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

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