Kara McCullough became the 66th Miss USA during Sunday night’s pageant and while the neuroscientist should be soaking up all the excitement of crowning, unfortunately, she’s spending her first days clearing up controversial statements she made during the Q&A portion of the competition.
McCullough was asked whether she considered affordable health care for all United States citizens a right or a privilege.
“I’m definitely going to say it’s a privilege,” she said. “As a government employee, I am granted health care and I see first-hand that for one to have health care, you have to have job … So, therefore, we need to continue to cultivate this environment that we’re given the opportunity to have health care as well as jobs to all American citizens worldwide,” she added.
Her response caused an online stir among those who believe health care should be accessible to all American citizens. With the Trump administration currently negotiating to replace the Affordable Health Care Act and implementing work requirements, her answer couldn’t have come at a worse time. Tensions are running wild while millions wait on the verdict on if they will be able to afford health insurance premiums and co-pays.
The 25-year-old has since then recanted her recent statements in attempts to clear the air. McCullough made her first interview appearance on “Good Morning America” to provide an explanation for her response: “I am privileged to have health care and I do believe that it should be a right. I hope and pray moving forward that health care is a right for all worldwide.”
“I just want people to see where I was coming from. Having a job, I have to look at health care like it is a privilege,” she said.
