The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passes the congress on Christmas Eve 2010.
Before Congress could leave for Christmas break this week, the Senate barely managed to pass a bill giving health benefits to the first responders that worked in the ruins left by the 911 attack, better known as Ground Zero.
While the results of this bill is only half the value Democrats has originally designed it to be, it was passed only because of the mass attention drawn to it in the last week by comedian Jon Stewart. This bill has been lingering for years in various committees and for all practical purposes appeared dead last week.
In agreement with the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America, the most revealing thank you has come from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg when the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday:
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/index.cfm?objectid=1004544C-C29C-7CA2-F5BC9DFF00F95104
Mayor Bloomberg sent a big thanks to Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, and most importantly to Jon Stewart at The Daily Show for their effort and work to get the Zadroga Act passed: http://bit.ly/fDe8Ts
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show Steps In to Shame the Senate
Jon Stewart first set the stage with humor for this very real serious issue. Jon’s opening segment “The Worst-Responders” shamed the Republican politicians for creating a filibuster to the Zadroga Act, and also the news media for ignoring this important issue before the Senate.
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http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/worst-responders
Jon Stewart said, “These guys are dying, and yet we are abandoning them.”
“Apparently the party that turned 9/11 into a catch-phrase is now moving suspiciously into a convenient, pre-9/11 mentality when it comes to this bill,” says Jon Steward. “What’s more, none of the three broadcast networks has mentioned any of this on their evening newscasts for 2 1/2 months.”
Then…
Jon Stewart committed a large portion of his Thursday, December 16th show to the concern of the Ground Zero 9/11 first responders’ bill, the Zadroga Act, when many people including the politicians nearly stopped giving attention to this issue.
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So, Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show was found to be more earnest than usual while the show still sustained is renowned humor on occasion. His interview with several first responders of the Ground Zero 9/11 attack, and about their health after responding, and the impact that the bill could have on them if it passed helped the Senate Republican get their priorities in order and caused them to pass the bill.
After Stewart’s tirade, the attitude of the Republican Senate began to seriously change.
A Wake-up Call to Rally the Masses
Soon, all of the White House was taking the public outcry and notice.
“I think he has put the awareness around this legislation,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a press briefing. “He has put that awareness into what you guys cover each day, and I think that’s good. I hope he can convince two Republicans to support taking care of those that took care of so many on that awful day in our history.”
Jon Stewart was no longer alone in voicing concern for the well being of the 9/11 first responders.
“How do they sleep at night after this vote on ground zero first responders from 9/11?” Fox News anchor Shepard Smith said publicly, also shaming the Republican senators who were determined to filibuster the bill. Shepard said Jon Stewart was “flat-on, absolutely right.”
“These people ran to ground zero to save people’s lives and we’re not going to even give them medicine for the illnesses that they got down there? It’s disgusting, it’s a national disgrace, it’s a shame, and everybody who voted against it should have to stand up and account for himself or herself. Is anybody going to hold them accountable?”
“I think you just did,” replied Fox’s Chris Wallace.
Related articles
- Obama signs Sept. 11 first responders bill (msnbc.msn.com)
- Obama signs 9/11 health bill (thehill.com)