Butler County Lincoln Day Dinner

From the Hamilton Journal-News:

America is at war for the soul of the country, according to former Congressman and FOX News host John Kasich, keynote speaker at this year's Lincoln Day dinner.

A message many heralded as "inspirational," Kasich warned that the greatest fight the United States currently faces is from within to the audience of 500 that included many state and local officeholders.

"Great civilizations get in trouble because there's a decay on the inside," he said. "I believe the greatest battle we face in this country is for the soul of our nation."

Kasich was introduced by U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., as a rumored "candidate for state governor," a rumor Kasich did not dispel at the annual Butler County Republican Party dinner and awards ceremony.

"If I were Gov. (Ted) Strickland, I'd be worried," said county Commission President Gregory Jolivette.

"He has everything that's hard to find in a politician today. No. 1 being honesty" said Fairfield Mayor Ron D'Epifanio.

Previously hosted in Sharonville, the event returned to Butler County this year at the Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield.

"We are back home again after many years, and that's where we're going to stay," said the local GOP Executive Chairman Tom Ellis.

I was not in attendance because paying that kind of money is just crazy...even though the county party needs the cashola to pay off the bill for their massive palatial estate they call a headquarters...