Late-night host fires back at his critics

LOS ANGELES Jimmy Kimmel zinged his critics as he returned to late-night TV and resumed arguing that Americans deserve the level of health care given his infant son.

Back on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live Monday after a week’s absence, he said baby Billy is recovering well from open-heart surgery for a birth defect and thanked wellwishers. Then he charged back into the fraught topic.

“I made an emotional speech that was seen by millions, and as a result of my powerful words on that night, Republicans in Congress had second thoughts about repeal and replace” of the Affordable Care Act, he joked. “I saved health insurance in the United States of America! “What’s that? I didn’t save it? They voted against it anyway?” Kimmel said. The House approved the American Health Care Act last week. He dismissed those who labelled him an elitist — as a youngster, his family bought powered milk because they couldn’t afford fresh, he said — and pretended to repent for his previous comments.

“I’d like to apologize for saying that children in America should have health care. It was insensitive, it was offensive and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me,” Kimmel said.

He took on former Rep. Newt Gingrich, saying his claim that all children would receive the same surgery as Kimmel’s son in an emergency fell short of addressing what follows.

“That’s terrific if your baby’s health problems are all solved during that one visit. The only problem is that never, ever happens. We’ve had a dozen doctor’s appointments since our son had surgery,” Kimmel said. Last Monday, the host detailed how Billy’s routine birth April 21 turned frightening when he needed life-saving surgery.