Charles Hurt attacks Jimmy Kimmel’s recent monologue opposing Donald Trump’s attempts to cut off funding for health care and shows himself to be an enemy of the American people.
It isn’t too often that I read an opinion piece which legitimately angers me because of its rhetoric. But when The Washington Times’ recent column attacking Jimmy Kimmel’s recent monologue after nearly losing his son showed up on my Twitter feed earlier tonight, there was no other way for me to feel.
To recap: On Monday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host detailed how what should have been one of the happiest days of his life nearly turned into an unimaginable tragedy when his newborn son nearly died from an until-then-unknown heart defect. Roughly 10:25 into the video, Kimmel uses his story to focus some attention on Donald Trump’s desire to cut $6 BILLION from the budget of the National Institute of Health, pointing out how damaging it could be for children’s hospitals such as Los Angeles Children’s Hospital — the one which saved Kimmel’s son. He also praised the fact that Congress rebutted Trump’s plans by adding an additional $2 billion to their budget. Kimmel went on to declare that nobody should potentially have to decide whether or not they can save their child’s life just based on their net wealth, or that someone should have to die just because of a pre-existing condition.
Kimmel also suggested that, whether we support Democrats or Republicans, these ideas should be things which everyone can agree on. His audience roared with applause in support — because, in all likelihood, they are decent Americans. But Charles Hurt of The Washington Times is not someone I think I could consider to be “decent.” In his recent column, Hurt, after initially supporting Kimmel and expressing gratitude that his son was saved, blasts Kimmel for daring to use his voice to support the notion of affordable health care.
Even the title of Hurt’s column — “Shut up, Jimmy Kimmel, you elitist creep” — is patently offensive. Hurt attacks Kimmel’s posturing as “grubby, dirty politics.” The columnist doesn’t consider even for a moment that just maybe, the experience of an entertainer such as Kimmel might shine a badly-needed light on the fact that Donald Trump and his Republican administration want to do everything they can to destroy the one health care initiative that has actually yielded results for a large number of Americans — even while they potentially look to shield themselves from the devastation this would bring.
It was suddenly as if instead of bringing forth into life an exquisite bundle of joy, Mr. Kimmel had been handed a stupid golden statue. And as if at the Oscars, the dirty, self-absorbed, narcissistic exhibitionist could not help himself but step into the klieg lights and start blubbering about politics.
Later today, the Republicans are poised to finally do what they have not been able to do for years: Destroy Obamacare and make it essentially impossible for the lowest-income Americans to afford health insurance. Those with pre-existing conditions will be required to suffer for the good of the GOP wealthcare machine. Any who develop serious illnesses, such as cancer, and either cannot buy insurance or cannot afford the deductibles or copays for whatever coverage they may have, will simply be expected to die.
But Charles Hurt, like the Republican Party and the Trump Administration, doesn’t care about that. Whereas Jimmy Kimmel chose to use his considerable voice to speak about an issue that, quite literally, affects every single American citizen, regardless of political affiliation, Charles Hurt chooses to use his to ridicule and shame the very man whose son nearly died and whose near-tragedy prompted him to speak up on behalf of the rest of us. Hurt’s words are those of a callous, out-of-touch, and uncaring individual whose words should be rendered meaningless:
Yes, that’s right. He just had a kid and the kid nearly died and he wants you to know that if you are not for bloated federal bureaucracy, socialized medicine, higher taxes and tons of more debt piled onto your grandchildren, then you are not a “decent person.”
Actually Jim, if you were a “decent person,” you would shut your fat trap about partisan politics and go care for your kid, who just nearly died, you elitist creep.
It’s a common theme in the on-line world: Any celebrity who chooses to use their voice to try and influence positive change is typically attacked by trolls who either don’t get it or simply don’t care. I see Ellie Goulding attacked all the time on her personal Twitter account for speaking out against the Trump Administration and in support of action against climate change. Jimmy Kimmel is now another celebrity who had the audacity to defend the American people — including those with whom he disagrees — and is now being called out for it.
So I am calling out Charles Hurt of The Washington Times as a figure of questionable morality, integrity, and intelligence. I would challenge him to use his position to call out hypocrisy and corruption in our government and to try and bring about meaningful change which actually helps America, not to Hurt it. Because if this is the best that Charles Hurt has to offer, then neither the media world nor its viewership need him. Hurt declared Kimmel’s plea for health care as “why America hates Hollywood.” I would offer this: By attacking a man who nearly lost a newborn son and who wants available to the masses the type of health care which saved his baby’s life, Charles Hurt has presented himself to be the reason why many decent Americans hate the news media — or at least his interpretation of it.