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Tomorrow, for the third time in six months, Congress will try a last minute maneuver to keep the government running. While the vast majority of Democrats are fighting to include much needed relief for the nation’s 800,000 dreamers and funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Republicans are continuing to play political games irrespective of the people they are hurting.
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Today, Speaker Paul Ryan’s Press Secretary for White House Affairs, Doug Andres, decided to challenge comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel to those games on Twitter.
Big mistake. (Twitter exchange below.)
Last May, Kimmel shook up the political establishment when he opened up about the moving story of his son, who was born with a life threatening heart condition and will live a healthy life because of the expert medical care he received. The comedian made an impassioned plea for Washington to allow every American access to the same quality care.
Even as his call went unheeded by Republicans, Kimmel became an icon for making healthcare a right in America rather than a privilege denied to millions.
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So when Republicans tried to corner Democrats this week by forcing them too choose between a government funding bill that finally reauthorized CHIP or continuing to fight for Dreamers, Speaker Ryan’s spokesman tried to bring Kimmel onto the GOP side.
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The move did not exactly go as Andres planned. Kimmel responded by calling out the disgraceful game Republicans are playing
Shame on you for making CHIP a bargaining chip, shame on you for tying our children's lives to immigration and shame on you and @SpeakerRyan for doing ANYTHING other than funding CHIP cleanly and IMMEDIATELY.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 17, 2018
Republicans are the ones funding CHIP completely and immediately. Democrats are the ones voting no. https://t.co/vLBOncsdIE
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 17, 2018
As you know, tying CHIP to spending bill is not a clean CHIP vote. It’s a transparent bid to lure Dems away from DACA. The majority, including Republicans, support a path to citizenship and full CHIP funding. Using kids’ lives as bargaining chips is disgusting. So stop it. https://t.co/aAXorJZZS6
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 18, 2018
After being unilaterally owned, Andres should have stopped but came back for more.
Also, on what planet are Republicans the ones tying anything to immigration? https://t.co/vLBOncsdIE
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 17, 2018
The one you're destroying to serve your corporate masters. https://t.co/E8PdGoJmFV
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 18, 2018
Then, the enabler of a reality show host president tried to mock Kimmel’s show biz credentials, and again, he was quickly made to regret it.
Really enjoying this reality where a late-night comedian tweets at me multiple times a day because he believes Republicans, not Democrats, are the ones voting against CHIP funding. https://t.co/w6xKMZsmzo
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 18, 2018
Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself Doug. The parents of sick kids aren't. You're so full of it, I'm surprised your boss' beautiful blue eyes don't turn brown. https://t.co/dv5EGjT4M7
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 18, 2018
Then the man who just wouldn’t stay down had the audacity to suggest that Republicans were interested in funding CHIP — something Democrats have been calling for for months.
And as you know, tying CHIP to a clean and temporary extension of government funding is a transparent bid to…renew CHIP. https://t.co/w6xKMZsmzo
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 18, 2018
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Naturally, it backfired.
Then why does it have to be "tied" to anything Doug? If this is your definition of the word "clean", remind me not to shake your hand https://t.co/0n7TDvuavj
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 18, 2018
Finally, Andres tried rambling, and Kimmel put him away for good. If only he had the ability to do the same for the rest of the Washington Republicans who are attacking our country from within.
Democrats are voting against CHIP over a disagreement about what isn’t included in the CR.
They have no actual problem with the legislation being voted on.
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) January 18, 2018
Go to sleep Doug. It’s late and in the morning, you’ve got lives to ruin and a government to shut down. https://t.co/QF3gDOgajf
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 18, 2018
