{mosads}The ads feature a voice actor posing as a lawmaker being confronted by a constituent over the shutdown in Washington.
“I’m here to talk about what I’m doing these days. First, I’m working hard to take away your new healthcare benefits,” says an actor posing as Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) in one ad. “That’s right. We’ll put the insurance companies back in charge of your health care.”
His constituent goes on to charge that shutting down the government to achieve that goal is “irresponsible” and “reckless,” and asks what he’s doing for healthcare.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. Voted myself taxpayer-funded healthcare for life! So I’m taken care of, but thanks for your concern,” he says.
Similar ads are running against GOP Reps. Dan Benishek (Mich.), Rodney Davis (Ill.), Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Michael Grimm (N.Y.), Gary Miller (Calif.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Scott Rigell (Va.), Steve Southerland (Fla.) and David Valadao (Calif.), all top Democratic targets this cycle.
Polling shows Republicans receiving the brunt of the blame for the shutdown, though Democrats and the president take a hit, too. Democrats believe the issue could be a political winner for them in the 2014 elections, as the shutdown stretches into its second week.
Republicans, however, feel the healthcare reform law is so unpopular nationally that their continued efforts to dismantle it would insulate them from any backlash over the shutdown. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Daniel Scarpinato said the attacks were evidence Democrats were trying to avoid talking about the failures of the law.
“Democrats will do anything to avoid admitting what a disaster the ObamaCare rollout has been. Unfortunately it’s only going to get worse for American families who will face higher premiums and less access to quality care thanks to ObamaCare,” he said.
— This piece was updated at 11:24 a.m. to reflect comment from the NRCC.