The conservative PAC American Action Network accidentally ran ads praising Republican lawmakers for repealing the Affordable Care Act. The ads aired hours after the measure failed in the House. Screen shot courtesy American Action Network via YouTube

March 25 (UPI) -- Basketball fans in several conservative-leaning parts of the country were witness to a political air ball after a conservative group accidentally ran ads during the NCAA Tournament on Friday thanking Republican lawmakers for passing a healthcare bill.

The problem, of course, was the Republican legislation didn't pass.


The ads were created by the American Action Network, a conservative political action committee. They were produced and scheduled to run as part of a victory lap after House leaders and President Donald Trump planned to hold a much-anticipated vote to replace President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act with a Republican version of healthcare reform.

They appeared during commercial breaks on several networks airing the widely watched games of the Sweet 16.

The ads appeared in a handful of congressional districts where wavering lawmakers had been heavily courted by party leaders and Trump to support the legislation. Ultimately, after it became clear the effort would not pass, House Speaker Paul Ryan canceled the vote.

The ad lauds GOP lawmakers for "keeping their promise" to repeal Obamacare.