Wisconsin GOP Lt. Governor Candidate, A State Employee, Attacks Opponent For Supporting Universal Health Care

by Frances Martel | 4:52 pm, October 16th, 2010

» 20 comments

Wisconsin GOP Lieutenant Governor candidate Rebecca Kleefisch really loves her state-subsidized health care, and thanks “the highest quality health care system in the world” for helping her survive her recent cancer diagnosis. That hasn’t stopped her from airing ads ads, however, that have attacked opponent Tom Barrett for supporting a “government takeover of health care.”

The Green Bay Press-Gazette has the story:

Wisconsin Republican lieutenant governor candidate Rebecca Kleefisch, diagnosed with cancer a month ago, touts the treatments she received under her state-subsidized insurance plan at the same time she rails against government-run health care in a new television ad.

The ad also accuses Democratic candidate Tom Barrett of supporting a government takeover of health care even though his campaign spokesman says he does not.

Jill Bader, a spokeswoman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker, said in a statement that Kleefisch was not unlike many Wisconsin residents who receive health insurance coverage through their employer. The statement does not mention that the employer in Kleefisch’s case is the state government.

In a year where the health care is a key issue, being branded as supporting the recently-passed health care bill can be seen as a liability in independent voter-heavy areas. The Barrett campaign has responded by calling the ad “an intentional attempt to mislead and distort,” with a spokesman telling the Press-Gazette “he has not supported a government-run takeover of health care, period.”

To be fair, Kleefish’s health care is state-subsidized because she is a state employee, such that the state buys her private insurance as would a private employer. She is not benefiting from a social program. It is telling, however, that her opponent is not only highlighting that point, but the fact that she

2010 elections, Democrats, Rebecca Kleefisch, Republicans, Tom Barrett, Universal Health Care, Wisconsin

nutsofast

Typical Hypocrite
Mr B

The Barrett camp is flailing for anything they can at this point. Go look at his web page. It looks like a Tea Party campaign. But, we know who Barrett is from his track record and his cozy relationships with the unions.

Walker for the win.
Azarkhan

“To be fair, Kleefish’s health care is state-subsidized because she is a state employee, such that the state buys her private insurance as would a private employer. She is not benefiting from a social program.”

Nevertheless, we at Mediaite take seriously our responsibility smear and slander all Republicans, conservatives, and Tea Party candidates. Therefore we are running this meaningless story from a minor campaign.
TfT

Axarkhan: Funny isn’t it? The ties between mediaite and MSNBC draw closer every day. No story here, but hey, let’s just make some stuff up and throw some crap around and see if any of it sticks. Carry water for the DNC, the mission of MSNBC and apparently mediaite.

Waste of space for this article to even be posted.

I guess this is part of the “fairness” that Tommy was talking about yesterday?

Really Frances….get a grip.
SnowSoul

Wow, this is some exceptionally ridiculous reporting. The fact someone would attach their name to it is even more ridiculous.
Ted-

TfT said:
Axarkhan: Funny isn’t it? The ties between mediaite and MSNBC draw closer every day. No story here, but hey, let’s just make some stuff up and throw some crap around and see if any of it sticks. Carry water for the DNC, the mission of MSNBC and apparently mediaite.

Waste of space for this article to even be posted.

I guess this is part of the “fairness” that Tommy was talking about yesterday?

Really Frances….get a grip.

Again more whining. I hope you are not married.
Patrick Henry

Quit your bitching, Ted!
Ted-

Patrick Henry said:
Quit your bitching, Ted!

Now that’s original patty.
Patrick Henry

Back to the sewer, Turd, uh, Ted!
bigbrainbrad

She is very milfy!

Best of luck to her in her recovery
baby gerald

I wish someone would find the Sarah Palin cloning device and turn it off.
bealzebubba

I’d say she’s quite the hottie.

Damn, why are the hot ones always in the party I don’t really care for? Why, I ask. WHY??
Alz

A NON-STORY.

It’s like a football coach opposing the instant replay – of course, if the rule passes, the coach is going to use it. And everyone understands.

There is no hypocrisy here. It’s just liberals spewing stupidty because they don’t know how things work.
jrcmi

NOBODY favors a “government takeover” of health care. A public-option plan would not necessitate a government takeover of the current health care system. So-called “Medicare for All,” for instance, would expand an existing, popular, highly successful and economical health care program – not take over existing ones.

Kleefisch sounds both hypocritical and disingenuous – all too typical of alarmist, misinforming Republicans and Tea Partiers.
Kitsune

Not every state employee has to favor progressive policies. A lot of people are taking state jobs now because it’s the only thing hiring in this economy.

And not every state employee has to join a union either. Which is why it’s BS that they’re still forced to pay money to the Unions.

I’ve known plenty of state employees who are “right-of-center”, as the political-types like to call it.
TfT

Steve or Tommy:

Please come on-line and explain how this article is fair.

I’ll check back later for your response.

Thanks in advance.
Nachi

These are dangerous, pathetic people.
M Colins

lol “To be fair…” Martel adds to let people know everything she wrote preceding is actually falsely characterized and conjecture.
jrcmi

What part of this story is “falsely characterized and conjecture”?

Everything up to the last graf is either a matter of record or common perception. You can try to disprove known facts and you can disagree with other people’s perceptions but you can’t honestly or accurately claim them to be “false.”

A typical right-winger, you spout baseless allegations but offer no proof.
Alz

jrcmi said:
So-called “Medicare for All,” for instance, would expand an existing, popular, highly successful and economical health care program – not take over existing ones.

What palent are you from? Oh, you’re a liberal…central control is the default for you.

Medicare is not “highlly successful”. It’s a disaster.

With knowing that you are a liberal, I can see how you would say it’s “economical.” To the Modern Liberal/Progressive, budgets mean nothing so the fact that Medicare costs have been skyrocketing doesn’t even register with you.

For every program outside what has been enumerated in the Constiutution where liberalism is in control, the programs are a mess. The fact is we need to minimize the government’s role, not expand it.

When the government can do a good job and do it cheaper, then maybe we should reconsider. But since our experience is that the government does poor job, we know that we should minimize it’s role.