Courtney: I have been living with endometriosis for 20 years.
Linda: I was healthy, except for the MS. Scared to death with the MS.
Courtney: I was having to make choices between groceries or the medication I needed. When people like Erika Harold threaten Obamacare, I can’t believe how little she values people like me with preexisting conditions.
Linda: The threat of Obamacare being taken away is one of those sort of bad dreams. So when I hear that politicians like Erika Harold wanting to repeal Obamacare, I get angry, and honestly get scared.
Courtney: I can’t vote for Erika Harold.
Linda: Absolutely not.
* The Champaign News-Gazette editorial board, which endorsed area resident Erika Harold, is spitting mad…
If politics wasn’t such a sleazy business, this advertisement would set a new low for being misleading.
Harold, like Raoul, is running for attorney general of Illinois, not for federal office.
Obamacare — aka the Affordable Care Act — is federal legislation passed during former President Barack Obama’s first two years in office.
Court challenges have been filed against Obamacare and been rejected. There is nothing that Harold could do about repealing Obamacare, even if she wanted to do so.
This is classic scaremongering engaged in by a loser candidate who fears he’ll lose an election if he can’t drive his opponent’s negatives sky high.
* I asked the Raoul campaign for a response…
That’s false. Donald Trump and Republican state attorneys general are in Texas district court trying, yet again, to destroy the ACA and take healthcare away from people with preexisting conditions. Democratic AGs, including Lisa Madigan, have intervened to vigorously defend it. In 2014, Republican Erika Harold said she wanted to “repeal it all,” regarding the ACA. Not only could she do something to destroy Obamacare — we have every reason to believe she would.
The campaign is right about the court case and the News-Gazette is wrong.
* From the Champaign News-Gazette in 2014, when Harold was running for Congress…
Harold said she wanted to “repeal it all and start all over again with consumer-driven” reforms.
“Specifically on the issue of the Affordable Care Act, I don’t think it’s a bill that can be reformed. When we look at the consequence throughout the district, with people losing plans they liked, having to pay increased premiums and I think we’re going to see the full effect of it when the employer mandate goes in effect … I think it’s fundamentally flawed.”
Kwame Raoul is lying about Erika’s record because he can’t run on his own fourteen-year record of failure in Springfield. The truth is Erika supports the Illinois law barring insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, and Erika would not have joined the lawsuit seeking to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional.
28 Comments
- Birds of a feather - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:44 am:
The Champaign News Gazette is as wing-nutty as the candidate they endorsed. And “loser” … ? Are these guys looking to get hired by Trump?
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:48 am:
I’m a fan of Obamacare.
But I’m not sure how much harm Harold could do here, given a D legislature.
Yes, Madigan has joined with other AG’s to defend Obamacare, but does it really matter if there’s one fewer state AG involved?
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:48 am:
The News-Gazette is despicably lying to its readership on this one. Hope they fail in their efforts to swing the election to Harold on this issue.
=Court challenges have been filed against Obamacare and been rejected. There is nothing that Harold could do about repealing Obamacare, even if she wanted to do so.==
Some cases filed by states (through their attorneys general) are still pending, and the biggest case, where the Supreme Court held that requiring individuals to buy insurance was a valid exercise of Congress’ taxing authority, has been undercut by the repeal of the penalty for not buying insurance (which the court held was really a tax). So there is a real possibility that Harold could attack Obamacare.
Harold’s best pitch is that she will be a check on the Pritzker agenda, but it’s out of bounds to say she will be a check on the Pritzker agenda for the popular parts of it that she disagrees with. Got it.
“The truth is Erika supports the Illinois law barring insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions…”
I am so sick and tired of this from the Republicans. It is beyond a false narrative. Sure, you can have insurance if you have a pre-existing condition, but you’re gonna have to pay for it yourself. And, if you can’t… well that’s just too bad.
Is that the type of “consumer driven” healthcare Harold and her fellow Republicans were talking about??? If so, then a lot of consumers are going to be losing their “driver’s licenses” if we keep going down this road on healthcare as a personal privilege and not a humane right.
We raised this item earlier Does the GOPie AG candidate intend to “check” Pritzker on the suit in TX. We know whackjobs Scott Walker and Josh Hawley are plaintiff. Does she jump in too?
What other “checks” does she have in mind?
Erica Harold is a conservative Republican being funded by right wingers who want to roll back the clock on healthcare and human rights. She is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Erica Harold stands for everything today’s Republicans embrace. Reject ERica HaRold (R).
NG is wrong, as usual. A person’s views inform their character and actions, whether they are specific to the job or not. You wouldn’t elect an abuser or an open racist, would you? Her views on gays, abortion, and health care inform her character and are appropriate to consider.
For example, toilets aren’t part of the governor’s official job duties, are they? But many would suggest they say things about JB’s character. Or clouting for Rauner.
Hey Rich,
Why don’t you ask Erika if she will use her role as Illinois AG to sue to overturn ACA? The quotes you use were from her run from Congress. She’s on the record as opposing using the state AG position to sue over federal legislation.
The News-Gazette, by accident, gets to the heart of the distinction between having a Dem or GOP Attorney General. A Dem will be an activist, like Dem Attorney General activists all over the country, pushing back against policies they thing are wrong. Harold won’t push back.
My concern about Harold is that she’ll end up like that guy Cuccinelli who was the Virginia AG - being an activist against things like the Affordable Care Act. That’s where I think she’s being disingenuous.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
The News Gazette editorial board can’t be taken seriously. They call names, feign outrage (only against Democrats) and predictably endorse Republicans in every serious contest at the federal and state level.
They have been on the wrong side of history on gay rights, civil rights and now - health care rights. Their hostility to anything “liberal” is a deep disservice to their aging, shrinking audience.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Handle Bar Mustache +1. A number of recent News-Gazette editorials can be accurately characterized as journalistic temper tantrums, likely as they see Rauner’s days are numbered. Dey and Kasich are probably not happy with the Fourth District Appelate Court decision yesterday given their vitriolic hatred of organized labor.
MWNMNWWNM===I’m not seeing that in the constitution…===
I’m, not seeing that money is speech, nor that corporations are people. But there you are.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
==Erika supports the Illinois law barring insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, and Erika would not have joined the lawsuit seeking to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional.==
Very strong and clear response by her campaign.
- Birds of a feather - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:44 am:
The Champaign News Gazette is as wing-nutty as the candidate they endorsed. And “loser” … ? Are these guys looking to get hired by Trump?
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:48 am:
I’m a fan of Obamacare.
But I’m not sure how much harm Harold could do here, given a D legislature.
Yes, Madigan has joined with other AG’s to defend Obamacare, but does it really matter if there’s one fewer state AG involved?
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:48 am:
The News-Gazette is despicably lying to its readership on this one. Hope they fail in their efforts to swing the election to Harold on this issue.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:50 am:
–There is nothing that Harold could do about repealing Obamacare, even if she wanted to do so.–
State AGs can’t file lawsuits challenging federal laws as they relate to the states or their citizens?
Stare decisis cannot be challenged (why the fuss as to who’s on the Supreme Court, then)?
Some scoops you got there, CNG.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 11:52 am:
=Court challenges have been filed against Obamacare and been rejected. There is nothing that Harold could do about repealing Obamacare, even if she wanted to do so.==
Some cases filed by states (through their attorneys general) are still pending, and the biggest case, where the Supreme Court held that requiring individuals to buy insurance was a valid exercise of Congress’ taxing authority, has been undercut by the repeal of the penalty for not buying insurance (which the court held was really a tax). So there is a real possibility that Harold could attack Obamacare.
- Nick - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:02 pm:
The news-gazette being wrong? Color me shocked.
- Under Influenced.... - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
Of all the goofy, misleading ads this cycle and this is the ad the news-gazette decides to cry foul?
- windshouter - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
Harold’s best pitch is that she will be a check on the Pritzker agenda, but it’s out of bounds to say she will be a check on the Pritzker agenda for the popular parts of it that she disagrees with. Got it.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
“The truth is Erika supports the Illinois law barring insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions…”
I am so sick and tired of this from the Republicans. It is beyond a false narrative. Sure, you can have insurance if you have a pre-existing condition, but you’re gonna have to pay for it yourself. And, if you can’t… well that’s just too bad.
Is that the type of “consumer driven” healthcare Harold and her fellow Republicans were talking about??? If so, then a lot of consumers are going to be losing their “driver’s licenses” if we keep going down this road on healthcare as a personal privilege and not a humane right.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
We raised this item earlier Does the GOPie AG candidate intend to “check” Pritzker on the suit in TX. We know whackjobs Scott Walker and Josh Hawley are plaintiff. Does she jump in too?
What other “checks” does she have in mind?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
C’mon Kwame. Do better.
Erica Harold is a conservative Republican being funded by right wingers who want to roll back the clock on healthcare and human rights. She is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Erica Harold stands for everything today’s Republicans embrace. Reject ERica HaRold (R).
How hard is that?
- Jibba - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
NG is wrong, as usual. A person’s views inform their character and actions, whether they are specific to the job or not. You wouldn’t elect an abuser or an open racist, would you? Her views on gays, abortion, and health care inform her character and are appropriate to consider.
For example, toilets aren’t part of the governor’s official job duties, are they? But many would suggest they say things about JB’s character. Or clouting for Rauner.
- Bored Chairman - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
Hey Rich,
Why don’t you ask Erika if she will use her role as Illinois AG to sue to overturn ACA? The quotes you use were from her run from Congress. She’s on the record as opposing using the state AG position to sue over federal legislation.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
“What other “checks” does she have in mind?”
Raoul stared this whole “check” thing in Sept 2017 with Maze Jackson ….
“Raoul: You’re not gonna tell me. Alright. If you interrupt me, I’m gonna check you on it.”
- Amalia - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
there are R Ags suing to try and take pre existing conditions out. so right to be concerned big time.
- DarkHorse - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:48 pm:
The News-Gazette, by accident, gets to the heart of the distinction between having a Dem or GOP Attorney General. A Dem will be an activist, like Dem Attorney General activists all over the country, pushing back against policies they thing are wrong. Harold won’t push back.
My concern about Harold is that she’ll end up like that guy Cuccinelli who was the Virginia AG - being an activist against things like the Affordable Care Act. That’s where I think she’s being disingenuous.
- Distracted posting - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
If I never read another Degroot quote again it’ll be too soon
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
Nothing upsets the party of Trump as much as the truth does
- WSJ Paywall - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:11 pm:
News-Gazette really embarrassing itself lately.
- Handle Bar Mustache - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
The News Gazette editorial board can’t be taken seriously. They call names, feign outrage (only against Democrats) and predictably endorse Republicans in every serious contest at the federal and state level.
They have been on the wrong side of history on gay rights, civil rights and now - health care rights. Their hostility to anything “liberal” is a deep disservice to their aging, shrinking audience.
- Nick - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
Their endorsement of Davis basically read like a campaign mailer, even while his campaign has done nothing but basically lie in ad after ad.
- MWNMNWWNM - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:26 pm:
** health care rights **
I’m not seeing that in the constitution…
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
===I’m not seeing that in the constitution…===
I bet there’s a lot that you don’t see.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
- DarkDante - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
==… this advertisement would set a new low for being misleading.==
It wouldn’t set a new low for Illinois political ads in the past week. Paper-thin faux indignation is not a good look, News Gazette.
- kitty - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
Handle Bar Mustache +1. A number of recent News-Gazette editorials can be accurately characterized as journalistic temper tantrums, likely as they see Rauner’s days are numbered. Dey and Kasich are probably not happy with the Fourth District Appelate Court decision yesterday given their vitriolic hatred of organized labor.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/bizfeed/article/Study-Pre-existing-condition-protection-in-limbo-13330683.php
The study-
http://avalere.com/expertise/managed-care/insights/repeal-of-affordable-care-acts-pre-existing-condition-protections-could-aff
- Jibba - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 1:56 pm:
MWNMNWWNM===I’m not seeing that in the constitution…===
I’m, not seeing that money is speech, nor that corporations are people. But there you are.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
==Erika supports the Illinois law barring insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, and Erika would not have joined the lawsuit seeking to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional.==
Very strong and clear response by her campaign.