White House: More than half of America 'not poor'

[sabra]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/white_house_more_than_half_of.html#more

Here's a cheerful note from the White House:

"Over half the families in America are not poor.''

That's a good glass half-full way of looking at the debate over health insurance for children. With the president having vetoed -- and having sustained that veto -- a bill offering health care to the children of families living at three times the federal poverty level, the White House maintains it is willing to find more money for health care for lower-income children.

Just not the middle class.

"Over Half The Families In America Are Not Poor,'' the White House announces today, in a release focusing on a statement by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto -- who also is not poor.

"Congress' SCHIP Bill Would Cover The Majority Of American Families With Children,'' it notes of the State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation.

"The President vetoed Congress' SCHIP bill because they were asking for a policy that was bad, not because they were asking for too much money,'' Fratto is quoted as saying. "Congress' bill would result in 57 percent of children in America and about 53 percent of families with children being potentially eligible for public assistance. The president has said poor children should come first. Over half the families in America are not poor."

[PDJane]

1. That depends on how you define "poor"....

and the cost and availability of health care.

[LakeSamish706]

7. Yep, and I don't care if you are Middle Class... ya still can't afford...

medical costs if someone does become seriously ill in your family. Funny how they don't mention that little tid bit in there assessment.

[Selatius]

2. If a family of four makes more than 20,000/year, they aren't considered poor.

Try living on 21,000/year while raising two kids, paying the power and water bills, paying for gas for your car as well as auto insurance and maintenance, and handling the rent because you know you can't afford a fucking mortgage.

[meegbear]

3. we're just 'dis-rich'

[LSK]

4. so its a success if HALF the country is not poor???

:wtf:

[central scrutinizer]

5. Low expectations reach a new low

So that is how Bushco defines their great success? Over half are not poor?? So since the poor are a minority, they can be totally ignored?

[tanyev]

15. Well, since it's obviously their own fault, yeah, sure.

:sarcasm:

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. Pretty bad if 50% in this country are poor.

It surely isn't something to brag about.

[LakeSamish706]

9. Especially while your spending 12 billion tax $$$ per month on a useless war! n/t

[alfredo]

8. Bush is doing his best to make sure less fall into

the "not poor" classification. Let's face it, if anybody outside of his chosen few have any money, he has failed.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. He is just the worst man I think I have seen.

He is just plain slimey.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. george bu$h hates poor people and sick people and poor sick children.

Thanks for nothing VALUES VOTERS! :puke: :grr: :mad: :argh:

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. He is a creep. n/t

[Pastiche423]

18. "The Bushes must love the poor --- they made so many of us."

When Dubya visited Neville Island in Pennsylvania at labor day, Bill Neel showed up with a sign that said "The Bushes must love the poor ---they made so many of us." He was arrested for carrying that sign outside of a "designated free-speech area". It wasn't as if the rest of the island was a "no-speech area" --- signs were allowed right along the motorcade, so long as they were pro-Bush and looked pretty for the cameras.

Bill Neel
September 30, 2002

http://thelookingglass.blogspot.com/2002_09_29_archive.html

[alfredo]

21. Even Nixon looks better up against Busholini. At least Nixon signed

environmental bills into law.

[MetaTrope]

10. Wow, that extra 3 percent sure does climb up there

[raccoon]

12. K&R. What a crock. nt

[jojo54]

13. Well asshole, how about if everyone you consider "not poor"

sends you all their bills for 6 months, plus an invoice for family health insurance and all gas receipts.

Then do a 6 month study on it (but do NOTHING else), hold meetings with 10 of your cohorts, have those 10 hold meetings with 10 of their cohorts, then 10 more meetings and by that time, you'll be out of office and not have done any more damage!!!

[shadowknows69]

17. Whoo hoo

batting better than 500! No wonder our former baseball team owner is happy. In his mind we have a winning season.

[Johonny]

19. poor children should come first

As far as I can see they see the role of the middle class as a cash cow that pays a ton of taxes to support: the poor, the military, tax cuts for the rich and corporations. But the middle class isn't suppose to get any services for their tax money. Why does the middle class put up with this kind of talk?

[NOLALady]

20. Well.

That settles it. Now we know.