PX: Jerry Springer compares 'Trumpcare' to 9/11

Politics Extra is a Sunday column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics. It occasionally appears at other times throughout the week.

Jerry Springer listens to a lot of outrageous comments on his sleazy, daytime television show – and now he's making one of his own.

In a full-page advertisement running in Tuesday's Enquirer print editions, Springer likens Congress' decision to repeal Obamacare to the 9/11 terrorists attacks. (That's Cincinnati Enquirer, not National Enquirer)

"Today's date will likely not be remembered as much as 9/11 ... and yet, what Congress did today will end up killing many more Americans than Osama bin Laden ever did," Springer wrote after last Thursday's approval of the new American Health Care Act.

The eight-paragraph "advertorial" continues: "With millions & millions of people facing now the reality of being dropped from insurance plans (unless the Senate defeats this), does anyone seriously believe that only 3,000 of them will die because they couldn't afford a doctor, or a treatment, or medicine or a hospital?"

Springer proceeds to refer to "Trumpcare" as an "act of war" because he says the new plan is "no less deadly and unconscionable, simply because the perpetrators of this legislative violence happen to be wealthy white men who reside in Washington."

Springer for gov? 'I could be Trump without the racism'

Did Springer forget to take a deep breath before hitting "send"?

In fairness, Springer certainly isn't the only person concerned about people dying in the wake of Congress' decision.

Springer's statement drew boos from Ohio Republican Party executive director Rob Secaur.

"Jerry Springer's impetuous likening of the (American) Health Care Act to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 is as detestable as it is wrong," he said in a statement. He said Republicans were working to replace the "disaster" of Obamacare.

The ad is paid for by The Jerry Springer Podcast, a weekly show Springer records in Northern Kentucky with long-time friend Jene Galvin.

Springer, 73, is highly engaged in politics. In the past year, he has been traveling to small towns and rural areas across Ohio speaking out against Trump and raising money for the Ohio Democratic Party. The former Cincinnati mayor also spoke to several state delegations at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last summer. Springer is scheduled to speak to union workers and Democratic leaders in Portsmouth at 5:30 p.m. today.

It's worth noting that Springer is not touring Ohio in hopes of jumping into the 2018 governor's race, insiders say. It had been rumored early this year he might jump into the race, but he told The Enquirer in February he had no plans to run for governor. Springer, however, did not rule out a return to politics.

Follow Enquirer political reporter Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy. Send tips, questions and comments to jwilliams@enquirer.com.