Idaho tea party candidate has 10 kids on Medicaid but hates government
Published: October 18, 2013 Updated 11 hours ago
The story of a Republican from Caldwell who won't sign up for health insurance goes viral.
By DAN POPKEY — dpopkey@idahostatesman.com
Greg Collett happily calls his political views "extreme." But he wasn't prepared for condemnation from his allies after word that all his home-schooled children are on Medicaid became an Internet sensation.
Collett, twice a candidate for the Idaho Legislature in Canyon County, isn't surprised he's been excoriated on left-wing websites including Gawker, BuzzFlash, Daily Kos and Americans Against the Tea Party.
But he's also heard criticism from those who share his anti-government views for having taxpayers foot medical bills for eight adopted and two biological children, ages 4 to 17.
In contrast, Collett and his wife, Kelly, say they will pay the fine rather than buy insurance for themselves under the Affordable Care Act.
"I attracted all the attention of all the people who hate Republicans and the tea party," said Collett, a 41-year-old freelance software developer and University of Idaho alum. "I've also attracted the attention of a lot of people in the liberty movement that don't want to see anybody on welfare."
Things got so bad, Collett said, he had to clean up his Facebook account and remove contact information from his campaign website. "The level of hatred is just absolutely incredible," he said. "Messages on my website, emails, I've even had phone calls. It's been pretty intense."
Online comments have labeled Collett a hypocrite, moron, mentally unstable, immoral and unethical, along with frequently profane epithets. "He should have been sterilized years ago," said one.
Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/10/18/2821050/10-kids-on-medicaid-but-hates.html#storylink=cpy
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