If you’re one of the people angrily throwing rocks through the windows of Congressmen or sending nastygrams to local politicians over healthcare reform legislation, you should probably consider the case of Fort Worth area newborn Houston Tracy.

Little Houston suffers from a rare congenital heart condition, his father Doug explains:

“He was born with what’s called transposition of the great arteries.” his father, Doug Tracy said. “It’s heart wrenching; I hated it.”

The congenital heart defect causes the two major vessels that carry blood away from the heart to become switched.

It’s a condition rarely detected before birth.

While being born with a challenging condition is tough enough for any new baby, the Tracy family has more than that on their proverbial plate since Houston’s birth. Blue Cross Blue shield denied the baby coverage based on his “pre-existing condition.” Then, they presumably retired to their massive mansions to swim in pools filled with money thanks to such decisions.

Doug Tracy describes the frustration of simultaneously trying to deal with a gravely ill child and fight unfair insurance clauses:

“They kept saying it’s preexisting, it’s preexisting, but I don’t know how it can be preexisting on a baby that was just born.” his father said. “If it’s mandated that everyone have health insurance, than how can one be denied?

Representatives for BCBS declined to comment on the Tracy’s plight, but did comment on the new laws in relation to such cases:

“We will work closely with our customers to keep them informed of any changes that may result from the new law,” said Margaret Jarvis, the company’s Senior Manager of Media Relations. “We will continue to review the bill’s requirements on our business and their respective time frames to ensure full compliance.”

As you may already be personally aware, lack of insurance often leads to lack of diagnostic testing, even in children. A fund has been set up for Houston Tracy, and if you’re interested, you can read about donating here.

Too late for some: 10 day old denied health coverage for “pre-existing condition” is a post from: The Inquisitr

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), one of the most vocal proponents of the new healthcare reform legislation, received a threatening letter containing an unidentified white powder today.

Law enforcement officials responded to the scene on Kew Gardens road at 1:50pm today, and nine people were reportedly decontaminated. Weiner, who represents areas of Brooklyn and Queens, says his office is closed pending identification of the substance. In a statement, Weiner did not address the letter, which reportedly told the Congressman to “drop dead” and cited his work on the healthcare reform bill:

Earlier today an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to my community office in Kew Gardens. The NYPD was immediately alerted and have responded appropriately by sending a Haz-Mat team. Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority is the safety of my staff and neighbors, and the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve the situation.

Rep. Weiner is not the only target in days following the passage of the bill. Talking Points Memo has compiled a map showing locations in which Democrats have experienced vandalism and “serious threats,” including broken windows and cut gas lines.

NY Rep. Anthony Weiner receives threat and suspicious white powder is a post from: The Inquisitr

Freshman Democrat from Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith is changing sides and joining the Grand Old Party, Politico is reporting.

Griffith is expected to announce the switch this afternoon in his home county in Alabama, and while the timing is surprising, the move itself is not. Griffith has been “courted” by Republicans since this summer, when he publicly disagreed with Democrats after rowdy town hall meetings. Griffith has rolled against Democrats in all the major domestic initiatives of the Obama administration, including cap and trade, the stimulus package, financial regulatory reform and most significantly, the health care reform debate. (Griffith is also expected to cite his background in medicine in denouncing reform efforts in the switch.)

Griffith won with a thin margin in the last election, capturing just 51% of the vote in a district that gave McCain 61% in the 2008 elections. The Democrats will still hold 257 seats in the House to the Republicans’ 178. The last member of Congress to switch teams in office was Arlen Specter (D-PA).

[Politico]

Democrat Rep. Parker Griffith to switch to GOP is a post from: The Inquisitr

Senator and former Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman is not very well regarded among democrats right now thanks to his unending mission to deny the American people a reasonably priced health insurance option.

I think Senator Al Franken (D-MN) speaks for many of us when he tells Lieberman to STFU on the Senate floor. Bonus: McCain wants Franken to get off his lawn:

Sen. Franken shuts Lieberman down on Senate floor is a post from: The Inquisitr

I think they’re adorable, but many conservatives are again crying “socialist indoctrination” about a video circulating of students from the Ron Clark Academy doing a song and dance routine about healthcare reform.

CNN’s video of Ron Clark Academy students annoys right-wing is a post from: The Inquisitr

80% of the American public support the public option… but when you think about it, who’s really supporting it? Other than 80% of the American public?

Hilarious: Funny or Die anti-healthcare reform ad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Town Hall meetings have become a national late night punchline of late, but Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) dished it right back at some angry protesters last night.

The highlight of the exchange, seen in the first clip, involves another tired Obama-as-Hitler, Healthcare-as-Eugenics comparison, and Frank isn’t having it. When a woman poses the question of why Frank (who is Jewish) continues to support “Nazi policies,” Frank responds with his trademark alacrity:

“On what planet do you spend most of your time?

“It’s a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated.

“Ma’am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table. I have no interest in doing it.”

Below are two clips- first of the moment quoted above, and a second, longer clip showing more of the overall dialogue. Even in the reporting, you’ll see a divide- more liberal outlets favor the clip of the crazy Nazi poster lady, whereas more conservative outlets prefer a montage of Frank facepalming while protesters shout, condensing his quips into a block of what seems like dismissing his constituents.

So, question- do you love Barney Frank?

Barney Frank pwns Town Hall protester is a post from: The Inquisitr