Commentary: A few weeks ago, I wrote about the fact that our story on the Democratic primary race for Congressional District 2 had been cited as the source for an attack ad that wildly mischaracterized the position Xochitl Torres Small held on health care.
It turns that wasn’t an isolated incident.
According to a Washington Post story by Glenn Kessler, the National Republican Campaign Committee and other PACs have run ads against at least 15 Democratic candidates, all claiming that they support a Medicaid For All proposal put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders that none of the candidates, in fact, supports.
“So it goes in this year’s cycle of attack ads,” Kessler wrote. “With a numbing similarity, ads produced by the NRCC, the Congressional Leadership Fund (affiliated with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan) and individual Republican candidates all charge Democrats with supporting a universal health-care plan backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — even if the Democrats are not supporters of the Sanders plan.”
When pressed by the Washington Post, the NRCC pointed to an extensive questionnaire submitted by Torres Small to the Albuquerque Journal before the primary. In response to the question, “Do you favor or oppose a national single-payer health system?” she said she was focused on making affordable and accessible. So, the lack of a direct “no” to that question was taken by the NRCC as a resounding “yes!”
We have since had a chance to interview Torres Small a second time, last week for the general election. And this time she was even more direct.
“There is not a single-payer plan out there that I support,” she said.
The way we traditionally have tested candidates’ positions on the issues is through debates. But, Yvette Herrell declined the invitation by KRWG and the League of Women Voters to debate Torres Small.
It is a little surprising to me that Republicans are choosing to make health care an issue in this election. But I guess they figure it was a winner for them in 2010.
That was the year the Tea Party took over American politics. Protesters – some might say angry mobs – donned their tri-cornered hats and Gadsden flags and took to the streets demanding change.
Ever since then, Republicans have been running on a promise to “repeal and replace Obamacare.” It’s a message they rode to take control of the House. Then the Senate. Then the presidency. But even then, they were never able to agree on legislation.
They were united in their loathing of the Affordable Care Act, but could never agree on what should come next. And so, they gave up on legislation while President Donald Trump began dismantling the program. What is left is a skeleton, with far fewer protections, no requirements to join and skyrocketing premiums.
I think health care should be a major issue this election. But lets have an honest discussion.
One final note.
We begin our endorsements today for the 2018 election. As always, we present these to readers as one more thing to consider as you make your decisions. They are merely suggestions, not directions. The final decision when you go to mark your ballot is all yours.
Walter Rubel is editorial page editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com or follow @WalterRubel on Twitter.