The poor and the sick are sticking with Trump
‘I’M ALL IN FOR TRUMP, HE’S GOT A GOOD HEART’
As Republican politicians in Washington bickered over the fate of ObamaCare, hundreds of desperate people lined up outside a county fairground 600 kilometres away over the weekend in the hope of receiving basic medical treatment.
Teeth rotting, blood pressure soaring, some on crutches or with oxygen tanks, they limped in through the darkness. Some had camped in a field or slept in their cars to be first in line.
This massive free healthcare event, staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses, treated thousands of people. Inside a barn, animal stalls were transformed into makeshift medical facilities. A team of optometrists tested for glaucoma in the chicken house. Mammograms and skin examinations took place in trucks.
“I just wish I could get President Trump to come and see this,” said Stan Brock, a British philanthropist and founder of Remote Area Medical, the charity behind it.
“The people here are Mr. Trump’s constituency, they’re his voters, and it drives me up the wall. If he saw what was happening I’m sure he’d do something about it. Unfortunately ... I don’t tweet.”
Brock, 80, added: “This organization was designed to parachute into the most God-awful places. I expected to see stuff like this in South Sudan and Haiti, but it’s right here in the United States of America.”
Last week the Republican bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, a cornerstone pledge of Trump’s campaign, failed in the Senate. However, despite objections from moderates in his own party, Trump has pledged to keep pushing for it to go through.
ObamaCare, the signature domestic policy legacy of his predecessor, led to 20 million more Americans getting health insurance. Repealing it became a cause celebre for Republicans who regard it as costly government overreach, and an unworkable system.
The Senate bill would not only dismantle ObamaCare, it would introduce $800 billion in cuts over the next decade to Medicaid, the health-care subsidy program for the unemployed.
But many of those in direst need, and who could suffer most under the Trump backed Senate bill, are still behind the president.
The Daily Telegraph interviewed half a dozen Trump voters receiving health care at the fairground. Every one said ObamaCare should be repealed, and that they believed Trump would introduce something better.
Their reasons varied. Some had gained coverage under ObamaCare but were unable to meet the rising cost of monthly premiums. Others said they knew little of the detail of the Senate bill.
“I love Trump,” said Margaret Harris, 54, shaking her head as she was told Trump backed massive cuts in health-care spending. “ObamaCare don’t pay for false teeth and glasses and I blame the Democrats. I’m diabetic and I can’t hardly see you. I need glasses but I ain’t got $400 to pay for them. I know Trump will get it done for us.”
Robert Hicks, 75, a former truck driver who has no insurance, added: “That’s not Trump, it’s the people in Congress. I know he’s trying to help us and I’m still with him. We need to vote out the people in Congress who aren’t helping him,” said Hicks, who was having five rotten teeth pulled.
Terry Turner, 53, who suffered a broken neck in a factory accident, had much of his care covered by Medicaid, but seemed unconcerned at the Trump-backed cuts. “I’m all in for Trump, he’s got a good heart,” he said.
In the election campaign, Trump recited “Repeal and replace ObamaCare” as a mantra at rallies, highlighting the soaring cost of premiums. That struck a chord with Buddy Howington, 48, who was having teeth pulled. His ObamaCare premiums rose to $2,500 a year, and he only earned $7.25 an hour in a supermarket, so he abandoned coverage. “Then they fined me $300 for not paying,” he said. “I couldn’t afford to pay for ObamaCare so they fine me. Makes no sense. I don’t know what’s going on in Washington but I think Trump will help eventually.”
Sitting on a bench waiting for a lung check, Lois Black, 91, a Trump supporter, said: “People are dropping out of that ObamaCare. I believe if Congress would get together with Mr. Trump we would all be a lot better off. Repeal it and replace it with something better. Good luck to him.”
Among those volunteering for patients was Tim Kaine, the Virginia senator and Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the presidential election. Kaine said the Senate repeal bill would be “absolutely devastating” and Trump’s voters should realize it. “Take any president’s name out of this and ask people, whoever they voted for, about massive cuts to Medicaid.
“That’s taking care away from kids, folks with disabilities, parents and grandparents in nursing homes.”