Ohio Dems: Congressmen for Sale? Maybe

In the last election cycle, Ohio Democrats had a lot of fun by accusing Republicans of what they called "pay-to-play" politics. Marc Dann was especially good at it...and is especially good at practicing it now that he is in office. But there is a growing amount of evidence that perhaps freshman Congressmen Zach Space and Charlie Wilson just might be a pay-to-players as well.

On that horrible Farm Bill was an amendment from Charlie Rangel that would have lifted the embargo on Cuba. In an article from The Hill, we learn that Zach Space received contributions from an anti-Cuba PAC (U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC) and the amendment went down in falmes:

Fifty-two of the 66 Democrats who voted against Rangel’s amendment have received one or more contributions from the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC since the beginning of the 2007-2008 cycle, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

It has given $56,000 to 22 Democratic freshmen this year, and 17 of those freshmen voted against Rangel’s amendment. The giving began during the run-up to the 2006 election. Freshman Reps. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), Phil Hare (D-Ill.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Zack Space (D-Ohio) and Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio) received donations before they were elected, and all but Giffords voted against Rangel’s amendment.

Emphasis added.

Charlie Wilson is on the record as saying that "So called 'free trade' is not fair to Ohio workers. (Sep 2006)" and strongly opposes free trade. He has no other record on Cuban issues than his vote against the Rangel amendment so we can't draw a conclusion yet as to whether or not the PAC money bought his vote.

Zach Space is on record as saying that the "Loss of jobs overseas is serious, long term threat" so he's not a free trader either. Has he been influenced by PAC money to come to this conclusion? Insufficient evidence here...

Let's move on to MoveOn.org...

As we all know, MoveOn.org got a sweetheart deal from 527 Media outlet the New York Slimes Times to run a nasty smear on General Petreaus. The Senate voted to condemn MoveOn.org for the stunt, but the Democrat leadership of the House lacks the courage to vote on the issue because their masters have spoken. We do, however, have some clue about how Zach Space would have voted. His staff said that they wouldn't have used that language but wouldn't condemn MoveOn.org either.

Zach Space received $170,158.40 from MoveOn.org. Think that might have bought them some love? I think so... Space ranks in at #5 on the list of top twenty reasons why Speaker of State Nancy Pelosi choose not to bring the issue up in the House.

Over in the Senate, Sherrod Brown voted against condemning MoveOn.org because he received a boat load of cash. My fellow State of Ohio Blogger Alliance colleagues Puddle Pirate at Brain Shavings and Brian at One Oar... have been covering that story.

Bottom line? It sure looks like the Ohio Democrats are for sale and that pay-to-play culture is alive and well...just under new management.