UPDATE: State Rep. Sheldon Wasserman appeared on my show this morning and repudiated the whispering campaign and put out this statement afterward (it has a VERY different tone from the statement attributed to him yesterday.)

I had no part in the spreading of this rumor about Senator Darling’s health, and I would NEVER make an individual’s personal health an issue in my campaign. I was not in the room when the accusations were made. In fact, this was the first announcement I have heard that she had breast cancer. I am happy to hear she is doing well and I wish her well in her continued recovery. As a Doctor, I have the utmost respect for the people who battle and beat life threatening illness, and I will repudiate anyone who makes it an issue in this campaign.”

***

f this is true, it is one of the most despicable -- and stupid -- smears in local political history.

Senator Darling puts out press release charging her opponents with waging a "negative smear campaign spreading lies about Darling's health."

“It has come to my attention that Sheldon Wasserman’s campaign has been complicit in spreading a lie that I have been ‘struggling with health problems.’

“For Sheldon Wasserman, a doctor, to allow lies to be spread about the health of a 63-year-old breast cancer survivor and imply I’m unfit to run for office is a real slap in the face to women my age and to cancer survivors. He’s shown a complete lack of ethical standards, yet I continue to pledge to not stoop to such personal attacks.

“Milwaukee Magazine recently published unsubstantiated gossip from an un-identified source that I am ‘struggling with health problems.’ The editor later acknowledged the failure to back up this claim and has printed a statement pointing out the mistake.

“Democrat Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker publicly spread this lie while promoting Sheldon Wasserman and his campaign to a gathering of Madison lobbyists on April 2. Yesterday, Wasserman’s Senate Democrat Campaign Committee further perpetuated this lie by stating to the media that ‘Senator Darling no longer seems to be up to the task.’

“The truth is, I’m physically fit and in very good health, and I challenge anyone to keep up with my aggressive schedule meeting face-to-face with constituents. I’m going door-to-door in addition to attending community functions and meeting with people at numerous town hall meetings.

“As a doctor, one should expect Sheldon Wasserman to uphold an ethical standard to not allow lies to be spread about somebody’s health. This sort of gutter politics will be widely rejected by the good people residing in my district.

**

Wasserman offers no apology.