Pearl Jam Guitarist Talks Affordable Care Act, Favorite Pearl Jam Song on MSNBC

2012-10-26

Story by Anne Erickson

Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready recently sat down with MSNBC’s Ed Schultz to chat about the Affordable Care Act

Earlier this week, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready posted a video explaining why he’s throwing his support towards candidates who are behind the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as “Obamacare,” in the 2012 election. Tonight (Oct. 26), McCready sat down with MSNBC TV host Ed Schultz on “The Ed Show” to talk more about his support of the act.

McCready knows all about being denied coverage because of a preexisting condition. He suffers from Crohn’s Disease. “I support the Affordable Care Act, because I myself have a preexisting condition called Crohn’s Disease, and I have been denied twice by insurance companies and have felt the sting of that,” he said on the show. “I’m in a pretty successful rock band, and it made me realize I’m pretty fortunate, and the people less fortunate than me…if they have a preexisting condition or any kid of trouble with any kind of disease, I don’t know what they do, other than have terrible suffering and pain, and that makes me crazy. I don’t think they should have to.”

McCready added that he thinks the U.S.A. is better than that. “I feel like America is a land of opportunity and the land of milk and honey and all the clichés I grew up learning…where anything possible can happen,” he said. “…I think we’re better than not allowing our people to have insurance. I think we’re a better country than that…”

In Pearl Jam news, when asked to name his favorite Pearl Jam song the band has ever recorded, McCready named “In Hiding,” off 1998’s “Yield.”

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.