Ok, get ready.
Drudge, Rush, Hannity, and others are going hard on this one already so you will be seeing this video sound bite on a Fox News/Right Winger radio show near you:
Now that you've seen it, here are some facts about how she got her "FREE" Obama phone...
What she got:
How to Qualify for Assurance Wireless, a Lifeline Assistance program:
Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program brought to you by Virgin Mobile and supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. If you qualify for Lifeline Assistance, you can receive a FREE phone, 250 FREE monthly minutes and 250 FREE text messages.
http://www.assurancewireless.com/...
Not exactly the new iPhone 5. This is a basic bare knuckles phone we are talking about here.
How she got it:
You may qualify for Assurance Wireless if you participate in any of the following government programs:
Ohio
Medicaid
TANF/Work First (TANF/Ohio Works First)
Food Stamps/SNAP
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
General Assistance
Home Energy Assist Programs (HEAP,LIHEAP&E-HEAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
National School Lunch's FREE Lunch Program (NSL)
Supplemental Security Inc-Blind & Disabled (SSDI)
OR You may qualify based on household income.
http://www.fcc.gov/...
She mentioned "signing up for food stamps" so it does in fact qualify her for additional "services." But this Federal program also applies to the handicapped, disabled, and the elderly. All worthy recipients in my opinion.
However, she was wrong to say "everybody in Cleveland all minorities in Cleveland" get "FREE" phones as your race has nothing to do with receiving assistance. This program, like all Federally funded programs, is needs based or based on one's economics.
Also, Social Security recipients don't receive "FREE" phones.
Why she got it:
Cellphones Are Eating the Family Budget
Families across America have cut back on food, clothes and entertainment to make room for ever-higher phone bills. Now, carriers are betting that they can push that bill even higher.
http://online.wsj.com/...
She got it as a safety net to guard against the digital divide and ever increasing inflationary pressures of modern life in America which is a real concern for families of all spectrums.
Cellphones also save lives by providing accesses to 911 emergency and have become a necessity more than a luxury in today's World.
Who gave it to her:
Lifeline is a government benefit program supported by the Universal Service Fund that provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional definition of universal service - affordable, nationwide telephone service to include among other things rural health care providers and eligible schools and libraries.
http://www.fcc.gov/...
That's right! Congress gave her a "FREE" cellphone. The Republican Newt Gingrich lead Congress of 1996 to be exact. This is the same program that has been funded and expanded by both Democratic and Republican controlled administrations and houses of Congress.
Now, obliviously this is a blatant attack against the "47%" who only vote for Obama because he gives us "stuff." But I wanted everyone to at least have some initial facts about how and what exactly this program is and how it works to help people bridge the digital divide to get back to work or stay in communication in case of an emergency situation.
As I pay my $90+ wireless bill, I personally have no problem with this program and prefer to see government support the people in need instead of invading middle eastern countries for more corporate oil.
"FREE" Obama cellphone lady was right about one thing...Romney does suck!
Update: (Hat Tip to lenzy1000)
Zero "no" votes by Republicans in the House
http://clerk.house.gov/....
and McCain the only Republican voting against it in the Senate
http://www.senate.gov/....
Update #2:
Hilarious! Watch this low information Tea-bagger loose it over the apparently 12 million "FREE" Obama phones hitting the streets as we speak:
Fascinating to see how they "think" and how everything comes out of their pockets personally. Truly sad yet fascinating in a scientific experiment gone wrong type of way.
Update #3:(HT to cyberKosFan)
Debunked since 2009: http://www.factcheck.org/...