GOP Gutter Politics in OH Gubernatorial Race

[mod mom]

Gubernatorial campaign in gutter? E-mail suggests it is
GOP disavows anti-Strickland memo, but to a point
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Alan Johnson and Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Responding to what Democrats and a political expert alike are calling a smear campaign, the state Republican Party is verbally disavowing an e-mail sent by one of its staffers that makes personal allegations against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland and his wife.

But Republican party officials did not distribute a follow-up e-mail or take any other action to repudiate the e-mail, which suggests that the Stricklands are gay.

"Every time we think we’ve reached the sewer, there’s a lower level of sewer," said Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, who has written about dirty campaign strategies in both parties.

The e-mail, obtained by The Dispatch, was sent to an undisclosed group of GOP supporters — with instructions to forward it to others — by Gary Lankford, whom the party hired in July as its "social conservative coordinator." He was paid $16,000 as a "voter contact consultant" for the primary-election campaign of GOP gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell before taking the party job.

<SNIP>

http://www.ohioelects.com/?story=dispatch/2006/07/27/20060727-A1-03.html

[msongs]

1. confront blackwell and demand repudiation and acceptance of responsiblity

and remind voters the republicans have declared war on black people in an attempt to disenfranchise them.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/howarddean2008.htm

[partylessinOhio]

2. The Ohio Democratic Party should have ran a better candidate.

I won't vote for him. The man has no record and has been an invisible congressman. Who ever heard anything about him before he decided he should be a governor?

[sinkingfeeling]

4. So you're voting for Blackwell? Do you like is 'record' that much?

[partylessinOhio]

7. I would never vote for a Repuglican, no way! I won't vote for gov.

We are partyless in Ohio. We have no leadership. We are easy prey for the Repugs to stay in power for years.

[The Doctor.]

14. How foolish of you.

[WCGreen]

22. Second that remark....

I have lived in Ohio all my life and it is people who take their marbles and go home that have driven choices we have in elections to "one of the lesser evils"....

[truth2power]

8. Strickland is an excellent candidate...

I worked on Ted Strickland's first campaign, back in the 70s when he first ran for, I think it was State rep. He doesn't mention that on his website, that I could find, anyway. Ancient history, I suppose. I am sorry for my pathetic memory. :(

Ted is a GOOD person. And honest. This is from his campaign brochure:

"Believe me. If you learn anything from living in a chicken shack, it's that things can get better." - Ted Strickland

"'We were all safe, but the house and everything in it was lost. My folks had nothing. No shoes, no clothes, no insurance. Nothing, save nine kids.' When a fire destroyed their house, the Strickland family was forced to make a chicken shack their , until their father was able to convert their barn into a new house."

"The son of a steelworker and the eighth of nine children, Ted Strickland knows what it means to be an Ohioan. He grew up in rural Southern Ohio. And while his family was able to send him to college, it sure wasn't easy."

"After becoming a Methodist minister, an administrator at a children's home and a psychologist, Ted married Francis in 1987. He was elected to congress in 1992."

"In Congress, he has returned thousands in pay raises and continues to pay for his own health insurance until the people he represents have health care. He has opposed bad trade deals and tax breaks that send jobs overseas. Ted also voted against the war in Iraq and has led the fight to see that our troops have needed life-saving equipment and armor."

Maybe this sounds like a lot of hoo-hah, but I've typed it out because people need to know that we could finally get a person of integrity in the Governor's seat in Ohio, that is if Blackwell doesn't help steal the votes again.

...and nobody's paying me to write this. :)

[OzarkDem]

12. Agree, he's been doing great

Some of his campaign staffers leave a little to be desired, but Ted is a great candidate and will be a great governor.

I'm surprised at any Dem who would blame the Dem candidate for GOP dirty tricks. The GOP would do the same to Christ himself if he ran for office.

[OzarkDem]

13. This is just the beginning, but so what?

We'll see a lot more dirty campaigning here in Ohio before election day. It only shows the GOP is desperate. They're willing to do anything.

[theHandpuppet]

9. Well gee, I have

But then he's from Appalachian Ohio, so I guess he doesn't count, huh.

I may not agree with Strickland on all the issues, but to sit this out when your choice is between Blackwell and Strickland is simply mind-boggling.

A short profile of Ted Strickland, with links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Strickland

An excerpt:

Patrick J. Buchanan, the conservative columnist who challenged President Bush earlier in the year in the primaries, came to Ohio to campaign for McEwen as did Vice President Dan Quayle and Oliver North, but McEwen never recovered from the primary challenge and was narrowly defeated by Strickland in the general election on November 3, 1992. Strickland received 122,720 votes to McEwen's 119,252, a plurality of only 3,468. "I think McEwen's loss was a case of bounced checks and some arrogance," said Alfred Tuchfarber, a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati who runs the Ohio Poll. "He just had a certain personal arrogance about him that didn't go down well in a poor district."

Strickland said "I ran against Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan, the National Rifle Association and Right-to-Life. They threw everything at me. I'm just so happy I beat back those guys. I think they're so divisive." Strickland began serving in 1993 (103rd Congress).

Strickland's congressional voting record can be reviewed here:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001004/votes/

Not a perfect candidate but sure beats Ken Blackwell by light years!!!!!

[we can do it]

16. So - You'd Rather Help Blackwell Win By Not Voting ??! WTF

That's using your head.....

:yoiks:

[OhioBlue]

19. are you kidding me?????!!!

you won't vote for him? wtf??? you would rather have Blackwell? Because that is exactly what your "non vote" says to me. And... they should have run a better candidate??? Strickland is ahead by 20 points in the most recent Dispatch poll... looks like he's a pretty good candidate to me, plus I've had the opportunity to listen to him and meet him twice. Trust me. He is exactly what Ohio needs. He absolutely deserves our vote. Not to mention I'd vote for a Petro or Montgomery over Blackwell.

Even if you haven't "connected" with Strickland, for crying out loud... not to vote against Blackwell? Do you know what kind of misery his policies will bring to our State? You've seen what Voinovich/Taft have left us with... trust me... it will be 100 times worse with Blackwell. His own SOS office if incompetent, lazy and slow - not to mention engrossed with pay-to-play.

Strickland is soooooo much better for our State... how could you not vote for him? He vows to make renewable energy, job creation, education and health care priorities. He will have our backs on worker safety and livable wages. He IS the right person for this job right here and right now. Not only should you vote for him, you should grab a handful of his literature and encourage your family and friends to vote for him. It is absolutely about saving the future of our State. I'm done with the Republican corruption, back scratching, pay to play, reward the biggest campaign contributer BS. Let's get back to some competent, reasonable governance.

[Mz Pip]

3. That's the worst they can do?

They're gay. :eyes: Of course in conservative repug circles that might resonate, but those people wouldn't be voting for Strickland anyway.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[snowbear]

5. If Blackwell keeps tanking in the polls.. will he still Diebold it?

And if he "Diebolds it" will voters there FINALLY realize what's going on?

Ohio Governor: Strickland 47%, Blackwell 27%

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/12402

[DeepModem Mom]

6. K&R

[truth2power]

10. Sorry to be a pest, but...

I just didn't realize that Ted was unknown by some in Ohio.

There was a group of us who worked our butts off for his campaign in the late 70s. He was in the Portsmouth, OH area and would also have represented the Clermont County area. I doubt he'd remember me, or any of us for that matter. It's been 30 years. He lost that campaign and went on to other things.

But I can't emphasize strongly enough what an excellent Governor he'd make. It's not just because he's a Dem. I'm pretty sick of Dems, in general, these days. But this is someone Ohioans could be proud to claim. Wouldn't that be something!

[Mr_Spock]

15. "I'm pretty sick of Dems, in general, these days"

Why is that?

[truth2power]

18. Let's see...

Hillary. I wouldn't vote for her for dogcatcher. You'd think with her vast staff someone could craft a statement that was more even-handed in regards to the ME situation.

Obama saying we should cultivate the fundies or something like that. No thanks. Been there. Done that.

How many Dems do you think will vote to confirm that thug, Bolton. Yeah, they'll make a show of being opposed, but in the end, they'll cave.

Kerry - I worked Election Protection in '04 and observing vote recount in my county. Had to sign in under Cobb/Badnarik at BOE because the Dems didn't have their act together yet (early Dec). Where was Kerry?

On the local level we have an outstanding slate of Dems for local and regional offices this time around. I went to a rally a couple weeks ago. Much speechifying. Rah rah. Great! AS IF all we need to do is go vote. I tried to raise the issue of election fraud. Blank stares.

Most Dems not far enough left for me. If they're center-right I'm not interested. We're not going to get ourselves out of this mess with faux-republicans.

> > >

I'm really tired. Going to bed. This is kinda garbled but hits the high spots. :D

[Mr_Spock]

20. If I ever become so cynical

that I make broad & negative statements about my party of thousands based on the views of a few, shoot me between the eyes.

[truth2power]

21. I stand by what I said...

Your mileage may vary, of course, as is your right.

[ray of light]

11. go to Ohio and help!!!

[femrap]

17. Gary Lankford...the spewer of hate and lies is the

headmaster of a Christian home school. Maybe we should find out which one and see if he's teaching his students to lie.

These pugs are pure slime.