Rep. [tag]Curt Weldon[/tag] (R-Pa.) is no doubt feeling some pressure. He’s one of the more vulnerable House GOP incumbents this year and he’s facing recently-retired three-star Vice Adm. [tag]Joseph Sestak[/tag] (D), who’s been making real strides in the district.
But there are some places candidates just can’t go, no matter how desperate they are to win. Criticizing an opponent for where he treated his cancer-stricken 5-year-old [tag]daughter[/tag] is simply beyond the pale. And yet, [tag]Weldon[/tag] is just craven enough to make the attack anyway.
[tag]Sestak[/tag] and his wife brought their daughter to the Children’s National Medical Center, where she received treatment for a malignant brain [tag]tumor[/tag]. Doctors believed the little girl had maybe nine months to live. As The Hill reported, the Sestaks “lived for four months in the ward. They watched as their daughter survived three surgeries, and as she endured chemotherapy.” Eventually, the daughter responded to treatment and, though the cancer could reemerge, she is on the road to recovery.
Rep. Weldon disapproves of where the Sestaks sought treatment for their daughter.
Weldon attacked Sestak’s decision to continue owning a home in Virginia while only renting in Pennsylvania and questioned why Sestak did not move back to Pennsylvania when he was working at the Pentagon. Weldon commutes from Pennsylvania each day.
Weldon also suggested Sestak should have sent his daughter to a hospital in Philadelphia or Delaware, rather than the Washington hospital. Sestak said that as soon as doctors give his daughter the all-clear, he’ll buy in Pennsylvania.
Sestak was, not surprisingly, incensed by Weldon’s criticisms.
Congressman Weldon’s remarks to the Hill magazine in a story published this morning regarding my daughter Alex’s treatment are inappropriate. To imply, that I should have sent my daughter to a hospital in Delaware or Pennsylvania for political purposes is beyond the pale.
I understand the political arena. I knew that this campaign would thrust my family into the media spotlight and we are prepared for that. But I want to make it very clear to Congressman Weldon, that any remarks regarding my daughter, Alexandra’s, treatment will not be tolerated.
Like many families dealing with illness, we have had our challenges in the last year. Through the grace of God, the many prayers of our friends and family, and the wonderful doctors and nurses, we have made it through this experience with our daughter Alex, who continues to inspire us everyday.
Though we recognize the important work done by the many hospitals in and around Philadelphia, it was our personal choice to have Alex treated in Washington at the Children’s Hospital because of its outstanding work on pediatric brain tumors. This decision was based on many things – none of which were political.
This was our choice as Alex’s parents and as I have said publicly, I believe these medical choices should be left in the hands of parents and family members throughout the country and not in the hands of bureaucrats, special interests and especially not in the hands of politicians like Curt Weldon.
In response, Weldon’s press secretary said yesterday afternoon that Weldon “had no comment on Sestak’s statement or the newspaper report.”
It’s the worst kind of cowardice. Weldon had the temerity to criticize Sestak’s approach to his daughter’s treatment, but when presented with a response, Weldon lacks the courage to apologize.
Weldon’s contact page should get quite a few hits today.