Jimmy Kimmel continued to denounce the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill on Monday, arguing that it does not provide adequate protections for patients with preexisting conditions.
Over the weekend, Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth said Kimmel was a puppet for the democrats who only spoke to one side of the aisle, referencing Kimmel speaking with Senator Chuck Schumer about Graham-Cassidy. Hegseth said Kimmel was proof that the deck is stacked against real reform in Washington.
It would be easy for me to dismiss this at right wing hysteria, Kimmel said in response to the Fox and Friends clip. I need to come clean My wife and I were worried about health care so we decided to have a baby with congenital heart defects. Once we had that going for us, I went on TV, I spoke out, and we may have stopped Graham-Cassidy. I still cant believe we pulled it off.
In a more serious tone, Kimmel urged viewers to heed the warnings of numerous healthcare organizations that also criticized Graham-Cassidy. Every major health organization in the United States is on my side, said Kimmel. Every major charity that has to do with health and Medicare was on my side, because the facts were on my side. It has nothing to do with me its just a matter of whats true and what isnt true.
He also praised Republican senators for voicing opposition. He was particularly heartened by Senator John McCains announcement on Friday that he would not be voting in favor of Graham-Cassidy. The truth is, John McCain probably saved the Republican party by doing this, Kimmel said. You think Graham-Cassidy is horrible now? Wait until people have to live with it.
Senator Susan Collins echoed McCains words on Monday after senate hearings on the bill, which allowed Kimmel to get in more joke at Graham-Cassidys expense: That means this bill is almost certainly dead, he said, or at the very least, on life support. Which wont be covered.