For the first time since 2010, a Pennsylvania Democratic member of Congress has begun being trailed by trackers.
Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna), the only Democrat in Pennsylvania targeted by national Republicans, picked up a tracker at a recent constituent event and was caught talking about Senator John McCain.
In the 23-second clip, Cartwright spoke about the Graham-Cassidy healthcare plan in the Senate and McCain’s possible position on it.
“McCain I’m worried about. Also because the governor of Arizona came out in favor of the Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy bill. So that puts pressure on McCain. But man, something tells me McCain, he’s staring death in the face right now, so he’s probably gonna make good choices. He’s not going to bend to political pressure,” Cartwright says.
The clip does not show what Cartwright was responding to, or what he may have said afterwards.
America Rising, PAC that generates opposition research on Democratic candidates, got the clip and responded to Cartwrights comments.
“For Congressman Cartwright to callously use the illness of an American hero for political reasons is both outrageous and offensive. Senator McCain deserves an immediate apology from the Congressman,” America Rising PAC Executive Director Alexandra Smith said.
The fact that opposition research firms are willing to spend the money to send a tracker to film Cartwright shows that Republicans are serious in their desire to flip the seat. Cartwright has faced Republican challengers in recent years, but has not faced a well financed opponent.
Update: Cartwright released a statement apologize to McCain for his comments.
“I want to express my deep admiration for Senator McCain and gratitude for his service to our nation. I have reached out to apologize directly to him and his family for my statement about his illness, which I agree was insensitive, and which has clearly offended the McCain family. I know he will continue to fight for the people of Arizona and this country during his courageous battle with this disease. I wish him a speedy and full recovery,” Cartwright said.
You can view the clip below.
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12 Responses
It is ok for Donald little junk Trump to tell McCain to die and make fun of his service and call,him a loser. A racist antisemitic pig is the president and he is letting Puerto Ricans die. that is not what a patriot does, Puerto Ricans are Americans, whether vicious racists like Trump like that or not, and rethuglicans are killers of democracy and human beings, their healthcare bill will killl millions.
Cartwright can’t even fill a room. If they could get a half decent candidate against this guy, we could wash him right out into the bay with the rest of the bottom feeders. He stands for nothing and hasn’t for a long time. Hell, Matt Connoley gave him a run for his money and he is an ex-race car driver who raised like $10k. Very, very winable seat for the republicans if they can find some talent.
“Senator McCain is a hero! Also, forget all that stuff our president said about him not being a hero. This is different.”
He’s a hero because he go caught?…or because he talked to the North Vietnamese in re classified information? Google it!
He couldn’t beat Barry? Thus, we had eight (8) years of hell.
Most recently, he voted with the Democrats on Obama Care?
Not my type of dude!
Go where ever you want, but I would not go there.
He’s a hero because he got caught?…or because he talked to the North Vietnamese in re classified information? Google it!
He couldn’t beat Barry? Thus, we had eight (8) years of hell.
Most recently, he voted with the Democrats on Obama Care?
Not my type of dude!
Are YOU the POTUS himself?
Information written by conspiracy theorists on the internet are always my trusted source of information.
GOOGLE IT!
John McCain is a Democrat in Republican clothing. What’s the controversy?
Do you know anything about John McCain? Do you know who John McCain is?
Wow, they are really reaching on this one. This looks positively decorous compared to what trackers and the media have recorded from Trumpers like Wagner and Gianforte.
In the best way possible, this is a headline which can only exist on a site like this for the purest political junkie & insider.
“Congressman says stupid thing. Our angle: they have a tracker… they’re serious about challenging him.”