The ad highlights a comment by McDowell that “we are taking so much money for healthcare at the end of life” that “we’re not going to be able to provide for all the other things we need to do first as a society.”
“McDowell says seniors cost too much at ‘the end of life,’ ” says the ad’s narrator. “Gary McDowell supports the healthcare law that cuts Medicare by $716 billion.”
Republicans have sought to tie Democratic candidates to the healthcare law and, by extension, its cuts to Medicare. The Obama campaign argues that the reductions will not harm seniors’ care, and notes that the budget from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), now the GOP’s vice presidential hopeful, contained similar cuts.
A spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) responded to Monday’s ad in a statement to The Hill.
“Congressman Dan Benishek lied to Michigan families when he promised not to gut Medicare, but then voted to end it and force seniors to pay thousands more for Medicare,” said Haley Morris, DCCC Midwest Regional Press Secretary.
“Now Congressman Dan Benishek and his Washington allies are lying again so he can stay in Congress and protect perks for himself while making the middle class sacrifice Medicare.”
The DCCC has run ads against Benishek for “voting to essentially end Medicare.”
—This post was updated at 1:45 p.m.