Tolbert: NRSC Hits Pryor On Obamacare Vote

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is rolling out a new web ad today that is sure to preview a theme we will see in the 2014 election.

The new ad is called “Mark Pryor: A Liberal When No One is Looking.”  It highlights Pryor’s support for Obama’s liberal agenda in Washington, particularly his support for Obamacare.

“Perhaps if Arkansans would have had a Senator willing to oppose President Obama, they could count on their Senator to fight for Arkansas first. But for Mark Pryor, Barack Obama will always come first,” said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen.

With the release of the ad, the NRSC is pushing a new website – obamacomesfirst.com – that highlights the fact that Pryor has voted with Obama 93% of the time and has an Obama logo linked with a P for Pryor.

“For the last five years, Senator Pryor has put Barack Obama’s liberal agenda first. He was a key supporter of Obamacare. Pryor voted for the Obama plan to raise taxes on Arkansas families and has repeatedly added to our national debt. Pryor even joined President Obama to bail out the big banks on Wall Street, ignoring Main Street, Arkansas. For Mark Pryor, Barack Obama will always come first,” states the website.

The issue is one that Pryor is not running away from.  In fact, he seems to be embracing the strategy as I wrote about in my column a few weeks ago. I had a chance to ask Rep. Tom Cotton about Pryor’s vote this weekend.

“Mark Pryor was the deciding vote for Obamacare so he has to defend that vote, but I think it is indefensible,” said Cotton. “I think the people of Arkansas whom I hear or if you look at public opinion polls recognize that they don’t want government in Washington dictating their health insurance. They want solutions that focus on patients and doctors and families.”