23 September, 2017
This week, the comedian was back to explain why the new Graham-Cassidy Republican "repeal" bill is bad news.
Kimmel's monologues on Tuesday and Wednesday were deeply personal. That is what Kilmeade was talking about when he referred to Kimmel as "an up-and-coming talk show host who did a great job on Fox Sports". "He said anything he supported would have to pass what he named 'The Jimmy Kimmel Test, ' which was fine, it was good, but unfortunately - and puzzlingly - he proposed a bill that would allow states to do all the things he said he would not let them do. Instead of using your kid, instead of pimping your kid out there to push Obamacare that's created to wreck health care", Jones said about Kimmel's baby, who was born with a congenital heart condition.
The tweet capped off a dramatic week that included three nights of opening monologues in which Kimmel blasted one of the bill's sponsors, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, for failing to make due on a promise to ensure that, as Kimmel said, "No family should be denied medical care, emergency or otherwise, because they can't afford it". I don't want to go on on The Daily Show. Cassidy was asked to respond to Kimmel when he appeared Wednesday on CNN's "New Day".
"The reason I found this comment particularly annoying - Kilmeade is a guy who, whenever I see him, kisses my ass like a little boy meeting Batman", Kimmel shoots back. Kimmel hopped on board only recently, after his infant son's staggeringly expensive open-heart surgery woke him.
"I'm glad you're interested", he said. I didn't kiss your butt. Kimmel argued that Trump doesn't actually care what's in the bill, as long as Obamacare is repealed. Between yuks, he occasionally accuses Republicans of being would-be baby killers, which is treated as an important political development because, well, Jimmy Kimmel is famous.
The talk shows have become deeply political in the past few years with many and varied voices including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Trevor Noah. "This leveled the playing field to a degree", Meeks said.
If Kimmel presumes to speak for Americans on healthcare, he should do more homework and actually take the time to learn and internalize the stories of people who've lived through Obamacare nightmares. He urged his fans not just to "like" his speech on social media when they saw it, but to take action.
"He's got a candor that we don't often see", Thompson said.
