Updated

Republican Policy Committee Chair Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R- Mich., likened the upcoming bipartisan health care summit to a ShamWow infomercial today and urged his GOP colleagues not to attend Thursday's meeting at the Blair House.

The Michigan Congressman said the president does not have consent of the American public to forge ahead with a government-run health care overhaul "Designed to obfuscate this truth and devoid of any attempt to establish a shared, bi-partisan principle for reform, the Obama Administration's summit constitutes a ShamWoW! infomercial for incrementally socialized medicine," in a statement released today.

McCotter noted that Democrats and Republicans differ on principles of reform. Republicans want a free market system, Democrats prefer a government-centric health care.

His statement concludes "With due respect for the President and ultimate respect for the American people, the Republican leadership has no choice. It must NOT accept the administration's disingenuous summit invitation to 'negotiate'."