Nothstein Condemns Wild Attack Ad

Marty Nothstein

I was under the impression that Congressional candidate Susan Wild was way up in the polls. A double digit lead, some say. And let's not forget, this is the Year of the Woman. On top of that, her campaign coffers are overflowing with $1.1 million, most of it from California, New York and Massachusetts. I'd expect anyone in her position to be on cruise control. Instead, she's running a dark campaign that vilifies Marty Nothstein. I've already received several mailers with those grainy black-and-white mug shots. I expect to see one tomorrow claiming that Nothstein picks his nose. And one the day after that announcing he eats it, too. It's no surprise that she would run a TV ad claiming that Nothstein apparently wants to infect everyone with cancer.

Her cancer ad is disgusting.

That's her. She tries very, very, very hard to smile at events, but her default facial expression is a scowl. Maybe that's unavoidable. But every time I see her I am reminded that this is the person who, in the primary, promised fellow lawyer John Morganelli she would run a clean campaign. Then she broke her word.

Tim Silfies

At the Business Matters debate, Nothstein objected to the ad, saying it misrepresents his position. He made clear then that he supports insurance for people with pre-existing conditions. He wants to expand the pool of available insurers by allowing people to shop in states outside of Pennsylvania. That's exactly what Charlie Dent wanted, and no one tried to vilify him.

Wild never bothered to address Nothstein's objections.

Now Nothstein has called on opponent Susan Wild to retract what he terms a blatantly dishonest misrepresentation of his position on healthcare. This attack ad quotes a cancer survivor saying that Nothstein “wants to take away our insurance.” The ad offers no explanation for the claim because, Nothstein says, there is none.

“I am on record as supporting current law that requires insurers to cover preexisting conditions. Likewise, I am in favor of policies that would ensure health care for every citizen who wants it,” Nothstein said in a statement released to the press. “What I oppose is government forcing people to purchase policies they do not want and imposing plans that take away a patient’s choice of doctor.”

Nothstein says his own personal experience makes the spot especially offensive.

Susan Wild

“Because Wild did no research before making these charges, she didn’t realize that my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, and my sister are cancer survivors,” Nothstein said. “Nor is she aware that I’ve been active in fundraising efforts for a range of cancer-related health causes.”

Nothstein said he took special offense at the cynical manipulation of a cancer survivor by a candidate who should have known better.

“Using a cancer survivor as a campaign prop to foist a lie on voters, should give people pause when it comes to thinking Susan Wild has the principles or temperament to serve in Congress,” Nothstein said.

Okay, so that's what Nothstein says. What about Libertarian Tim Silfies? He's also running for Congress. Does he think Nothstein is over-reacting?

"Gross!" is his one-word takeaway. "It's part of the problem with the tribal warfare we have right now. The two parties are at constant war with one another instead of having an honest exchange of ideas."

Nothstein and Silfies have run on the issues. Wild is running on smears. Maybe her internal polling shows a closer race than newspapers claim.

Just so you know, I did ask Wild for a response to Nothstein's demand for a retraction. She ignored my request, just as her former employer, Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski, was wont to do during his criminal conspiracy.

Nothstein and Silfies are both right. If we want to reverse the politics of personal destruction and end this tribal politics, it's time to call out these personal smears.

Knock it off, Susan. She debases herself and the rest of us with that kind of campaign.