Paging Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin Dewine...
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 3:10pm.
As we consider the trainwreck that has been the Kevin Coughlin for Governor campaign rollout, I wanted to remind everyone what Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine promised upon his recent election:
As part of his plan to lead his party back into power, DeWine announced his "Leading Ohio: A Blueprint for GOP Victory" # 10 item on that list is:
10. Enforce a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct
Our party historically upheld the highest standard for ethics and morality in government, but most voters know us better for our hypocrisy. Not an election goes by without a major scandal involving a prominent Republican figure.
We cannot continue to campaign on a higher standard of government if we fail to uphold it, so we must adopt a zero tolerance policy for any candidate or elected official who crosses the line.
I love any plan for victory that concedes that your party cannot go a single election with a major scandal involving a prominent Republican figure.
So..... here's the first test of DeWine's new "zero" tolerance policy.
What will DeWine do about Coughlin's unethical and probably illegal use of his State office to conduct political activity?
It's. Against. The. Law.
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 3:49pm.
It's just that simple. It's illegal, it's unethical. If he shares your viewpoint that there's nothing wrong with this, then he could introduce a bill to repeal those laws and rules making this illegal. I know of some available officespace where he could even draft such legislation.
Sorry, but this is a big deal. It's boneheaded stupidity, criminal and unethical activity all rolled into hubris.
Sorry, but I don't agree
Submitted by AmberCat on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 6:33pm.
you know if it were a Democrat this would be all over the front page of tomorrow's Plain Dealer. Technically speaking, Taft's illegal gifts didn't "cost the taxpayer" anything, and certainly marc dann having an affair with an aide didn't either. So what? Meanwhile, the real screwing up of the GOP — Montgomery and Petro turning a blind eye to their campaign contributors robbing the state blind — doesn't get any attention because somehow, what they do is not technically criminal. (As Betty Montgomery so famously said "If I'm guilty of anything, I'm guilty of doing nothing." And apparently you can't get someone for NOT doing their job, no matter how much it "costs the taxpayers.").
Besides, where do you draw the line? YOU might not mind that he shot the commercial in his office, but where do you stop using the perks of your position to give you an edge over your competitors. It's ILLEGAL. Period. I should also point out that Coughlin has not been reluctant to accuse HIS opponents of illegality that didn't cost the state anything, with wild charges in instances about 1,000 times more trivial than this.
It was
Submitted by Himself on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 9:34am.
Amber,
You're forgetting Ray Miller who was slapped for use of a Senate employee and state offices for his re-election campaign. I'd have to check to see what the sanction was, but it was all over Central Ohio media.
This led to further scrutiny of his campaign finance reports and we haven't heard yet what the disposition of those numerous seeming illegalities will be.
Honestly this isn't a scandal