J.D. Prose covers government and politics for the Beaver County Times.
Critz hopes Medicare scare is Rothfus' Achilles' heel
If there was any speculation as to how Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Critz would portray Edgeworth Republican Keith Rothfus in the 12th Congressional District race, it ended last week.
To be fair, Rothfus made it really easy — almost too easy — for Critz after he accepted the endorsement of the Tea Party Express at a rally Thursday in Plum. Talk about giving your opponent a helping hand.
“Millionaire Keith Rothfus” were the first three words in Critz’s press release bashing Rothfus for aligning with the same folks who think the draconian Ryan budget is just peachy.Critz’s focus, however, was on Medicare and how that same Ryan budget “ends Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher program, while cutting taxes for the richest Americans.”
As our friends at PoliticsPa.com pointed out Friday, Critz used the same it’s-the-end-of-Medicare-as-we-know-it attack against vanquished primary foe U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, who supports a balanced budget amendment that critics say would devastate Medicare and Social Security.
Using “the end of Medicare” against a Democrat and a Republican? And, people say there’s no more bipartisanship!
We don’t remember the adjective “millionaire” being slapped before Altmire’s name much, though. That’s because it’s a new dig at Rothfus’ wealth via his wife, who — we were told recently — is a member of the Oliver family with, oddly enough, “Oliver money.”
For the full Pittsburgh effect, you have to say “Oliver money” with raised eyebrows and a knowing look. Kind of like this. See? (Man, we really need video, or at least a sketch artist.)
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