In what might be a new low in negative campaigning, even for Republicans, Curt Weldon has attacked Joe Sestak for sending his five year old daughter to be treated for a malignant brain tumor at Children’s Hospital of Washington.

Read below for Sestak’s official response and more.

He “suggested Sestak should have sent his daughter to a hospital in Philadelphia or Delaware, rather than the Washington hospital.” Geography and politics should be the last consderations in healthcare. Sestak was working at the Pentagon at the time and chose a hospital near to where he worked so that he could support his daughter though the treatment. To second guess a parent’s decision, which had the child’s best interests as the highest consideration, is one of the lowest attacks that has ever been leveled in the political arena. This move says alot about Weldon; the fact that he has to resort to the most disgusting type of negative campaigning rather than trying to make a positive contribution to the political arena this early in the campaign smacks of fear of loss and shows how this twenty year incumbent has little to offer other than conspiracy theories and negative attacks.

Congressman Weldon’s remarks to the Hill magazine in a story published this morning regarding my daughter Alex’s treatment are inappropriate. To imply, that I should have sent my daughter to a hospital in Delaware or Pennsylvania for political purposes is beyond the pale.

I understand the political arena. I knew that this campaign would thrust my family into the media spotlight and we are prepared for that. But I want to make it very clear to Congressman Weldon, that any remarks regarding my daughter, Alexandra’s, treatment will not be tolerated.

Like many families dealing with illness, we have had our challenges in the last year. Through the grace of God, the many prayers of our friends and family, and the wonderful doctors and nurses, we have made it through this experience with our daughter Alex, who continues to inspire us everyday.

Though we recognize the important work done by the many hospitals in and around Philadelphia, it was our personal choice to have Alex treated in Washington at the Children’s Hospital because of its outstanding work on pediatric brain tumors. This decision was based on many things – none of which were political.

This was our choice as Alex’s parents and as I have said publicly, I believe these medical choices should be left in the hands of parents and family members throughout the country and not in the hands of beauracrats, special interests and especially not in the hands of politicians like Curt Weldon.

This is one of the most dispicable examples of the politcs of personal destruction and it makes the swiftboat campaign look like friendly criticism. For more information goto Atrios.