A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Late-night
host Jimmy Kimmel made an emotional plea to lawmakers to fund
health-care spending for preexisting conditions on May 1. Kimmel teared
up while discussing his newborn son Billy's heart condition on his show. (Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)
A week after Jimmy Kimmel shared the news about his newborn son’s heart defect — and made an emotional plea about
preexisting conditions amid the health-care debate — he returned to his
late-night show on Monday to huge applause from his studio audience.
“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…. I saved health insurance in the
United States of America,” Kimmel said triumphantly. He paused, then was
“shocked” to discover the controversial bill passed in
the House. “What’s that? I didn’t? I didn’t save it? They voted against
it anyway?! I really need to pay more attention to the news.”
Anyway, Kimmel said, his son Billy is doing well. Kimmel also thanked
viewers for their support. Then he noted that some people were very
critical of his health-care comments. As you might expect, he did
not hold back.
“I know this is gonna shock you — there were also some not-so-nice
things that people said online about me, including members of the
media,” said Kimmel, showing headlines from the New York Post (“Jimmy Kimmel’s obscene lies about kids and medical care”) and the Washington Times (“Shut up Jimmy Kimmel, you elitist creep”).
Kimmel said he was proud of that label, because when he was growing up
drinking powdered milk when his family couldn’t afford the liquid, his
dream was to become an out-of-touch Hollywood elitist. “I guess it came
true!” he exclaimed.
He continued the sarcasm. “I would like to apologize for saying that
children in America should have health-care. It was insensitive,” Kimmel
deadpanned. “It was offensive, and I hope you can find it in your heart
to forgive me.”
He saved most of his ire for Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.
“There are some very sick and sad people out there. Here’s one of them;
his name is Newt Gingrich,” Kimmel said. He ran a clip of Gingrich on
“Fox News Sunday” criticizing Kimmel’s comments and saying that when a
newborn has a heart problem, doctors will help immediately and not wait
until the family cuts a check.
“Yes, it is true that if you have an emergency, they will do an
operation. And that’s terrific if your baby’s health problems are all
solved during that one visit. The only problem is that never, ever
happens,” Kimmel shot back. “We’ve had a dozen doctor’s appointments
since our son had surgery. You’ve got a cardiologist, the pediatrician,
surgeon; some kids need an ambulance to transport them. That doesn’t
even count the parents who have to miss work for all this stuff. Those
details, Newt forgot to mention. I don’t know if the double layers of
Spanx are restricting the blood flow to his brain.”
Kimmel wasn’t finished. “And not only is Newt Gingrich an expert on sick
children, turns out he also knows a thing or two about the late-night
comedy business,” he smirked. He rolled a clip of Gingrich saying, “The
problem you have with humor in America today is that Hollywood is so
enraged at Donald Trump that they can’t be funny,” adding that
late-night comedians are consumed with anger.
“Gee, I wonder why we’re so angry. Maybe it has something to do with, I
don’t know, you?” Kimmel said. “Listen, Newt Gingrich does know a lot
about comedy. This is the guy who helped lead the impeachment effort
against Bill Clinton for trying to cover his up his affair — while he was having an affair.
That’s hilarious. Come on. Whatever you want to say about him. Thank
you, Newt. There’s a reason he’s named after a lizard, and that was it.”
Kimmel then segued into an interview with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who was asked in a TV interview last week whether
insurance companies should be able to cap payouts. “I ask, does it pass
the Jimmy Kimmel test? Would a child born with congenital heart disease
be able to get everything he or she would need in that first year of
life?” Cassidy said at the time.
Cassidy appeared on Monday’s show via satellite; the two went back and
forth for several minutes. “Why are the vast majority of Republican
politicians against making sure Americans are truly covered when it
comes to health-care?” Kimmel asked. Cassidy responded that President
Trump said he wants to cover all Americans, take care of preexisting
conditions without mandates and lower premiums, because middle-class
families can’t afford them.
Later, Cassidy added that the bill passed by the House last week
actually raises premiums: “Which is why, on the Senate side, we need to
make it work.” He urged viewers to call their senators and tell
Democrats “don’t just sit on the sidelines, engage” and tell
Republicans, “We’ve got to fulfill President Trump’s contract, lowering
premiums with coverage that passes the Jimmy Kimmel test.”
“If we do that, we get an American plan … that’s where we need to be,” Cassidy said as the audience applauded.
Kimmel offered a suggestion for his namesake test. “The Jimmy Kimmel
test, I think should be, no family should be denied medical care,
emergency or otherwise, because they can’t afford it,” he said, as the
audience cheered again. “Can that be the Jimmy Kimmel test? As simple as
that? Is that oversimplifying it?”
“You’re on the right track,” Cassidy assured him. “And if that’s as
close as we get, that works great in government. Now we gotta be able to
pay for it, and that’s the challenge, so all those middle-class
families right now … we have to make it affordable for them, too.”
“I can think of a way to pay for it is don’t give a huge tax cut to
millionaires like me and instead, leave it how it is. I mean, that would
be one way,” Kimmel offered. “That’s my vote.”