As the campaign manager for the presidential bid of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Kent Snyder received a lot of credit for raising $35 million from grassroots supporters, a phenomenal accomplishment for an insurgent campaign.
But, like 48 million other Americans, Snyder had no health insurance, and when he died from pneumonia on June 26 after a two-month hospital stay, he left medical bills totaling over $400,000.
It is emblematic of our age that Snyder’s boss, Rep. Paul, is a physician.
The story comes from the Washington Blade:
Gay staffers from the Paul campaign, some speaking on condition that they not be identified, said they learned about Snyder’s unpaid medical bills from a web site created by his friends that calls on Paul supporters to contribute to a special fund to help Snyder’s family pay the bills, which come mostly from a two-month hospitalization. So far, the site (kentsnyder.com) has raised about $32,000.
“I can’t believe he didn’t have health insurance,” said one political activist who read about Snyder’s unpaid medical bills in a story published last month in the Wall Street Journal. “I can’t believe that Ron Paul didn’t give him health insurance,” said the activist, who asked not to be identified.
The Journal story did not identify Snyder as gay; a Washington Post obituary reported Snyder died of viral pneumonia but did not mention his sexual orientation.
Craig Max, a D.C. gay Republican activist who sought to become a Ron Paul delegate to the Republican National Convention, said news of Snyder’s death and his lack of health insurance has triggered a behind-the-scenes debate among Paul supporters and libertarian activists over whether or not the Paul campaign should have provided health insurance to its staff.
Who would be responsible to pay the bill? If he has no wife or kids, then let the hospital eat the bill.
i understand fully your point here on the insurance issue but can you please respond to all the good work that dr. paul is doing to expose the federal reserve crimes that are eroding your dollar value every day?????????????? how bout trying to protect your civil libertys from the gestapo punks emerging in our country, i mean all good what ya said but try a little positive plus side of the good dr. paul as punks like you never say a thing about the positive things dr. paul does shame on you and of course the new york times best seller the manifesto doesnt educate to many folks on economics as this is the only sane man left in washington give me a break later steve
I feel bad for this guy. But our first priority as Americans should be to protect the investors in the insurance companies.
The most important thing is profit and private ownership. If you have no insurance, that’s too bad. My investments have to be protected, regardless. Money comes first!
The health care system in America is #1 in the world. Ask any insurance company executive. If you don’t have health care, it’s your own fault.