Pennsylvania Democrat denies supporting health care reform
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/17/art.critz.ad.youtube.jpg caption="Democrat Mark Critz says in a new ad that he never supported health care reform."]Washington (CNN) - The Pennsylvania Democrat running for the House seat formerly held by the late John Murtha released an ad Saturday that refutes Republican charges that he supported health care reform.
The National Republican Congressional Committee went on TV earlier this week with an ad painting Mark Critz as too liberal for Pennsylvania because of his support for federal health care legislation.
"Mark Critz, he'll put the liberal agenda before Pennsylvania," the ad said.
But in his own thirty-second spot released Saturday, Critz denies he was ever a supporter of health care reform.
"That ad is not true. I opposed the health care bill, and I'm pro-life and pro-gun. That's not liberal," Critz says in the ad.
Critz is set to face Republican Tim Burns in a special election on May 18, and enjoys a political protection that incumbent Democrats running in 2010 won't have – he never cast a vote in Congress for or against health care reform.
Though a GOP win in the district would be the first in many years, it would not be a complete surprise. Murtha, who steered millions of federal dollars back to his home district, rarely had any serious challenges in his 18 re-election contests. But the district, which stretches from Cambria County in west-central Pennsylvania down to the southwestern corner of the state, is a conservative-leaning one.
In the 2004 presidential election, Sen. John Kerry won Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District by 2 points. But Sen. John McCain narrowly edged out Barack Obama in the district in 2008, even though Obama carried the state by 10 percent.
– CNN's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
So why is he running as a Democratic candidate? What's this , I'm a Democrat, I just don't believe in any of the Democratic ideals?
This is HILARIOUS..........Liberal Democrats trying to run as Republicans!!!
Now, the Democrat is trying to lie and say that he did not support the health care disaster.
Critz DID support the health care disaster.........I have seen articles and quotes by him saying so.
I have also seen his ads where he pretty much says........."Me and John Murtha were buds, I will be just like him".
And, if I have seen the articles/ads........This means that the RNC has seen the articles/ads as well-–and will use them.
Tim Burns is now calling for a live debate-–so that he can "out" the liberal Critz........But, so far, Critz has been hiding from the debate.
Good for him!
Only TRUTH will stand up to the G"NO"P lies and fear-mongering!!!
That's why Mark Critz should be out – because he is against health care reform for US citizens!!!
Once Americans start realizing the positive effects of Healthcare Reform and that there is NOT a "Government Takeover" of Healthcare, will these people finally stand up and be counted? People fought Social Security and Medicare- but if you try to take it from them,they won't stand for it. Idiots.
Good grief, here we go again.. The conservative right has gone so far to the right, they make even a centrist look liberal. That being said, we don't need any more blue dogs in the Dem party.
Opposed to health care AND pro-life AND pro-gun? I know that the Democratic party is diverse, and there are many pro-gun people (sadly). On the other two: unless you opposed health care because it wasn't single-payer or didn't have a public option, and unless your "pro-life" stance includes anti-death penalty, why don't you just admit that you're really a Republican?
Why would you oppose health care???? Don't you care about people in your area without health insurance or do you really want to be a Republican ( selfish bastard) I hope you don't win.
Why in hell is this guy running as a Democrat?
No one to shoot with those guns if we aren't pro-life, and if those uninsured folks get sick, we can just put them out of their misery.
just say anything to get elected don't stand 4 anything
and pro-stupid
What a cowered. I am saying this being a democrat. I wouldn't want to go with him behind the enemy line because he would sell me to the enemy. Shame on him.
PRO LIFE AND PRO GUN , Now that is quite a combination. Taken to the extreme means that this person wants to tell a woman
what she can or cannot do with her body and the other extreme is he is prepared to shoot somebody. {{Why else would one have a gun, if the possibility did not exist?} This person is definately assbackwards.
Critz needs to be a man of his word and not let politics demeanor his integrity, we see too much of that already.
Whoooweeee! Isn't it so funny how the Dems running for office this fall are now running for the hills against Obama and his wacked out loony lib agenda??
Why aren't these Dem candidates "thanking Obama" for all of the historic debt and the wonderful socialist programs that his regime is heaping upon the remaining taxpaying Americans?
Another puss. Health care reform will change our lives for the better. Why do Democrats always play defense and react to this backyard bickering?
Republicans have no vision unless it's looking at old slides of Ronald Reagan. The past is always better than the future for Republicans.
Thinking forward is walking backwards for them.
I love the fact that the candidates in this district have to continuously emphasize that they are pro-life and pro-gun. Yes, they DO cling to guns and religion in this area, I know I live in the region.
Republicans fail to realize that, unlike themselves, Democrats are a "big tent" party. In the GOP all members are expected to hew to the same rigid, strict ideology and vote in lockstep with all their other members, regardless of what the individual politican believes or what their constituents want. On the other hand, Democrats not only accept but encourage a wide range of values and ideas. So while the Democrats may not have the fascist effeciency of the Republicans, they are much more democratic in representation.
Well, he lies like a good Democrat...
Mark critz nor tim burns should be elected these clowns couldn't carry John Murtha jock strap,neither one served in the military have no idea of what congress is about and catering to the nuts is not good.If they were in my district i'd vote for donald duck.
Well, if he is not a supporter of health care reform then I will not be voting for him. As simple as that, and I encourage other to look for candidates that are really supportive of heath care for all no matter if they have money or not.
Good luck there, Blue dog. If you get a liberal to primary you ever, I'll be sure to donate to them. You're not a Democrat. You're Republican-Lite. People know the difference between the real and the ersatz and they always vote for the real one over the fake one.
can't you stand on what is good for the people,are you a caword? or is h.c.r not good for the citizens?.stand tall on what is good and u will definitely win.
So, he's pro-life, pro-gun, and againts healthcare reform, why exactly is he running as a democrat?