Democrat becomes first to attack opponent on health care repeal
New York (CNN) - One of the most fascinating dynamics of this election year has been the way Democrats have stayed far away from reminding voters they voted for health care reform.
New York Democrat Scott Murphy is now bucking that trend.
He launched a television ad Wednesday aggressively attacking his GOP opponent Chris Gibson for wanting to repeal the health care law.
"Chris Gibson would let insurance companies go back to denying coverage for pre-existing conditions," the ad says, "He would let them restore lifetime limits on coverage. Chris Gibson would eliminate mandatory coverage for preventative care like mammograms and colon screenings, and seniors would pay more for prescription drugs. Chris Gibson, he's for the insurance industry not you."
Murphy initially voted against the health care bill in the House last November, because he said "it did not adequately address the fundamentally flawed system," but he supported the final health care bill in March, saying "it will stop the out of control growth of health care costs, protect our local industries and jobs from unfair taxes, and help small businesses create jobs."
Evan Tracey, the president of Campaign Media Analysis Group which tracks campaign commercials, tells CNN this is the first TV ad he has seen that comes to the defense of the health care law.
"The ads against the health care bill have been so overwhelming, that this ad my signal that Democrats have come to the realization that they can't run from it and may try to re-frame the issue," said Tracey.
Murphy won his seat in a January, 2009 special election. It has been considered competitive and national Republicans and Democrats have poured money into the race. Still, a GOP source involved in strategy there says although internal polls show it a tight race, they believe Murphy has the advantage.
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Well, at least one Democrat will own up to the fiasco they created- have to give him credit for that.
He is right: Stopped costs rise:$1/2 B. taken away: Medicare meeting today: Benefits slashed: cost up 50%: Thanks!
How the strategy works. People need to know all the good stuff about health care not the lies made up by the wing nut repos. Vote the repos out in November. they think the democrats are not going to turn out lets show them we can support our party and our president.
Great! All Dems should start their ads doing the exact same thing. I think Karl Rove and Dick Morris would help pay for those ads, because instead of losing 50 seats they could lose 100+. Please Dems take this guy's plan and implement it everywhere today.
Good for him! I'm sick of hearing it will raise costs and government take over of health care. What the hack is Medicare and Medicaid already? The fact is the reforms will now cover 20,000,000 more Americans, lower, not raise health care costs, prevent denial of pre-existing conditions and make insurance companies prove why they are raising rates for greater profits. There is a lot more there and the republicans figure they can get away with lies since most people haven't read it because of its scope!
Of course Murphy being a good Obamacrat is lying and distorting the truth. If these Democrats told the truth they would be tarred and feathered so they rely on the old demean and degrade tactic their union bosses have taught thtem.
I've been waiting for the Democrats to stand strong for health care reform. Obama care is not perfect but it's the strongest, most courageous effort anyone has made to correct the ills of our medical system in our history. A recent AP poll says that 40% of the respondents were unhappy with the reform because it DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH! The number of uninsured increased last year by 4.4million people, bringing the total to 51 million. Only a mindless citizenry would believe the rantings of talk radio. It's time for democrats to stand up to the idiocy.
Good for him. Even better would be if he mentioned he'd fight for the public option.