Press Releases

Van Hollen�s Statement on RNC Chair Steele�s Comments, Calling Ted Kennedy Letter a �Political Tool�

DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in response to Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele calling President Obama's use of Senator Edward Kennedy's letter in his joint address to Congress a ‘political tool'.

"Last night, President Obama called on us to replace acrimony with civility, yet Republican Chairman Steele's outlandish comments only serve to increase the acrimony and deny the American people the substantive debate on health insurance reform that this critical challenge merits.

"The late Senator Kennedy devoted his life to reforming health care in America and he would have been proud of President Obama's eloquent call for action last night. Michael Steele's time would be better spent condemning Congressman Joe Wilson's outrageous outburst, rather than further poisoning the political discourse by attacking the heartfelt intentions of a dedicated American who spent his life working on health care reform."

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