The Democratic National Committee plans to air radio ads slamming Rep. Frank R. Wolf for his recent vote against the health-care reform bill.
Wolf, who represents Manassas, Manassas Park and part of western Prince William County, is one of 32 Republicans the DNC is targeting.
Those are lawmakers who voted against the health care bill Nov. 7 but who also represent congressional districts President Barack Obama carried last year.
DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said in a prepared statement that the legislators thought it was risky politically to vote for the bill but that the real "peril" came in "siding with big insurance companies and voting against reform."
"These representatives are failing at their most basic responsibility: advocating for what's in the best interests of their constituents," Woodhouse said Monday. "As health care costs continue to rise, and their voters seek the change they voted for in 2008, these Republicans have instead sided with the health insurance industry and the status quo on health care."
The DNC's commercial mentions the telephone number for the Capitol switchboard and tells constituents in Virginia's 10th District to contact Wolf.
"Congressman Wolf voted against ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, against reining in skyrocketing premiums and against expanding health coverage to more Americans," it says. "Congressman Wolf joined Republicans in Washington and voted against real reform. He stood with the health insurance industry instead of us."
Wolf's chief of staff declined to comment on the commercial when contacted Tuesday.
Locally, GOP Rep. Robert J. Wittman, who represents southern Prince William, also voted against the heath care bill. Democrat Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly, the area's other House member, voted for it.
Activists and groups on both sides of the health care divide have been vocal over the past few days. They've been thanking some lawmakers for their votes and criticizing others for theirs.
Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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