A Democrat running for South Carolina governor has accused the Republican Governors Association -- chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- of attacking him for supporting a position that Christie himself backs.
On Monday, the RGA unveiled a new TV ad hitting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen with this message: "Now Vincent Sheheen wants to use Obamacare for a $2 billion expansion of Medicaid in South Carolina."
"Vincent Sheheen's plan? Even more Obamacare" the ad concludes.
But there's one wrinkle, Sheheen counters: Christie supported Medicaid expansion in New Jersey.
"You and I have the same position on this issue—keep our own federal tax dollars working for the people of our states," Sheheen wrote in a letter addressed to Christie. "The problem with Washington, DC and national politics in general is hypocrisy. Leaders driven by self-interest who disregard facts in favor of ideology are no leaders at all. And all of our states deserve better than these kinds of hypocritical and underhanded tactics."
Phil Cox, the RGA's executive director, defended the group’s TV ad. "Vincent Sheheen is an unapologetic supporter of ObamaCare. It’s no surprise he doesn’t like the RGA’s latest ad, because he knows what many South Carolinians already know: Obamacare is a bad law and it’s costing families and businesses more of their hard earned money and jobs in the Palmetto State."
But that response didn't answer Sheheen's complaint: Why is the RGA attacking him over something that the RGA chairman himself supports?