Washington (CNN) – Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden has been blasted by critics and become the butt of a joke by late-night host Jay Leno.
Now Democrats in Washington are mocking her recent proposal - that patients should "barter" with doctors to lower their health care costs - with a new website.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched the site, "Chickens for Checkups," on Wednesday. It slams the Republican's unconventional idea, made recently on the show "Nevada Newsmakers."
"Before we all started having health care, in the olden days, our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor. They would say, 'I'll paint your house,'" Lowden said on the broadcast.
"Doctors are very sympathetic people. I'm not backing down from that system," she added.
Lowden's Communications Director Crystal Feldman defended her argument, telling CNN, "Sue never offered to exchange livestock for health care, she merely referred to practices used in the past."
"Bartering with your doctor is not a new concept, nor is it a long term solution," added Feldman, who provided a list of news clips that lend credence to the idea.
Lowden's campaign also accused Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of fueling the criticism. Lowden could face-off against Reid in the general election, if she wins Nevada's Republican primary on June 8.
The new DSCC website openly mocks Lowden's idea. It asks, "Do you need medical care? Write a letter to Sue Lowden with your ailment and what you're willing to trade."
The site features a form letter with a line reading, "Instead of money, I'm willing to offer a doctor my … "
Respondents can then select items, that they are supposedly willing to offer a doctor. The choices include "10 chickens," "2 goats," "indentured servitude" and a "new log cabin."
DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy blasted Lowden's barter idea as "bizarre" and told CNN that it demonstrates that Lowden is "completely out of touch with reality."
From CNN Politics
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HA! Another Sarah Palin!
I love it when the democrats go down in flames.
This is not a surprising idea fir a modern day republican. She will fit right in with the party of no. No Ideas, No Solutions, No to anyone who has ideas and solutions.
well this is a change from the Democrap tired and old race card trick.....
Lowden you said, now claim it. I just love DSCC, they are just too sharp. Sue Lowden and the GOP are so out of touch and when caught they back track and lie in a minute.
Seems to me both doctors and patients would spend way too much time negotiating the terms of the exchange. And what if you've only got chickens to offer when the doc really needs a new goat? Better to let both parties deal in money and purchase their own livestock.
She has been out of touch with the people of NV for years. Just ask her employees about their health care that she took away years ago. Or the other infractions of labor laws that she ignores. She is no friend of the common person. I went to her website and where it asks for donations to her campaign, I offered a chicken instead of cash, I haven't heard back yet. Surprise, surprise. In my book, she's an idiot.
The dumbing down of America. Is this woman for real. Does she think she can carry the torch for Harry Reid. What are the people of Nevada thinking?
This is sad. Science is not to be believed, God tells these people what is and what will be. Sarah Palin makes $12 Million off of idol worship, spewing hate, and giving subtle messages about taking up arms and shooting people. Michelle Bachmann isn't all there, and bashing our government at Tea Party Rallies, as a representative of said government! We've lost our collective minds.
And why? Because a Democrat is in the white house? Why does the right wing think they can threaten us and form militias when they lose an election (or 2) through our democratic process? This is insanity. These people are nuts, and they're destroying our country.
When obamacrud goes into effect we will all be lucky to find a doctor – even with 10 chickens and a cow.
This women is a idiot. Had did she get elected?
I think it's amazing that Fox News can be invited to an event that took 1 and a half years to plan, cost 2000 dollars, and had over 60 people attend and then end up covering the 5 protestors with chickens standing outside the door with NO mention what so ever of the time place and date of the event.
Why would you skip over an event that 60 people were at for 5 people. This is terrible news coverage thats biased and sensationalist. Shame on you fox news.
What century is she living???Sue you are thinking way outside the box.
This is a joke right????
Do these people know that we are 2010?
And if you didn't get the sarcasm, I was talking about CNN who lambasts fox news every other day for not being "fair and balanced."
Perhaps conservative college students who are the absolute minority across the nation, aren't interesting enough to cover
blah blah blah more circus theatre to keep us distracted from the fact that left or right is all the same! They are all owned by the central bankers and corporate elite. WAKE UP AMERICA TAKE YOUR COUNTRY BACK FROM THESE CLOWNS!
When in fact it is ObamaCare that solves all of these medical cost problems. Just dump them on the American taxpayer! See how easy that was? When Americans see what ObamaCare does to what used to be affordable and quality health care, watch how quickly Democratic politicians distance themselves from that disaster.
I worked in a hospital as a physical therapist. No health care professionals are going for this. Is she for real. Americans please think with your head before you vote for this woman
Cornel Sander's granddaughter is tripping.
Are you kidding me?!!!!!!!!!!WOW...genius idea...
you have got to be kidding me!
Actually there is nothing wrong with this. I have a lawyer friend that does it all the time with people who cannot pay him in cash. It was a way of doing business years ago. People should not knock it. We see it all the time in community gardens and commune communities where people share their food and workmanship to make the community thrive.
How many chickens is she willing to trade to pay off a doctor's student loan?
In point of fact, Lowden is absolutely right. My wife's grandfather was a doctor during the Depression and was not infrequently paid in things other than money. The idea is a little odd now but the Dems are simply making themselves childish and petty by taking Lowden's comment out of context and making fun of it.
I doubt whether GOP candidate Sue Lowden has any concept of medical cost drivers, insurance underwriting or healthcare reform.
Our national healthcare reform will eliminate discrimination for pre-existing conditions, expand coverage for 32 million Americans and lower the federal deficit in the coming decade. The reform will emphasize holistic preventive care, financial responsibility and cost controls. Sue Lowden lives in the fantasy past and seems ignorant of what a U.S. Senator should know.
And this is the best the GOP has to offer ?
A great party has come to this type of candidate ?
I use to look at the GOP with a lot of respect, but now ........What happened ?
Colen Powel or any other Rockerfeller Republicans, Please Take This Party Back !
Please !