Caption : Although "Sam-I-Am" has yet to comment on Cruz’s recent name-dropping during the Republican Senator's 21-hour talkfest, one individual has made the media circuit clarifying Cruz’s anti-Affordable Care Act rhetoric.

Caption : Although "Sam-I-Am" has yet to comment on Cruz’s recent name-dropping during the Republican Senator's 21-hour talkfest, one individual has made the media circuit clarifying Cruz’s anti-Affordable Care Act rhetoric.

Remember Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) “filibuster,” 2016 presidential stump speech, or bedtime story that unfolded on the Senate floor recently and was filled with both anti-Affordable Care Act rhetoric and Dr. Seuss characters? Depending on whom you ask, interpretations of the Tea Party darling’s 21-hour speech range the entire spectrum of definition and success. But one individual has made the media circuit rounds with a critical critique of Cruz’s speech—John Connelly, 22, a history and political science major at Rutgers University.

This undergraduate may not fit the typical commentator mold for Senate procedure or expert health care analyst; Connelly did not plan to make appearances on MSNBC news shows last week. But then Cruz quoted Connelly as an anti-Affordable Care Act Millennial citing a recent Wall Street Journal article in which Connelly shared his views on the student debt crisis, not health care. Turns out, Cruz interpreted Connelly’s words quite a bit differently and thrust the student into the limelight as an anti-Obamacare poster child.

Just one minor thing Cruz probably should have fact-checked prior to embarking on his talkfest: Connelly actually likes the Affordable Care Act and supports even more healthcare reform, like a single-payer system.

We caught up with Connelly this week to hear his side of the story and asked the questions Cruz probably meant to ask but was too busy tracking down a copy of “Green Eggs and Ham” at his local library before it closed due to government shutdown.

What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on your life and health care decisions? Would you call yourself pro-ACA or anti-ACA?

I’m supportive of a lot of the reforms that were a part of ACA, although I support a single-payer model typical in most developed countries.

What was the message you wanted to share in the original Wall Street Journal piece?

The Wall Street Journal article was about youth unemployment and the factors—especially student debt, which contribute to debt. Ben Casselman’s article really goes a long way to explain the factors holding this generation back, and I really recommend folks give it a read if they want to understand the real factors behind youth unemployment (hint, it has nothing to do with ACA). It’s worth noting that he mentions student debt at least 13 times in the article, and health care is mentioned once, from a young person who says that they are lucky to have health insurance.

Have you ever talked with Senator Cruz?

No, but I’d love to ask him why I was the best example of someone hurt by “Obamacare” he could find. If my family is the horror story, [the Affordable Care Act] is a pretty sweet deal.

How did you learn about Senator Cruz quoting you during his speech?

A friend posted something on Facebook during the speech, and I confirmed it was me the next morning as I was on my way to a doctor’s appointment.

Was Senator Cruz’s statement accurate about your situation and beliefs about the Affordable Care Act?

Absolutely not! Cruz is right to note that youth unemployment is a serious problem—only a little over half of the people under the age of 25 have full-time jobs, and our wages are consistently decreasing. But if Cruz wanted to be honest about the factors causing youth unemployment and underemployment, he would be looking into factors like student debt. Student debt increased 511 percent between 1999 and 2011. This is one of the biggest factors holding young folks back.

I’m only able to have health insurance because ACA reforms allow me to stay on my father’s health insurance. My little sister would be unable to get health insurance prior to ACA because her seizure disorder counts as a “pre-existing condition.” I find it personally offensive that Senator Cruz would not only use my story to argue against policies which are protecting my family, but that he would claim to be working on behalf of my generation while mischaracterizing the problems we face.

What type of correspondence have you had with Senator Cruz after his speech?

I haven’t heard anything from his office. It’s a shame. I look forward to the conversation.

Would you describe yourself as an activist prior to Senator Cruz quoting you on the Senate floor or is this situation your first time in a position to advocate on a contemporary issue?

I was president of the Rutgers University Student Assembly, and throughout my college experience I’ve been involved with the United States Student Association and New Jersey United Students. I come from a union household, and my mother was always really outspoken in local politics. Speaking up comes natural to me. I’ve spent my college career trying to understand how to fix messes this generation has inherited, after I finally graduate I hope to make a career of it.

Finally, what type of Dr. Seuss fan are you?

I’m more of a “Horton Hears A Who” kind of guy. A person is a person, no matter how small. And that person deserves a government that actually has their back.