When the star of your ad refuses to grant interviews to answer questions about his claims in the ad, it seems reasonable for Steve Benen at The Rachel Maddow Show blog to ask if we should be taking this ad seriously.
If casual viewers catch the ad by accident, they might think the commercial supports the Affordable Care Act. Randy Westby says in the spot, “I’ve had three heart attacks in the last six years. Health care is something that’s essential. My life depends on it.”
(snip)
But as it turns out, Westby is actually the star of a new right-wing attack ad, created by the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity, and targeting Rep. Rick Nolan (D) in Minnesota’s 8th district. Apparently, according to the ad, Westby is in that small sliver of the population that received cancellation notices as part of reforms to the individual, non-group market.
(snip)
When local reporters reached out to Westby to find out more about his circumstances, and to confirm the accuracy of the ad itself, he refused interview requests, which is certainly his right, but which leaves relevant questions about his argument unanswered.
So what are we left with? A far-right group of dubious credibility, airing an almost comically misleading attack ad featuring an Obamacare critic who stands to benefit greatly from Obamacare. The critic may now have better insurance at a lower cost, but we don’t know because he doesn’t want to talk about it.
Voters are supposed to find this persuasive? Seriously?
I also read GOP ‘confronting a new reality’ on healthcare today about how Republicans are coming to terms with the fact that it will be difficult to run against Obamacare now that it has become law and as of next week, millions of people will have health care coverage they didn't have before. I guess the Koch Brothers live in a different realm of realty if they don't even begin to understand what that means to people who are not like them.