Max Baucus is up with an early ad highlighting his efforts to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and criticizing President Bush for his expected veto of the legislation:
The Montana Republican party has issued a laughable response:
The state GOP noted SCHIP has the support of many Republicans in the state, including U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.“This is an important issue for Montana,” said state Republican Party Executive Director Chris Wilcox. “I think it’s unfortunate that Baucus decided to politicize the issue.”
Wilcox said Baucus should be working with the Bush administration to advance SCHIP, rather than spending time making television advertisements.
Really? I think it’s unfortunate that Bush has no interest in supporting this bipartisan legislation to expand badly needed health coverage to children across the country. Perhaps the Montana GOP would be better served to direct their criticism towards the President, who (along with the crumb-bums in the House who are sustaining his veto threat) is the sole roadblock in the way of advancing social justice for kids.
(H/T: Left in the West)
….the Dems are screwed politically. As evidenced by Baucus’ calculated position, Democrats are counting on using Republican resistance to children’s health care as the means to club them over the head during the 2008 campaign. For that reason, it would be significantly to the GOP’s advantage to “narrowly” override Bush’s veto. They would simultaneously court good will with soccer moms and help their insurance company peeps rake in the $35 billion subsidy that is SCHIP.
Where would that leave the Democrats? Screwed. Children’s health care will be off the table during the 2008 campaign, so the only outraged voters will be the low-income demographic of smokers (i.e. would-be Democratic voters) incensed about having to single-handedly finance health care for households earning more than they do. Baucus and the Dems had better hope the veto holds.
that was the best television ad ive ever seen. Good for him.