Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, has accused the National Republican Congressional Committee of trying to discredit him with “sly, underhanded” references to his condition after an NRCC spokesman sent out an e-mail calling him an “amnesiac.”
Andy Seré, a regional spokesman for the NRCC, sent out an e-mail statement Monday referring to “amnesiac John Spratt,” whose “memory is failing him – and the congressman is failing South Carolinians as a result.”
The e-mail also said “Spratt can’t even recall what Obamacare does,” and described how he is “clumsily” attacking State Sen. Mick Mulvaney (R), who’s challenging Spratt in his bid for re-election.
It continued: “Now – worst of all – it seems he’s completely forgotten who he works for (hint: they’re the same folks who elected him).”
When he announced his battle with Parkinson’s on March 30, Spratt also filed for re-election to the House for a 15th term.
In a statement released Tuesday in response to the NRCC’s e-mail, Spratt called the talk of amnesia “beneath contempt,” and a “sly, underhanded reference to the fact that I am in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.”
He defended his decision to run, citing his doctor’s evaluation which did “not include any loss of mental capacity, and especially amnesia.”
“There are many reasons to run again,” said Spratt. “But I would never consider it if I did not have the energy, motivation, and mental ability to do this job, and do it well.”
For his part, Seré told Politico that the NRCC was in no way questioning Spratt’s ability to serve: “We think he’s too effective. He’s done a remarkably effective job at pushing the Obama agenda through Congress.”
As TPMDC previously reported, Seré was scrutinized in December for apparently using anti-gay innuendo to attack Tennessee House candidate Roy Herron (D).
