Yesterday, a reporter asked Alison Lundergan Grimes if she would have voted for ObamaCare in 2010.
From the Associated Press:
“Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes on Wednesday twice refused to say whether she would have voted for President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.
“Asked two times whether she’d have voted for the 2010 overhaul, the Kentucky Democrat who is challenging Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told The Associated Press: “I, when we are in the United States Senate, will work to fix the Affordable Care Act.”
“Grimes added: “I believe the politically motivated response you continue to see from Mitch McConnell in terms of repeal, root and branch, is not in reality or keeping … with what the facts are here in Kentucky.””
This should worry Kentuckians.
Congressman John Yarmuth said back in October that Grimes is “still getting up to speed on a lot of these issues.” Fast forward 7 months, and we have Alison Lundergan Grimes entering the general election still without a clear answer on ObamaCare, a policy that the majority of Kentucky voters oppose.
Is she still getting up to speed? Or is she hiding her support of ObamaCare because of its unpopularity? Either way, Kentucky voters deserve better.
“It should give Kentuckians real pause that Alison Lundergan Grimes has been in this race for almost a year and is still dodging questions on ObamaCare. Kentucky voters deserve clear answers on the issues, not a game of hide and seek,” said Kelsey Cooper, spokeswoman for the Kentucky GOP.
BACKGROUND
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY): Grimes “Still Getting Up To Speed On A Lot Of These Issues.” “‘She’s still getting up to speed on a lot of these issues,’ Yarmuth said. ‘It’s tough to get up to speed on the ACA. Mitch McConnell’s still not up to speed on the ACA.’” (Sam Youngman, “John Yarmuth: Alison Lundergan Grimes Wise To Say Little About Health Law,” The Lexington Herald Leader, 10/2/13)
Grimes Says “We’ll Have Plenty of Time to Discuss the Issues”… In August of 2013 “Well I am obviously a practicing Catholic and like I said, we’ll have plenty of time to discuss issues in this campaign but there are going to be many people that are supportive of our efforts. It’s one about uniting all Kentuckians, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. I’m proud very much to have the partnerships that we are forming and the endorsement that came out yesterday.” (Alison Lundergan Grimes, Press Gaggle, Louisville, KY, 8/22/13)
Lexington Herald Leader’s Sam Youngman: With “Major National Issues Playing Out,” “Grimes Has Been All But Missing In Action.” “Democrats such as Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth were supportive of Grimes staying quiet in the first week that President Barack Obama’s health care law was rolled out in Kentucky. No need to tie herself to Obama or risk infuriating Democrats when the program’s success or failure remained unsure, they said. But the past three weeks have seen major national issues playing out on a local stage, and Grimes has been all but missing in action.” (Sam Youngman, “Alison Lundergan Grimes Hard To Find As National Issues Play Out On Local Stage,”Lexington Herald Leader, 10/20/13)
Grimes Campaign Adviser Rep. John Yarmuth Expects Grimes To Become More Outspoken In Support Of ObamaCare. REPORTER: “As for Grimes, campaign adviser Congressman John Yarmuth expects her to become a more outspoken supporter of the Affordable Care Act.” REP. YARMUTH: “As time goes on, she will feel more comfortable, and will get a better understanding I think also of how many positive aspects there are to the law.” (WHAS, 4/23/14)
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY): Grimes “Absolutely Has That Obligation” To Tell Kentuckians Where She Stands On The Issues.“In an interview with WFPL’s Jonathan Bastian, airing later this week, Congressman John Yarmuth says Grimes has time to fully think through those positions, but she has to eventually present Kentuckians with an alternative. ‘And it’s a point that I’ve made to her as well, that at some point not being Mitch McConnell is not going to be enough,’ he says. ‘The people of Kentucky want to know what drives you, why you want to be in the United States Senate, why you want to represent them and what you want to do as a senator. So I think she absolutely has that obligation to tell the voters that.’” (Phillip M. Bailey, “Congressman John Yarmuth: Not Being Mitch McConnell Isn’t Enough For Alison Lundergan Grimes,”WFPL, 12/30/13)
