A billboard accusing Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) of cutting Medicaid and giving tax breaks to billionaires has finally come down after House Republicans‘ campaign arm threatened legal action, the latest step in the collapse of a Democratic super PAC’s messaging campaign.
The Washington Examiner exclusively reported last week that four of six billboards launched by House Majority Forward were taken down after the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a cease-and-desist letter to Lamar Advertising Company, threatening it would be liable for defamation. However, two of the billboards targeting Bacon and Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO) remained standing, as they were operating under a different vendor.
Now, the billboard targeting Bacon is coming down after the NRCC sent a similar cease-and-desist letter to vendor Link Media stating that “to avoid defaming [Bacon], your company must cease any and all plans to display this billboard to the public,” per a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
Link Media’s general counsel sent a reply on Monday, per an email reviewed by the Washington Examiner. The counsel notified the NRCC that “it will no longer run the advertising content” but will “allow them to submit revised content that accurately reflects the circumstances.”
“Despite the disgusting effort by the liberal con artists at House Majority Forward to fool Nebraskans, their dishonest billboards were taken down because all they can do is lie when they have no real message,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told the Washington Examiner. “The Democrats’ fear-mongering tactics won’t work because the American people aren’t buying it.”
House Majority Forward launched the billboards against Bacon, Evans, and Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) last week, targeting the vulnerable Republicans over Medicaid. The healthcare beneficiary program is at the center of arguments across the aisle as the GOP plans for $2 trillion in cuts through the budget reconciliation process.
The billboards claimed the Republicans “voted to cut Medicaid to give billionaires like him tax cuts,” referring to Musk, who was featured on the billboard next to the lawmaker.
“Tell Don Bacon to oppose Medicaid cuts,” the billboard in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District read.
The billboard targeting Bacon was still up last week, according to a photo sent to the Washington Examiner by House Majority Forward. But a spokesperson for the super PAC said its lawyers and Link Media’s had conversations over the weekend regarding the billboard.
House Majority Forward’s lawyers told the vendor they contractually agreed to indemnify them, or secure someone against legal liability, for the language in the ad. However, Link Media’s counsel said they were concerned about public “controversy” and were unwilling to keep the billboard running.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Link Media for comment.
“This is unfortunately a decision not based in fact, but one made due to coercion and threats from anti-free speech Republicans,” HMF communications director CJ Warnke told the Washington Examiner. “Don Bacon said it himself, Republicans are cutting Medicaid. This is a dark day for America, and Republicans will stop at nothing to cut Medicaid and silence the truth.”
All six Republicans targeted in the billboards voted for the budget resolution, which unlocks reconciliation. Bacon said during the week of the budget resolution vote he had relayed concerns to leadership over possible cuts to Medicaid. He later told C-SPAN’s Washington Journal that the cuts would “not affect the quality of care.”
DEMOCRATS DEALT MESSAGING BLOW AFTER NRCC DEFAMATION THREAT FORCES MEDICAID BILLBOARDS TO COME DOWN
“For example, they’re going to add work requirements for able-bodied adults that don’t have children,” Bacon said on Feb. 27. “They’re going to audit all the lists — they stopped doing that — and if you don’t belong on Medicaid, they’ll take you off.”
Democrats have increased their attacks on Republicans over Medicaid cuts after the Congressional Budget Office released a memo noting that the $880 billion in proposed Energy and Commerce Committee cuts run right through the healthcare beneficiary program. But pulling down the billboards delivered a blow to the Democrats’ messaging plans — particularly as several Democrats continue to face blowback from constituents that they do not have a solid plan to fight back against Trump and Republicans.