Ohio: A Republican Slugfest (OH governor's race: Blackwell vs. Petro)

[Amaryllis]

Ohio: A Republican Slugfest
Format for printing
Submitted by Larry A. Sakin on Wed, 03/22/2006 - 17:52.

BY PAT DENINO: ELECTIONS 101

The big interest in Ohio at this time is the Republican slugfest over who will represent the party in the race for governor. J. Kenneth Blackwell, currently Secretary of State, is probably best remembered for his partisan stance in (not) working fairly with the those who had questioned and challenged voting procedures in the 2004 presidential election. Attorney General Jim Petro, also running, has been attacked severely by Blackwell's campaign, and the attack has drawn condemnation from the Ohio GOP chairman. Those of us of a more progressive persuasion are, of course, delighted.

As a review, when the 2004 presidential election results looked a little strange, recount teams were trained and sent out to examine the voting records, a legal procedure protected by law. In at least one case, Blackwell locked down the records from public viewing, thus thwarting the legally protected efforts of the recount teams. He also refused to appear at a deposition which was part of an election challenge lawsuit filed at the Ohio Supreme Court. There is much more, and this link is a good summary of the misdeeds here in Ohio.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010605Y.shtml

I watched an interview on ONN, our Ohio news station, with the campaign chairmen for both Blackwell and Petro. The Blackwell ad that drew such ire from the party tried to align Petro with the scandals that have recently plagued Ohio politics. In addition, the Blackwell camp stated that Jim Petro was being investigated by the FBI. Was he? The interviewer asked for verification, but the only thing the Blackwell spokesman could say was that "he read it in all the newspapers."

For the rest:
http://www.principlesproject.org/node/3665

[AndyTiedye]

1. Blackwell Could Very Well Be Your Next Governor :barf:

[nicknameless]

2. Here's hoping Petro smacks down Blackwell.

Blackwell seems like such a coward. How difficult would it be to get him to rat out rethug activities in Ohio?
Bet he'd sing like a canary.