NEW YORK: ‘Operation’ Ad Attacks Hillary Rodham Clinton
In the heated Senate race between Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (D), the New York Conservative Party has released an attack ad comparing Clinton's failed national health care plan to the children's game 'Operation,' Newsday reports. The ad opens with a picture of Clinton, then cuts to a woman's hand touching a cartoon body that produces a buzzing sound each time the woman touches it. The narrator states: "Remember the last time we trusted Hillary Clinton with an important job in Washington? In 1993, she operated on health care. She proposed a government-run system. A bureaucratic plan of rationing that destroyed your choice of doctors. A 27% tax increase, with 2 million jobs lost. She worked in secret and had to be sued to disclose the details. So if you trust Hillary Clinton, maybe you should see your doctor. While you still can" (Riley, 9/19). Nelson Warfield, who produced the ad for the Conservative Party, said the health care issue "is a real vulnerability for [Clinton]." The Lazio campaign, which did not know about the ad until questioned about it, has attempted to pick up on the theme, targeting a different aspect of Clinton's failed health plan on a daily basis. A Lazio aide said they are attempting to show what may have happened in New York under the plan, such as cutting reimbursements for teaching hospitals. In addition, they are using the theme to depict Clinton as an advocate of large government and question her "competence and credibility" (Nagourney, New York Times, 9/17). Clinton shot back, calling the ad was an example of Lazio's "hypocrisy" because the spot was financed with unregulated soft money. Lazio supporters say they will only stop using soft money to finance ad campaigns if Clinton, who has raised more than $4 million in soft money, agrees to do the same. (Riley, 9/19). To view the ad, go to http://video.cloakroom.com/2000archive/09/0921nycp1.rm. Note: You will need RealPlayer G2 to view the ad.
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