HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new TV ad by Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey[1] accuses Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta[2] of voting to let insurers strip coverage for cancer and other pre-existing conditions, but Barletta[3] said Sunday that the ad is both inaccurate and cruel, since his toddler grandson is fighting cancer.
The ad in question began airing Saturday.
It features a woman whose case Casey[4] has cited over the years to argue why Congress needed to require insurers in 2010’s federal health care law to let all applicants, regardless of medical history, and patients with health problems pay the same standard premiums as healthy ones.
In it, the woman, whose twin daughters were diagnosed with cancer, says, “If Lou Barletta[5] has his way, kids like mine could be denied the care they need. In Congress, Barletta[6] voted to let insurance companies strip coverage for pre-existing conditions.”
Barletta[7]’s 18-month-old grandson, also a twin, is undergoing chemotherapy for an abdominal sarcoma diagnosed seven weeks ago.
On Sunday, Barletta[8] said in an interview it was cruel for Casey[9] to insinuate that he would let his grandson die.
“What does he think my daughter and my family is going to feel every time the commercial comes on? Is he proud of himself? Does he want to win that bad?” Barletta[10] said.
Barletta[11], a four-term congressman from Hazleton, is challenging Casey[12]’s bid for a third Senate term in the Nov. 6 election, but has lagged Casey[13] badly in independent polls and fundraising. Meanwhile, Democrats nationally have used the theme of protections for pre-existing conditions to portray Republicans as hostile to the health care needs of regular people.
Barletta[14] said he wants Casey[15] to take the ad down and said he had told Casey[16] last month about his grandson’s diagnosis. The Casey[17] campaign said it had no plans to take down the ad.
Casey[18]’s ad is one of three rolling out statewide that attack Barletta[19] over pre-existing conditions, featuring one woman’s cancer fight and woman’s struggle with diabetes.The TV ads do not mention
Barletta[20]’s grandson.The ad involving the twin daughters cites
Barletta[21]’s vote last year in the House on legislation to overhaul elements of President Barack Obama’s health care law, the Affordable Care Act. But Barletta[22] insisted that the bill - which stalled in the Senate - did not weaken coverage of pre-existing conditions.Still, analysts said it could have driven up premiums for people with pre-existing conditions who lose their insurance. Under the Republican bill, states could get waivers that allow insurers...