Former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., talks about her vote for Obamacare in a new ad as video rolls of the Arizona Democrat walking and talking with doctors and nurses. About halfway through the thirty-second spot, Kirkpatrick stops to chat with convincing-looking medical professional.
But there is a problem – it looks like the campaign couldn’t page a doctor so they dressed a staffer in some scrubs, wrapped a stethoscope around his neck, and pushed him in front of the camera for a good visual. The actor/staffer is Matt Lubisich and, based on his social media presence, he probably has no business performing medical procedures on anyone in real life.
A review of the aide’s online resume reveals a smart and ambitious politico with a congressional internship under his belt, a student body presidency to his name, and a brand new degree in political science from the University of Arizona. He has been knocking on doors for Kirkpatrick as she mounts a bid to return to Congress, this time as the representative from Arizona’s Second Congressional District.
Because she switched districts after giving up her first district seat in 2016, Kirkpatrick has faced the regular carpetbagging accusations, and this casting gaffe won’t help. Despite the endorsement of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Kirkpatrick is in a tight primary race.
Her competition? Matt Heinz, a former state rep and real doctor who has practiced real medicine as a real physician at Tucson Medical Center since 2003.
Kirkpatrick shouldn’t feel too bad, though. She isn’t the first to use staffers as stand-ins. One of GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock’s top challengers got busted in Virginia in June for a campaign ad that featured political aides dressed as cops. At least Kirkpatrick didn’t ask her staff to impersonate law enforcement.
The Kirkpatrick campaign did not return multiple requests inquiring about the medical training of the young aide.
