Last night Forbes Magazine summed up our dilemma: because technically our first ad was inaccurate– we didn’t mention that Lance was still taking government-subsidized healthcare paid for by New Jersey taxpayers through the state plan instead of the far less costly federal congressional plan– we had to stop running it on WCTC, 1450AM in Somerset. “[T]he reason Rep. Lance turned down the federal benefits,” explains Forbes “is because he’s already getting a better policy at a much better deal from the State of New Jersey. As a retiree from the state senate, he qualified for a free Cadillac style health care plan the state provides for retirees and their families (he does have to pay co-pays but no premiums) for life.”
That would be one of the programs that have come under attack by conservative Governor Chris Christie in his battle with public employee unions over the unusually lucrative benefits paid to retiring public servants.
Oops. So much for sacrificing to make a point.
…What is important here is that Rep. Lance and his family are in great shape when it comes to their own health care thanks to the generosity of the taxpayers of New Jersey. As for the Americans who would be denied health coverage by Lance’s repeal vote– coverage that does not even begin to approach the quality of what the good Congressman is receiving for free– well, I guess that’s a personal problem for Americans that Rep. Lance cannot be bothered about.
So… our new ad (above) is ready to go and we’re getting it up on WCTC this week. And we’d like to get it on some other stations as well. Can you help us do that through our ActBlue page?
Ed Potosnak, the Blue America-endorsed candidate from 2010, who is looking like Lance’s likely challenger in 2012 as well, is demanding that Lance “come clean with New Jerseyans and admit the radio ads run on WCTC were essentially correct.” We agree.
Lance claimed ads educating listeners to the fact that he voted to deny everyday Americans the benefits, protections, and security he gets through Government provided healthcare for him and his family were false. After Congressman Lance requested the ad be pulled because he forwent federal insurance, what Mr. Lance was attempting to conceal was then uncovered. Congressman Lance’s family health insurance is being paid for by New Jersey taxpayers, to the tune of $1,906.42 per month, or $22,877.04 per year, more than twice the cost of the federal plan.
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“If we are going to get our edge back in America we need to change the people in Washington because our families are taxed enough and deserve some honesty,” Potosnak added. “I am committed to creating jobs for unemployed Americans by simulating innovation, research and development and improving education,” he concluded.
When Lance’s clueless bully of a Chief of Staff, Todd Mitchell, insisted WCTC stop running the ad because of the technicality, he stepped in it big time. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” he moaned to the Cherry Hill Post-Courier when Lance was exposed trying to mislead his own constituents by making them believe he was paying for his own healthcare without any government subsidies, the way he insists they do.
We’ll look forward to helping Democrats win back this seat, one that President Obama won in 2010, next year and replacing a hypocritical and dishonest career politician with a forward-thinking progressive, hopefully Ed Potosnak. Somehow I have a feeling New Jersey residents are sick and tired of being represented by Snooki and Leonard Lance. Again, give us a hand if you can with the ad here and… listen to it again:
John Amato: Here’s my quote from Blue America’s press release:
“Governor Christie,” said Amato, “claims he’s opposed to these Cadillac style plans for state retirees. Well Lance’s plan is a Rolls Royce, not a Caddy and he didn’t need to be burdening New Jersey taxpayers with his family healthcare. He could have done what almost every other member of Congress did– including all the other Republicans in the New Jersey delegation– and accepted the federal plan. Or is Christie’s opposition just for public employee unions– teachers, firefighters and policemen– and not for career politicians like Lance?”
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