ALSO, SCORCHES STEELMANOn the VIAGRA Hit: "She has no ideas, she has no vision."
"She cannot finish a sentence about herself without a distortion of Kenny Hulshof."
On How They'll Respond: "It's unlikely we'll stoop to her level"
**UPDATE: Steelman Campaign Responds**
"Contributions Call Into Question Whether His Vote Is For Sale"
Congressman Kenny Hulshof voted to have the federal government cover prescriptions for Viagra because he believes excluding certain drugs could set a "dangerous precedent."
That's according to Hulshof spokesperson Scott Baker, who outlined the campaign's defense to Sarah Steelman's new Viagra ad in an interview Tuesday.
"The reason is he doesn't think the government should be in the the medical business of determining what's appropriate," Baker explained, on why Hulshof was the only Missouri Republican House member to oppose an amendment to block Viagra coverage. "Today it's Viagra, tomorrow it's the latest cutting edge high blood pressure medicine."
Baker also said that Steelman's vote for a budget that included Viagra coverage for sex offenders is a completely relevant issue by her own standards. "If it's in the bill you voted for, it's your priority, if you are using Sarah Steelman's definition," Baker said. "That's the way she wants it, and she cannot have it both ways."
Baker said it is factually inaccurate for the Steelman campaign to suggest that the federal government is resposible for the Viagra going to sex offenders.
"No federal money can be spent on Medicaid without a state appropriation. If the state chooses not to fund a specific part, they simply make that change, legislatively, and the federal funds are no longer available," Baker said. "In other words, the state could have said way back when that taxpayer money will no longer go to Viagra."
"Sarah Steelman did not have the courage to initiate the fix in Jefferson City. She basically established a standard by which she does not want to be measure," Baker added.
Asked what he thought specifically of Steelman's latest ad on the Viagra issue specifically, Baker said it revealed her lack of ideas. "She has no ideas. She has no vision. I think the most telling thing is, she has nothing to talk about. She has to manufacture press events to say she has 3 new supporters. She cannot finish a sentence about herself without a distortion of Kenny Hulshof," Baker said.
On Monday, Steelman held an event in Springfield to tout three endorsements from "outstanding Missourians." Janet Hill, a working mother of two, said she's supporting Steelman because "she understands what it’s like to run a household while holding a job at the same time." Retired teacher and longtime G.O.P. loyalist Thelma Neff said "Steelman’s Missouri experience makes her more qualified to address the challenges the state faces." World War II vet Wallace Fieldler Fiedler said he's supporting Steelman because of her "willingness to take on difficult issues regardless of political consequences."
UPDATE 3:28 p.m. . . Steelman spokesperson Spence Jackson fired back Monday noting that Hulshof had received $55,000 in campaign contributions from the various pharmaceutical companies that produce Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. "Those campaign contributions call into question whether his vote is for sale," said Jackson.
On when or how Hulshof would formally respond to the Viagra flap, Baker replied, "I think it's unlikely we will stoop to her level anytime soon." Still, he said that it is possible that the Hulshof campaign would invoke Steelman's name in a television ad at some point in the future.
"At some point, Kenny will defend himself and set the record straight," Baker added.
1 comment:
"The reason is he doesn't think the government should be in the the medical business of determining what's appropriate,"
So I assume that means that Mr. Hulshof did not support the "partial birth abortion" since that bill puts the government in the business of determining what is medically appropriate rather than the woman's doctor.????
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