Posted on 06/21/2008 5:36:51 PM PDT by The_Republican
"It's hard being a member of the mean party," says Bob Borochoff, a lifelong Republican who was on Capitol Hill this week asking legislators to support bills that will benefit disabled people like his son, Bradley, and returning veterans suffering from mental illness. There's no shortage of horror stories when it comes to health insurance, but Borochoff's tale on behalf of his son took him on a political journey, as well, and his disillusionment is emblematic of the uphill climb the Republicans face in November.
Borochoff's tidy life as a restauranteur and happily married father of three, including newborn twins, was shattered in 1988 when his 3-year-old son Bradley was bitten by a mosquito, which triggered encephalitis, a swelling of the brain and then uncontrollable seizures, leaving him disabled. The family's insurance premiums jumped from $300 a month to $2,500 a month. Borochoff hired a lawyer to fight the increase but was told he had no choice, so he paid the premiums. A year later, a notice arrived in the mail that the insurance company was canceling his policy along with coverage for his 100 employees.
Well known in the restaurant business in Houston, Borochoff had political connections, and he worked every one of them, even securing an audience, along with other small-business owners, in the White House with President George H.W. Bush, all to no avail. In desperation, he contacted Sen. Ted Kennedy, telling a Houston Post reporter at the time, "I can't stand Ted Kennedy," but he hoped he would help. Kennedy intervened and the next day Borochoff got a call saying the insurance for him and his employees would be reinstated. It would be nice if the story ended there, but Bradley's care became more expensive. Medicine not covered by insurance was $2,800 a month.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Ugggh...
I’m betting McCain will beat Obama, but I’m not sure he’ll restore the party. I expect he’ll be a mixed bag as prez.
*snicker*
“Lifelong Republican” my @$$. This guy gives to whomever he thinks will bring home the pork. Nice try Eleanor.
Health insurance is a huge issue. One problem is that the old model, where you got it via employment, no longer works well because long careers with the same company are a thing of the past. Premiums for those in small companies’ plans & for the self employed are out of sight.
I don’t know the answer either but the huge numbers of uninsured isn’t a good thing.
GOP did it to themselves. Bush didn’t.
Have to respectfully, STONGLY disagree there. Bush did it to himself, Country and GOP. He is the leader. He led us to this mess.
I was taken aback until I noticed that it’s an Eleanor Clift story. Never mind.
mcdole
needs hep.
like an l.
the pubie party may have assigned him this year because they didn’t think they stood a chance to win,
like 1996.
Have to respectfully, STONGLY disagree there. Bush didn't remove the spines of GOP wimps in congress!
I'm disgusted with all of them and McCain sure isn't going to make it better, IMO!
What mess. LOl!
and you think Obama will make it bette?
McCain restore the luster? Yeah, r-i-g-h-t! Not a snowballs chance in ...
RINO's had better wake up to the fact that conservatives are fed up with getting a pat on the head and the occasional bone. We've been treated like the crazy aunt in the basement for way too long.
Basically conservatives have been booted and when we compain we're given the same old go along or else dog and pony show.
The only thing that would make me vote for McCain would be if he apologized, prommised to be a one termer, and laid out a plan for a conservative tranistion of power not just in the government but in the Republican party.
In fact it might be easier for conservatives to mount an attack against an Obama presidency than a RINO McCain administration. prisoner6
When did Obama join the GOP?
I can’t tell GOP from Democrat anymore. They all sound alike to me.
The ONLY good thing to be said about Eleanor Clift is that she was one MSM journalist who did not immediately fall in love with Barry, as a very very traditional Democrat her first love was fellow witch Hillary.
George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Fritz Mondale, Mike Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and now The Magic Negro...
...I’m sorry, which party is the damaged brand? At least we’ve had candidates in the last thirty years or so who weren’t complete crap. John McCain is no Ronald Reagan, to be sure, but it’s simply not possible for any one Republican to equal the cumulative craptasticness of that list. Not even him.
I second that snicker and raise you a *titter.*
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