(Photo: Courtesy Sandra Brooks Green)
Like the hundreds of other supporters and volunteers who lined up today to hear President Obama speak at Green Run High School in Norfolk, Virginia, Sandra Brooks Green is feeling lucky in what has been the unluckiest of weeks. Just two days ago, she explained as tears rolled down her face, Green was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. But despite feeling overwhelmed by her diagnosis and trying to understand her treatment options, it was important for her to be there to show her support for a president whom she feels has supported her by pushing so hard to pass the Affordable Care Act.
“I came here primarily to support him and hope we’ll have him for another term,” said Green, who owns a hair salon and is earning an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland-University College.
Before Republicans came into power, Green says, her business thrived. But as is the case with many entrepreneurs, as her clients have suffered, she has experienced a trickle-down effect. But she is particularly bothered by the GOP’s opposition to the Affordable Care Act, particularly Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who once considered health care reform in Massachusetts one of his signature achievements.
“The other party has put out negative information and that leads everyone to think it won’t work, it will cost more, they’ll run out of money,” she said. “It needs to be explained in layman’s terms” in digestible pieces.
Green believes the public’s divided views on the issue can be attributed to the fact that they simply don’t understand it. And they believe that having insurance coverage shouldn’t be mandated — until they are suddenly struck by illness, she said.
“That’s when it hits you,” Green added. “If I didn’t have insurance, I probably would never have been diagnosed.”