree; AnnaSASsyFR; bayliving; BFM; cindy-true-supporter; ...

Maryland “Freak State” PING!


77 posted on 10/11/2007 3:28:29 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Repeal the Terrible Two - the 16th and 17th Amendments. Sink LOST! Stop SPP!)
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To: Age of Reason

Corian. Half the price, no bacteria problem, seamless sinks, low maintenance. The kitchen surface for the function-before-form crowd.

Although you can choose from lots of fancy edges if you want form too.


78 posted on 10/11/2007 3:30:46 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: Age of Reason

Stainless is a great choice if it fits with your design. I’ll be getting stainless counter tops for my very modern kitchen,


79 posted on 10/11/2007 4:07:33 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: Age of Reason

“What do you all think?”

Get ready to break the piggy bank, and if appearance matters to you, you probaly will be disapointed with fingerprints and water marks.


80 posted on 10/11/2007 4:17:31 PM PDT by FReepapalooza
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