The Steve Black Campaign Responds to BSB
Reprinted with permission by Mary Huttlinger, Steve Black for Congress campaign manager.
Jerid – I am responding to your post today online ”OH-2: WTF!?!? Candidate Black donated to Mary Taylor, Greg Hartmann, Bob Taft, Ken Blackwell...
It is no secret that Steve Black used to be a Republican and vote for Republicans. His primary reason for supporting Republicans was for their stance on government spending – he felt and still does that the government should raise as much in tax revenue as it spends, that the tax law should be simpler and less cumbersome, and that the wealthy should pay their fair share.
It is also no secret that during the Bush administration he has become completely disillusioned with the Republican Party.
Steve Black’s admiration for the Democrat Party increased as a result of some of the Clinton Administration’s successes such as the budget surpluses of the late 1990's and the progressive social legislation, such as the Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA ) and the increase in Head Start funding by 20%.
Steve Black’s disdain for the Republican Party was a product of the Bush Administration’s failings . The war in Iraq never should have happened . The increase in the national debt and the current budget deficit are irresponsible . Our country’s educational system was dealt a blow with the unfunded No Child Left Behind Act.
Like many Republicans and Independents, Steve Black became further and further frustrated with President Bush and the former Republican -controlled Congress . He is much more at home and in synch with the Democratic Party.
I am surprised that people in the Democratic Party are not more welcoming to an individual who clearly shares OUR values and beliefs that protect our families, educate our children, safeguard our workers, tend to our elderly, and provide opportunity, equally for everyone.
Give him time – he will be rolling out positions on many important issues in the weeks to come.
And just for the record I think you should be aware of the amount of Steve Black 's contributions over the past three years . They clearly reflect the story of his growing support of Democrats and his commitment to our community and his waning support for Republicans. It is only fair that you report the whole story.Contributions Republican Democratic Non-Profit Causes
2005 100.00 150.00 15,407.00
2006 1450.00 1600 .00 21,911.00
2007(to date) 0 3275.00 Not determined
In a mea culpa spin job, why would you say this
I am surprised that people in the Democratic Party are not more welcoming to an individual who clearly shares OUR values and beliefs that protect our families, educate our children, safeguard our workers, tend to our elderly, and provide opportunity, equally for everyone.
I wouldn't make my candidate look like he thinks your being a jerk by being upset by this. A more appropriate response would have been something more like.
"Mr. Black understands the concerns of Democrats. As you will see in the following weeks as we unveil several policy initiatives he is a true-blue Democrat who is excited to earn your vote in May.
How dare I question a candidate for my party's nomination's commitment to my party based on his financial support of our opponents as recently as last year?
Mary, during the Clinton Administration, your candidate wrote checks to support the election of Republican federal candidates only. This seems to fly in the face of your assertion that Stephen admired the Democratic Party because of the Clinton Administration while he was writing checks to elect Bob Taft, Joe Deters, Ken Blackwell, and Betty Montgomery and while supporting Elizabeth Dole for President and a Republican congressional candidate in Virginia!
I'm skeptical that his conversion was that long ago even more so since his check-writing for Republicans continued through last year's primary.
I'll also be looking forward to explaining how he goes from donating to Wulsin's campaign right before the election to now saying she's "too extreme" of a candidate.
He's non-profit support is admireable, but not really relevant to this discussion. I couldn't help but notice that his last minute $58k check to his own campaign right before the filing deadline could mean that he cares more about making his own campaign fundraising look good than anything else since it's substantially more than his lifetime of political and non-profit donations combined.
I could say that, but how dare I?
"I am surprised that people in the Democratic Party are not more welcoming to an individual who clearly shares OUR values and beliefs that protect our families, educate our children, safeguard our workers, tend to our elderly, and provide opportunity, equally for everyone. "
Exactly how has Stephen Black made that clear? Seriously, my wife and I just had our first baby, so I've been a lil' AWOL. When did he do that exactly?
Especially when it's followed by the contradictory statement:
"Give him time – he will be rolling out positions on many important issues in the weeks to come."
So it's clear to everyone, except when "everyone" means everyone outside of the Steve Black campaign, apparently.
So, if Black "shares OUR values" and believes in "equally for everyone," then why do Black's supporters seem to consistently argue that Wulsin is "too extreme" because of her support of gay marriage? Does Black support giving homosexuals the right to marry and adopt? If not, does he really support OUR values?
And pardon me, but the statement that he supported Republicans because he believes that the wealthy should pay their fair share in a simplier, less cumbersome tax law screams: STEVE FORBES FLAT TAX.
Does Stephen Black support replacing the progressive income tax with a regressive flat tax? Does that support OUR values? Would he support the expiration, repeal, or reduction of the Bush tax cut for top bracket of income supporters or did he vote for Bush based on his tax cut policies. This statement would seem to suggest the latter over the former.