Joe Sonka December 12th, 2007

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

Well, Mitch has done it again. His first ad was a monumental failure. It starred a creepy sexual harrasser, and gave the finger to the Club for Growth with his ode to big porky earmarks. Kentuckians were not impressed, as he plummeted to an all-time low approval in the next SUSA poll.

Mitch's new ad is another lemon, fortunately. McConnell actually thought he could win brownie points with Kentuckians by mentioning health care. Really, Mitch? Aren't you the same guy that continues to vote against the expansion of SCHIP, giving health care to millions more children from low-income families? The one with very broad bipartisan support that Bush continues to veto, with your approval? Aren't you the same guy whose office spread lies smearing Graeme Frost's family to national reporters, and then lied to the face of Mark Hebert when asked about it?

If Mitch McConnell wants to keep on mentioning what he's done to and for the health care industry, by all means, you have my blessing.

The DSCC already pounced on him:

One Month Before Touting Support for Medical Research, McConnell Voted Against It

Mitch McConnell began airing ads yesterday touting his success in securing funds for medical research centers at Kentucky universities. What the ad fails to mention, however, is that time and time again McConnell has voted against funding for medical research, including a vote against the Labor-HHS bill to provide $1.4 billion in increased research funding only one month ago. The ad also covers up McConnell’s disastrous overall record on healthcare, which includes leading the fight against children’s health care.

“Only Mitch McConnell would have the gall to run ads touting medical research just a month after voting against it,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Kentuckians are looking for progress on healthcare, not commercials on healthcare, and Mitch McConnell has consistently failed to deliver it.”

McConnell Led Effort to Reject New Medical Research Funding.  McConnell introduced a motion that rejected $1.4 billion in new medical research funding, supporting instead President Bush’s proposed 1.7% cut — the fourth consecutive year of flat or declining funding for medical cures.  [Vote 390, 10/23/07; Research!America, 2008 Federal Research Budget Update; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 11/16/07]

Even Newt Gingrich Disagrees with McConnell’s Cuts to the National Institutes of Health.  “NIH funding has been flat since 2004, undermining the gains earned through the doubling of the budget and slowing the pace of progress in biomedical research. The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget would cut $329 million from last year's allocation of $28.6 billion. Biomedical inflation significantly compounds the impact of this reduction. This is exactly the wrong course for the country.” [Newt Gingrich and G. Steven Burrill, SF Chronicle, 6/27/07 ]

McConnell Has Voted Against Children’s Health Care Six Times. Mitch McConnell voted six times this year to block a bipartisan bill to expand health care to an additional 51,000 children in Kentucky.[Families USA Report; Vote 307, 8/2/07; Vote 352, 9/27/07;  Vote 353, 9/27/07; Vote 401, 10/31/07; Vote 402, 11/1/07; Vote 403, 11/1/07]

McConnell Received $1,664,483 From the Health Industry Since 1989.  Since 1989, McConnell has received at least $1,664,483 in campaign contributions from health industry interests.  McConnell received $490,878 from industry PAC’s and $1,173,605 from individual donors.   [Center for Responsive Politics, 10/9/07]

• Frostgate , Health Care , Mitch McConnell , SCHIP , Veto
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