Calls for End to Violence against Pro-Health Care Reform Representatives

Catholics United today launched a television ad campaign calling on people of faith to offer their gratitude to four Catholic members of Congress who voted for final passage of health care reform legislation: Reps. John Boccieri (OH-16), Chris Carney (PA-10), Brad Ellsworth (IN-08), and Tom Perriello (VA-05). The move comes as a new Gallup poll shows the public is warming to Congress' decision, despite a wave of threats and attacks against members of Congress who voted for the bill, including Congressman Perriello and his family.

The ads, which will run in heavy rotation on Fox News from March 26th through April 1st, cite several provisions of health care reform that will honor human life and benefit all Americans, including prohibitions on denial of care for pre-existing conditions, and support for vulnerable pregnant women.

“The passage of health care reform is a tremendous victory for the values held in common by Catholics and other people of faith,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “These leaders, who voted to extend health care to all Americans despite tremendous pressure from insurance industry lobbyists and misinformation campaigns by anti-reform groups, deserve our thanks and our praise. In addition to thanking these representatives for their courageous votes, we call on the Republican leadership to condemn threats of violence against members of Congress immediately."

Catholics United's new campaign comes a week after it launched a round of ads aimed at dispelling myths of federal abortion funding in the Senate's health care bill. The group also ran a similar ad last week thanking Congressman Jim Oberstar (MN-08) for his support of health care reform.

The ads are available online at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD2dO6TX5ds (John Boccieri OH-16)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztt2JWUWFBA (Chris Carney PA-10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmmDeRRBQjs (Brad Ellsworth, (IN-08)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3LQGGS5n8I (Tom Perriello, VA-05)

Ad script:

Who can Virginians count on to do what’s right?

Tom Perriello.

Congressman Perriello voted to prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

He voted to give ordinary Virginians access to the same health benefits that Congress gets.

And he honored life – covering the uninsured, and giving vulnerable pregnant women the support they need.

On behalf of people of faith, Congressman…thank you.

Catholics United is responsible for the content of this advertising.

For more information:

• Poll: Health-care reform more popular after passage than before