Pro-Trump group’s attack on O’Connor stretches the truth

THE AD: A 30-second television commercial aired by a pro-Trump super-PAC called America First Action. The commercial is an attack against Democrat Danny O’Connor, who is challenging Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville. WHERE TO SEE IT: Local broadcast television VIDEO: Unflattering images of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and O’Connor. SCRIPT: Narrator: “The Washington elite. The D.C. Swamp. They want higher taxes, government-run health care and liberal Danny O’Connor. Because O’Connor opposed the tax-cut plan, which saved the average family of four over $2,000 per year. And O’Connor supports cutting billions from Medicare, hurting Ohio’s seniors who need it more. So in this election, stand up to the elite. Say no to the D.C. swamp. Vote against liberal Danny O’Connor. America First Action is responsible for the content of this advertising.” ANALYSIS: Because Balderson has been unable to raise as much campaign money as O’Connor, national Republicans have swooped in to try to salvage what would normally be a solid Republican seat, the one held for 17 years by Pat Tiberi before he resigned in January. Yes, it is true, O’Connor said that he would have opposed the 10-year, $1.5 trillion tax cut signed into late law last year by President Donald Trump. But he correctly argues that the tax cut added hundreds of billions of dollars to the federal debt held by the public, and most of the benefits went to wealthier taxpayers and corporations. Republicans argue that the tax reductions have stimulated the economy, but there is no question that wealthy Americans got a better deal from the tax cut than middle-class people. As for the accusation that O’Connor “supports cutting billions from Medicare,” it is a variation on a theme that Republicans have used since passage of the 2010 health-care law known as Obamacare. Medicare last year provided health coverage for nearly 50 million people 65 or older and 8.9 million younger disabled people. But about 19 million of those people buy a Medicare Advantage policy through private companies. Obamacare reduced Medicare Advantage payments to the insurers offering those policies. Despite the reduced payments, the number of Americans joining Medicare Advantage plans skyrocketed from 11 million in 2010 to 19 million last year. In addition, federal spending on Medicare continues to grow — from $425 billion in 2007 to $702 billion last year. O’Connor was not a member of Congress in 2010 and obviously could not vote for Obamacare. But he supports the law. For the Republicans, the commercial is not only a stretch, but it also completely contradicts a commercial aired by Balderson this week that suggests that O’Connor favors a single-payer Medicare-for-everyone bill. The new commercial says he favors Obamacare. He cannot be for both. Maybe it is time for Republicans to decide which system O’Connor favors.