White House Calls Clinton’s Television Ad ‘Outrageous’
White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino on Tuesday characterized as "outrageous" a television advertisement released this week by presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) that criticizes President Bush for his lack of attention to health care and other issues, Long Island Newsday reports.
The 60-second ad, which began to air in Iowa on Tuesday, features Clinton in a field with a farmer; in conversations with women, children and seniors; and during a speech at a campaign event. In the ad, Clinton states, "You know, if you are a family that is struggling and you don't have health care, well, you are invisible to this president." She also criticizes his lack of attention to the needs of single mothers who cannot afford child care, troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other U.S. residents.
Perino rejected the accusations in the ad. She said, "This is a president who, first and foremost, has helped millions of seniors across the country have access to prescription drugs at a much lower cost" through the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Evans, Long Island Newsday, 8/14). Perino added that the Medicare prescription drug benefit "is helping millions of people and working better than anyone would have expected."
Republican National Committee spokesperson Tracey Schmitt said, "Unfortunately for Hillary Clinton, her record of failure is far from invisible." She added that Clinton has "failed on health care" and other issues (Hurt, New York Post, 8/15).
In response, Clinton said, "Apparently, I've struck a nerve" with the ad, adding, "I will keep saying it because I believe it" (Long Island Newsday, 8/14).
Video of the ad is available on Clinton's Web site.