If you don't get health coverage, Dems will send you to jail

The attack ads are coming fast and furious now on both sides, with many of them passing entirely under the radar, so I hope you'll keep me posted on what you're seeing in your states and districts.

Check out this spot slamming Dem Rep Chris Murphy of Connecticut -- who's being challenged in a tough district by Republican Sam Caligiuri -- with the claim that health reform means "jail time for anyone without coverage."

The spot, which was sent in by an operative involved in the race, is the handiwork of American Action Network, another shadowy conservative group that has already spent $5 million this cycle:

The ad claims health reform means "$500 billion in Medicare cuts." But Politifact found that "the law does not take $500 billion out of the current Medicare budget."

The ad claims health reform means "thousands of new IRS agents." But Factcheck.org pronounced that assertion "wildly misleading."

As for the claim of "jail time for anyone without coverage," the original bill passed by the House did provide for possible criminal prosection of those who evade the tax imposed on those who don't get mandated coverage. But FactCheck.org says the Senate nixed that provision, and the final bill Obama signed said folks will not be subject to criminal prosecution.

All of which is to say -- again -- that the untold side of this story is that all this cash is funding a massive national campaign riddled with falsehoods and distortions. Let me know what else you're seeing -- on both sides.

UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: According to the Post's awesome campaign money tracker, which you really should check out, this group has already spent a surprising $485,000 targeting Murphy.

