Parker's criticism was disingenuous

I was alienated by Kathleen Parker's disingenuous criticism (July 20 column) of President Obama's story about his mother's health care insurance. As anyone who has had cancer or knows someone who has will learn, even the best of insurance policies can leave one hanging in the wind over some specific test or treatment that isn't in the fine print.

I'm a member of a listserve for a specific cancer and frequently read posts by people who can't afford a lawyer to sort out their benefits and do battle for them. It is obvious that some people lose out, and some whose insurance comes through for them in the end have had to do battle in a situation that makes them fearful and doesn't always work out to be what they expected when they were paying premiums.

Parker's piece sounds like the coverage she did get was a piece of cake and the coverage she didn't get has nothing to do with her peace of mind or her cancer. She made a mountain out of a straw mole hill, and it certainly looks like her primary intent was to score a political point. Tacky.

Julie Zimmer

Vinton