The Amazing Maizi Hirono. In Appreciation. [View all]

[sheshe2]

Democratic Senator Treated For Cancer Speaks About John McCain's Vote — EXCLUSIVE

Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democratic senator from Hawaii, announced that she was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in May. She had two surgeries — one in May and one in late June — and after each, she got back to work battling the GOP's efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka Obamacare). On Tuesday, July 25, after getting those surgeries for the kidney cancer, Hirono voted against a repeal of Obamacare.

I spoke with Hirono about the health care debate in an interview with Elite Daily on Thursday, July 27.

“On a personal level, I was really grateful that I had health care, health insurance, because — believe me — cancer treatment is very, very expensive. If I had to be sitting here worrying about how I would pay for the treatment rather than focusing on what kind of treatment I should get, I would be very distressed and depressed, to say the least,” Hirono says. “You know, that's what millions of people in our country are facing, though, with the [potential] repeal of the Affordable Care Act.”

Across the aisle, a parallel story played out. Last week, Congress was shaken with the announcement that Senator John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer. Then, on Tuesday, McCain returned to the Capitol and voted with Republicans to open the discussion on the repeal of Obamacare. His vote was met with applause from his colleagues and criticism from the public, who thought it ironic that after his own diagnosis, he was voting to move forward with a plan that would leave 32 million people without insurance by 2026, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Link to tweet

..................................

“I listened very carefully to his remarks, and sadly, his vote was a vote that enables Republicans to continue this path of no hearings and basically trying to cram a bill down everybody's throats that will be harmful to millions and millions of people in our country,” Hirono says. “I very much respect John McCain … and we're all wishing the best for him, of course. But, well, let's just say I wish he had voted the other way so that we could proceed to the kind of regular order that he talked about in his remarks.”

Link to tweet

Read More: http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/democratic-senator-treated-cancer-speaks-john-mccains-vote-exclusive/2030110/

Two Senators, one Republican and one Democrat, left their hospital bed, paid for by the taxpayers, to vote on allowing the discussion of repeal of healthcare for 30Million people. One voted no, the other yes. A tale of two parties.

This is for you Maizi, you voted to let us live. The American people thank you. You are our hero.