Wisconsin Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Rebecca Kleefisch disclosed this week that she underwent an operation to remove colon cancer during the late stages of the primary race, and she is now using her experience in the campaign to criticize Democrat Tom Barrett’s support of national health care reforms.
Kleefisch, 35, told WISN-Channel 12 that she began feeling sick in August and eventually was diagnosed with colon cancer. Kleefisch, a former reporter at Channel 12, said the operation was performed by Dr. Kirk Ludwig, of Froedtert Cancer Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
In an e-mail to campaign supporters today, Kleefisch said, “I’m telling you because perhaps you’ve been touched by cancer. If you have, you know that the stories of hope, of beating it, are the ones you hold on to. Just like my doctor awakened me with a story of hope, I hope you will share my story with someone who needs it. My story also illustrates how dire my future might have been if we had socialized medicine. What if the government had told me I had to wait in a 6 month line to get a CT scan? Or that I couldn’t have Dr. Ludwig perform the surgery? That’s unacceptable to me and my family.
So please hug your family tonight and be thankful for your blessings. I have a renewed gratefulness for each day. And please join me in fighting for healthcare reform that keeps us in charge of our choices. After a hard-fought primary and cancer, Tom Barrett doesn’t seem very scary.”
In response to the news about Kleefisch’s health, Barrett issued the following statement: “We wish Rebecca a fast and complete recovery, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Kleefisch family.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker will appear with his running mate this afternoon as she kicks off a statewide “Small Business Jobs Tour.”
– BizTimes Milwaukee
