Ohio Republican Party Jumps Shark

ORP FAILS TO ENDORSE JOHN BECKER

The Enquirer is reporting that the Ohio Republican Party has failed to endorse John Becker and two other area Republican state representatives because they DARE to hold the line on spending.

John Becker has done more for the Ohio Republican party than anybody I know. He has fought the good fight with friends in the Tea Party and other conservative groups that the ORP was an organization worth investing time and energy. His dedication to that cause is one of the reasons why WMD has restrained itself from completely and utterly abandoning any and all hope that the ORP could be reformed. All of that is nothing.

THIS is how the Ohio Republican Party rewards people who have differing views. Where's the 80% with us bullshit line now?

I had always suspected that Bill Batchelder was a tool. That he has allowed this nonsense confirms what I have always suspected. This guy is a loser and I'm grateful that he can do us no more damage thanks to term limits.

These idiots have even recommended endorsing Peter Beck. That dude is going to prison.

SERIOUSLY.

I can't stand this much Stupid.

Portman's Opportunism

Longtime readers of WMD know that my position on same sex marriage is that I oppose it while favoring civil unions. The reason I take the position that I do is that while I am a firm believer in the rights of individuals, I am also a staunch supporter of religious rights as well. Personally, I don't think government should be in the marriage business at all. I don't think there should be a "marriage penalty" when it comes to taxation. I don't believe that there should be a legal advantage or disadvantage to marriage. I think if two people want to establish a legal and binding relationship between themselves, that is okay by me...but don't call it marriage. Marriage has a religious connotation that government has absolutely no say in determining or establishing.

All of that brings us to Rob Portman's latest stunt to increase his name recognition and favorable polling numbers amongst a certain segment of the population. It is no secret among those who have followed Portman's career for any length of time that Rob doesn't do anything that he doesn't think will benefit his career. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that Will Portman went to Twitter to proclaim how proud he was of his father, I'm not entirely sure I would 100% believe that Rob has a gay son. That is just how opportunistic Portman is about his career, in my opinion. But don't take my word for it, here is what Michael Turk had to say:

In 2004 Portman supported a Constitutional ban on SSM; not just a ban against it. He wanted it enshrined in the Constitution. He has defended DOMA. In 2009, he opposed a law that would have allowed gay couples in DC the right to adopt. He has actively opposed gay rights for a decade at least. But then there is this:

“[W]hat happened to me is really personal. I mean, I hadn’t thought a lot about this issue. Again, my focus has been on other issues over my public policy career.”

Huh? You were that active in voting on an issue you really hadn’t thought a lot about? So your default position on issues you don’t think about is to deny people rights? Really?

Reconciling his past opposition to SSM and his current conversion is almost impossible. His explanation is that his son Will came out two years ago and that profoundly changed his mind.

But less than two years ago, at a speech to the University of Michigan law school, a full third of the school got up and walked out of his speech in protest of his positions on gay rights. That was, if his timeframe is to be accepted, after his son came out.

Granted I am a reliable cynic, but it seems to me that Portman, who is bandied about as a potential POTUS contender in 2016, is seeing the writing on the wall.

Turk goes on to describe some recent polling which states that nearly 70% of Republicans oppose gay marriage but notes that there is a strategy in which Portman's new found position on the subject could work to his advantage in a large field of candidates for President in the 2016 cycle.

Mark my words, THAT is what THIS is about. Portman sees what he thinks is the writing on the wall and wants to jump on that particular bandwagon and try to make it seem as if he is leading the charge. My guess is that once the "excitement" of this little media splash is over, the issue will go away for Rob until he sees another opportunity to exploit it for political gain.

The biggest problem that I have with Portman is that it appears there is nothing he won't sacrifice to the political gods if he can be seen to find some gain in doing so. What's next? What if little Sally decides to have an abortion? Can we count on Rob to not change his mind on being pro-life? What if his wife Jane, who used to work for Tom Daschle, decides that guns are icky? Can we count on Rob Portman's Second Amendment convictions?

These are all terrible things to contemplate, but since we have no idea who Rob Portman is going to be today let alone tomorrow, we HAVE to ask these questions. And more importantly, we HAVE to get answers to them. Portman has never lost an election, but I think he is going to find himself facing a serious challenge in his own backyard (Southwestern Ohio) if he can't convince people that he has principles and values that aren't subject to change due to personal situations. We don't elect leaders to represent themselves. We send them to Washington, Columbus, County and City Halls to represent US and OUR beliefs, not theirs.

SIDEBAR: BizzyBlog's Tom Blumer has been at the front lines of exposing Portman's opportunism for years...(here and here are two examples)

Portman Reacts to Senator Chuck Hagel’s Nomination To Secretary Of Defense

Release:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement reacting to Senator Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be the next Secretary of Defense:

“I am surprised and disappointed President Obama has chosen to move forward with Senator Hagel’s nomination given the significant concerns that both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have expressed about Senator Hagel’s positions and past votes on issues regarding some of our closest allies and most pressing national security threats. I believe Senator Hagel should get a fair look and an opportunity to defend his record, his past comments, and his current beliefs, but I don’t understand why the Administration is looking to pick yet another political fight instead of working with Congress to solve some of the very real problems we face as a country.”

Niehaus (He Retroactively Raised Our Taxes) Chickens Out Again

Release:

(Columbus) - Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (R- New Richmond) issued the following statement today regarding House Bill 125:

"I made a decision this week to end Senate consideration of House Bill 125. Unfortunately, certain proponents of the bill continue to bully members of my caucus into bypassing the committee process and bringing it directly to the Senate floor for a vote. This move would effectively shut down all public input and hearing on a bill that has been changed multiple times without a single hearing on its newly proposed content.

"A discharge petition to force a vote on such a controversial and potentially unconstitutional new law would completely defy the due process of the legislature. I have decided to move the bill back to the Senate Rules Committee, where it is required to sit for at least 30 days before a discharge petition can take effect.

"I respect the disappointment and appreciate the understanding of most in the pro-life community on this decision, and I will not allow the divisive tactics of a few radicals to distract from the important work we need to do in the remaining days of this General Assembly."

Nichols vs. Borges Followup: I Still Think the Appointment Is Stupid

From my state central committeeman, Scott Nichols:

This is a follow up on the appointment of Matt Borges
to the position of executive director of the ORP by Chairman Bennett.

After the release of yesterdays email I received both email and call from ORP executive director, Matt Borges. The conversation was very insightful and informative.

Mr. Borges informed me that he has been the target of the media for quite sometime and that the media is doing all it can to make it look like the ORP is fractured.

He discussed with me his work (one time only) for the Gay and Lesbian organization (where he felt it was legally necessary to register as a lobbyist) was over a proposed housing bill in the Ohio Congress. The organization was a client for the law firm Mr. Borges worked for. This law firm deals in public affairs and works with groups in a large spectrum of political positions on both sides of the aisle.. He met with Ohio GOP representatives to see what was in the upcoming bill and if this group could get a hearing on it.

The answer from the Ohio congress was no to the hearing and Mr. Borges filed his report to the organization. That was it. That is far from a lobbyist.

Now, you might say, Scott, you jumped into this with both feet and overreacted. Really?

I don't say that. I believe Mr. Nichols was on to something, but not just because Borges represented a gay group. I am thinking in terms of repercussions. But Mr. Nichols continues:

In my very short time with the ORP I have been blindsided multiple times already. This is just the latest occurrence.

As a SCC member representing four counties in SW Ohio it would be nice to not have to operate in a reactive mode all the time. It would be nice to have our leadership think carefully about fully vetting those they are consider hiring to keep these things to a minimum. An email on items of controversy to SCC members in advance would be helpful to keep us ahead of things. Even better, how about a committee of SCC members to interview these people first and then we vote on them?

No, Mr. Nichols, that would make too much sense and would lessen the influence of der chairman, Bob Bennett. Better to snap these decisions and then strong arm members into agreeing, rather than do the proper due dilligence.

As far Mr. Borges goes, I believe the damage is done here. In our short news cycle this will be yesterday's news. You will have to decide how you feel about this and make recommendations to the Chairman or simply forget about it.

The sad part to me is that once again I met a person in their late thirties who did not realize at the time he was working against conservative principles, even though he firmly believes himself to be conservative.

Hate to tell you, Scott, but the ORP offices are full of these people.

It is easy to say that since he is a lawyer he has to take this work. Really? When I asked if he would be fired he said he would not be most likely. Yet, he saw no issue on taking the work as a violation to conservative beliefs. Does that mean billable hours trump conservative values? I can't answer that for him but it seems we have a generational problem when money meets principles.


The ORP is split and the reason is we have many progressives in our party. Those many progressives do not even realize that they are so, and believe themselves to be conservatives.

Until we establish leadership that will stand hard against progressives, and their creeping agenda, too many will once again stay home and not vote.

America is @70% conservative in their beliefs, yet less than 50% show up to vote in presidential elections. 1/3 now consider themselves independent with no party and growing.

The Tea Party grew massively because it proudly pronounced just three conservative values. They continue to have a huge effect on voter turnout. Why? They do not play the middle of the road and people respond to that. That is what they are looking for. The ORP needs to learn this and the victories will follow for many years.


Sincerely,

Scott A. Nichols
Senate District 14

Mr. Nichols may have backed off on Borges but I do not. Matt may be a good guy, but his short time even as a proposed appointment has been a lightning rod. CCV is having a fit. Other groups that have been strongly GOP are pulling away. And for what? So Bobby Bennett gets one of his guys in as executive director who happens to be a kasich guy. Not worth the trouble.

With Class, Santorum Bows Out....Leaving Two Straw Men and Newt...and a Kook

With characteristic class and dignity, Rick Santorum suspended his campaign for President today. Santorum went from being a long shot and afterthought to being one of the last men standing for the GOP nomination. In the end, the idiotic war on women meme and the mischaracterization of a fight for religious freedom being about choice, did him in. Also, his daughter has had quite a battle with health problems, as well as being savaged in the no class Mainstream Media and pop culture elite. God bless Senator Santorum and his family. Here is the statement from RickSantorum.com:

Thank you. For your support, for your encouragement, and for your prayers for our family, especially Bella. You may have heard that we were able to bring her home from the hospital last night.

She has pneumonia, but like her Dad, she's a fighter. It's in the blood.

Today I announced that I am suspending my campaign for the President of the United States. This has been one of the hardest decisions Karen and I have ever had to face together. And it has been hard in large measure because of you. I know that my candidacy has offered you a way to fight for your convictions, and I do not want to let you down.

Since I first ran for Congress in a Democrat-majority district in Pittsburgh, I have fought for struggling families. I have fought for the unborn. I have fought for those losing hope in the American Dream.

And during this Presidential race we have fought hard. Together. You have been with me every step of the way. Every volunteer, donor, friend and family has given sacrificially of their time and their treasure. We are humbled and thankful.

We literally started this campaign in our kitchen with family and a few friends. The way that you make decisions. We believe America is the land of opportunity, and decided to do what we can to protect the hope that our forefathers sacrificed to give us a future for our children. A future of freedom secured through our sacrifices today.

Over 160,000 of you contributed to the campaign. Like you have for your children, we have sacrificed almost everything we have to ensure that this hope and dream is not lost with another four years under Barack Obama. Our average donation has been only $73.10. Few races in history have so many people give so modestly to preserve liberty.

We have been outspent in most states 5-1 or even 10-1. And we still won, or we've come incredibly close. Iowa and the three-state sweep. An over 20-point win in Louisiana. Only a few votes short of victory in Michigan and Ohio. We have made history. There has been no other Presidential comeback race like ours.

Our good friends in Texas have been working non-stop to make sure that they have a say in the choice of our nominee, but without the state changing its delegate allocation to winner-take-all, I do not see a path forward that does not risk our shared objective of defeating Barack Obama in November. I want to thank them for their valiant efforts.
From the start of this race I have offered a unique voice in the debate. One that the party and the country needs to hear. I have been your voice. I have been positive. I have been willing to stand for issues that some believe are controversial and would prefer to sweep under the rug.

We have carried the torch. High. Together we have fought for the principles that this country was founded on; that made this country great. Without fighting for them, this country cannot continue to be great.

And we have fought fair. I am proud of the race we have run. We talked issues. We avoided character attacks. We have run almost entirely positive ads.When I ran for the Senate in 1994 and defeated a sitting incumbent Senator, I asked the people of Pennsylvania to Join the Fight. They did.

I know you will. God bless you, and please keep us in your prayers. And know that we keep you in ours.

Santorum was also done in by a ruthless opponent who uses the same tactics as the Left, as well as lots of cash. Let's hope that now the Mittster can quit savaging and bloodying his friends and focus on his enemies.

Unfortunately, the Republican establishment wins again. We conservatives are left with supporting Mitt or allowing Obama to destroy our country with another term. Once again, we are left with pale pastels, not bold colors. However, there is a key difference. We know that Barack Obama wants to destroy our country as it is. Obama thinks our Foundnig was flawed, that our system is wrong. He wants to turn us into the EU. I do not believe Mitt Romney wants that. I, for one, will put my personal distaste and such aside for the good of our country, hoping that the push right that Cain, Gingrich, and Santorum gave to Romney will not wear off like an Etch A Sketch. That, my friends, is what we the people are for, to hold our leaders feet to the fire. That is what we must do in the days ahead. After all, it is not just an election. It is the future of our country.

Tool of the Day

How insecure do you have to be to post a picture of yourself on your website receiving an award FOR SOMEONE ELSE???

Jeff Wyrick (left) is NOT Scott Lepsky (named on said award)

Hey Jon Husted, Most People Say Voter ID is Needed....

Hey Mr. Secretary of State, you who changed and flip flopped on voter ID, guess what? Once again, you are on the wrong side of an issue. From Rasmussen

Attorney General Eric Holder signaled last week that the Justice Department will be closely examining new state laws that require showing a photo ID before voting for potential racial bias, but voters nationwide overwhelmingly favor such a requirement and reject the idea that it is discriminatory.

Seventy percent (70%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe voters should be required to show photo identification such as a driver’s license before being allowed to cast their ballot. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% oppose this kind of requirement.

Wow, Mr. Tea Party Values, you are on the same side as Eric Holder, the guy in charge of a department that let guns go across the border which have killed hundreds of civilians and at least two federal agents...how does that make you feel?

We need voter ID. Nuff said.

Chris Christie on Newt Gingrich: Pot talks about Kettle.

You know, at one time, I kind of liked Chris Christie. He helped fix New Jersey, took on the teacher unions, and seemed to be an average guy. Well, he has shown now he is more of a political hack and squish. First, there was the love affair Ann Coulter had for him, and his yes I'm in, no I'm out crap every other week. Now, he is talking about Newt Gingrich like Newt is....Chris Christie. What I mean is, an attention seeking, self promoting blowhard. Today on Scarborough:

The guest panelist here was TIME Magazine senior political analyst Mark Halperin, and he said to Governor Christie, "What have you heard from your fellow Republican governors and other leading Republicans at what would happen if Newt Gingrich were at the top of the ticket?"

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

CHRISTIE: I think that the problem for us if Speaker Gingrich were at the top is that the election would be about Speaker Gingrich and not about the president. And I think as Republicans, this election has to be first and foremost about the president. And I think this Speaker just can't help himself but to make himself the center of attention all the time with the comments that he makes. And as a result, even though while some of his ideas I think are fine, I think some of them aren't, and in the end, he's gonna carry so much of that into election that, you know, the election's gonna be about Newt Gingrich and I don't think that's a good thing for our party.

Chris Christie thinks, like most moderates and blue blood Republicans, that if we elect a bland empty suit, then no one will talk bad about him. How is that working for President McCain or former President Dole, eh? Not so good, huh? Moderates just don't get it. You could nominate Mother Teresa as a candidate, and the media and the left would disparage her.

And for Chris Christie to disparage someone on the basis of seeking attention? You sanctimonious hypocrite, look in the mirror! And, STFU! Stay out of it, clown! You didn't have the stones in the end to run for the big job, so STFU!

It will not matter who the candidate is. The media and the left will try to make it not about Obama and more about the GOP candidate. That is what they always do. Look at 1980 and every election since. They stop talking about, when a dem is the incumbent, how sucky the economy is as soon as the GOP contender is chosen. They did it in 1980, and they are going to do it for Carter 2.0, aka Obama. Doltish, idiotic, squish blue blood elitist gopers.

By the way, the supposed conservative Christie has endorsed the godfather of obamacare, Mitt Romney, to be the GOP nominee.

Wenstrup Doesn't Get His Pro Abort Excuse Timeline Right....

Per Fact Checking Sources I have found...

In his attack letter against Jean Schmidt, good ol Dr. Wenstrup says he only voted to give a grant to Planned Parenthood because no one else was going to offer AIDS screening as they were....WRONG-O!

Early March, Stop AIDS was told by officials at the Ohio Department of Health that it would not receive a $715,000 grant by the end of the month. Stop AIDS needed the grant as of April 1 or have to terminate its case worker program. The HIV positive people served by Stop AIDS will be quickly transitioned to a new agency in the area and not be affected by the change, said House. Stop AIDS failed to pay federal payroll tax of about $125,000 in 2008 and 2009 calendar years.

March 17, 2011
Stop AIDS case management funding shifted to Caracole
Funding for Stop AIDS Cincinnati case managers will be redistributed to Caracole, a Cincinnati nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to people living with HIV/AIDS. Case managers help clients obtain affordable medication (and manage the mountain of paperwork that comes with it), maintain their health and utilize other services like temporary housing.

May 24, 2011 meeting, the Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention. Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood. Board of Health members who voted to give taxpayer money to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, included Dr. Brad Wenstrup.





Two months prior to Brad voting to give $85,000 In taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood the Ohio Department of Health shifted the funding to Caracole.

OOOPS! Brad's excuse for blood testing to give money to Planned Parenthood just went out the window....

Is there no depth he will not descend to in order to try to fool Oh-2 voters he is a "strong conservative" who is "pro-life"?

While Wenstrup Gives Grants to Child Rape Cover Up Artists at Planned Parenthood.....

Jean Schmidt is recognized as actually being pro life:

Rep. Schmidt praised for perfect voting record on pro-family issues

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt has been named a “True Blue Member” of Congress for her perfect voting record in favor of pro-family and pro-life issues.
Representative Schmidt scored 100 percent on recorded votes in the first session of the 112th Congress, according to Family Research Council Action and CitizenLink. She was one of only 54 of the 435 House members to receive a perfect score. Of the 18 House members from Ohio, Congresswoman Schmidt was one of just four to score 100 percent.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, commended Congresswoman Schmidt and the other True Blue Members for voting “consistently to defend faith, family and freedom.”
"I applaud their commitment to uphold the institutions of marriage and family," Perkins said. Congresswoman Schmidt has “voted to repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, end government funding for abortion within the health care law, (and) uphold the Defense of Marriage Act.”
Congresswoman Schmidt, a Republican from Miami Township, said she was honored to be recognized for her stalwart support of issues important to families throughout Southern Ohio.
“I’m proud to represent the values of people who live in the Second Congressional District, and I will not waiver in my commitment to them,” Congresswoman Schmidt said.

Again, how can someone who gets a 100% voting record on life issues not be pro life, but someone who voted to give a grant to an organization that covered up child rape and kills babies call themselves pro life? Wenstrup is not telling the truth, or he is deluded, or he is just another Schmidt hater. Whichever, not deserving of the office or ANY endorsements!

Supposed "Strong Conservative" Wenstrup Uses Soros Attack Dogs to Smear Jean Schmidt

Would a conservative ever use a group funded by George Soros and proven to be nothing more than muckrakers as sources against a fellow Republican? Would someone who believed in Reagan's 11th commandment use such a source? The answer to both questions is no. However, Brad Wenstrup continues to say he is a strong conservative and a follower of the 11th commandment, even as he engages in hyperbole and using a George Soros funded group to attack Jean Schmidt. I mean, this guy is looking more and more like Paul Hackett all the time. The guy is trying to be one thing while his record shows something entirely different. In his letter seeking the endorsement of the Brown County GOP central committee, Mr. Wenstrup says that "Congresswoman Schmidt was recognized by a prominent non-partisan group in Washington (Citizens for Repsonbility and Ethics) as one of the most corrupt members of Congress." Well, who is this group? Glad you asked. Firstly, they are actually known as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. The are also an arm of George Soros's liberal attack machine:

If you haven’t heard of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), then consider yourself lucky. They are a George Soros funded leftwing organization who push the limits of their nonprofit status on a daily basis.

Their main responsibility as an attack dog for George Soros is to take down as many Republicans, especially conservatives, as humanly possible by accusing them of blatantly false indecencies. Recently, the Center for Consumer Freedom launched an attack of their own, challenging CREW’s proclaimed impartiality. The Daily Caller reports:
“An analysis of CREW’s activities demonstrates that it disproportionately targets conservatives by a ratio of more than 8-to-1,” the Center’s site explains. “At the same time, the corresponding federal oversight agencies responsible for investigating CREW’s complaints indicates that, historically, Democrats have been investigated far more often for ethics violations.”

The Capital Research Center’s Fred Lucas points out, too, that CREW has not disclosed its roster of donors. “What is known about CREW’s funding does not cast it in an independent and nonpartisan light,” Lucas wrote. “Two groups affiliated with George Soros have been big contributors to CREW. In a 2006 interview Sloan revealed that the Open Society Institute, a grantmaker founded by Soros, contributed $100,000 to CREW. The Democracy Alliance, another Soros creation, helped launch CREW.”
To further illustrate their partisanship, take a look at a typical headline that you will find on CREW’s website:
Senator John Kerry Does the Right Thing
Compared to:
CREW Congratulates August’s Scoundrel of the Month: Governor Rick Perry
Very impartial, isn’t it?

CREW is headed by Melanie Sloan, a Democratic operative. She is a smarmy loud mouth cut from the same cloth as Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She has spent her lifetime working for Democrats and Democratic causes.

They also have a history of sticking up for disgraced Democrats. They were one of the few organizations who backed Rep. Anthony Weiner after his perverted Internet sex scandal. Now they are sticking up for disgraced former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. Remember him? He’s the guy who had a love child with his mistress behind the back of his cancer stricken wife. He was indicted in June for using illegal campaign contributions to hide his mistress from the public.

Just hearing the name “John Edwards” makes my skin crawl. But CREW thinks he’s just peachy:
“Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, requested Wednesday to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of dismissing an indictment against Edwards for alleged violations of campaign finance law.
This is the first time that CREW has supported dismissal of a case against a politician.

“In June, a federal grand jury indicted Edwards on six counts: conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count if convicted.

“The indictment claims that the payments Edwards’ mistress, campaign videographer Rielle Hunter, received from his two friends, Rachel Mellon and Fred Baron, were campaign contributions intended to keep her and their baby in hiding during the 2008 presidential election.

“Here, the government argues Ms. Mellon and Mr. Baron paid Ms. Hunter’s expenses to allow Sen. Edwards to maintain his image as a ‘family man’ by hiding his affair from the American public,” she [Melanie Sloan] said.

“So under this theory, paying the expenses of the mistress of a known philanderer wouldn’t be a campaign contribution, while covering such costs for the girlfriend of someone who presents himself as a loyal husband is. That can’t be right.“
Even if you believe the charges are phony, what is the motivation to go out of your way to file motions for him? John Edwards is a millionaire and a lawyer and doesn’t need the help of some fly by night Soros Attack organization. CREW is making a point where they stand politically. They are throwing it in the face of the IRS and the American people by continuing their charade as a “nonpartisan” and “nonprofit” organization. They want the publicity and they want other liberal public officials to know that CREW and George Soros will have their back in times of need.

It just isn’t that shocking anymore to see how low the left will go to protect their own but it is still quite sickening.

Why anyone who claims to be a conservative would trust an organization with such a shoddy record is beyond me...unless that is all he has....but wait, check out these looks at Wenstrups letter:



Mr. Wenstrup lashes into Jean for supporting the debt ceiling deal....but many republicans and conservatives did as well....his reason? "It virtually guaranteed that taxypayer dollars would continue flowing to planned parenthood."

This is an awful hypocritical position, especially, as WMD has reported, that as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, he gave money to Planned Parenthood, money that allows them to spend their other assets on covering up child rape and killing more babies. However, that is a noble compromise to Mr. Wenstrup, who sinks to using his sister's plight with leukemia as a crutch to defend his sorry position. Sorry, Brad, not buying it. And neither should the good people of the 2nd district, especially those in central committees with endorsement power. Wenstrup doesn't know what pro life is, uses Soros attack dogs, and makes circular arguments with great moral equivalency. Sounds exactly like someone who couldn't even beat pathetic Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.....

Does Brad Wenstrup Support Covering Up Child Rape?

According to his votes to fund Planned Parenthood as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, the answer is YES. WMD previously reported on Dr. Wenstrup voting with the rest of the board unanimously to fund Planned Parenthood, even in the face of very serious charges. From Lifenews:

The Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to the Planned Parenthood abortion business in the area, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is the same abortion business that was caught covering up a case of sexual abuse of a minor.

“This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention,” Right to Life of Cincinnati executive director Paula Westwood told LifeNews today. “Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood.”“Though no government funding is to be used for abortion, funds to Planned Parenthood for any reason frees funds for other programs,” Westwood said, adding that the grant comes at the same times as Congress is investigating Planned Parenthood in part because of misallocation and fraudulent usage of taxpayer funds. She said the probe also involves other concerns such as “increasing evidence of ignoring suspected statutory rape of minor girls seeking abortions, as well as covering for sex traffickers; evidence and confirmation in some states of Medicaid fraud, and more.”

“Significantly, both Planned Parenthood and Stop AIDS support and do not discourage the sexual practices that give rise to the terrible disease of AIDS. This funding simply applies a bandaid to a gaping wound,” she said.

The members of the Board of Health present at the time of the meeting approving the funding were Joyce Kinley, Dr. Jeff Lange, Dr. Wael Safi, Dr. Richard Schwen, Dr. Donna Shambley-Ebron and Dr. Brad Wenstrup.

In April, a lawsuit in which Planned Parenthood was recently found to have violated an Ohio informed consent law has been “resolved and dismissed,” according to the Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney who filed the suit.

ADF-allied attorney Brian Hurley represents the parents of a girl who, at age 14, was brought to a Planned Parenthood clinic for an abortion by the 22-year-old soccer coach who impregnated her.

“The health and safety of young girls is far more important than Planned Parenthood’s desire to make money on an abortion,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden. “This lawsuit was yet another clear demonstration of Planned Parenthood’s ongoing effort to put its profit margin ahead of the true needs of young women. If they truly cared about the girls who enter their doors, they would not be ignoring Ohio law and allowing statutory rape to occur so they can make money killing a baby. They also wouldn’t be trying so desperately to keep all of their records secret.”

In December 2010, the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas determined that Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region violated state law when it failed to meet with the 14-year-old girl at least 24 hours prior to giving her the abortion. Following this, a psychologist found that the abortion had caused her to suffer significant psychological harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The case was “resolved and dismissed” shortly thereafter.

Hurley, one of more than 2,000 attorneys in the ADF alliance, filed the suit Roe v. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region on behalf of the girl’s parents when they discovered that Planned Parenthood allowed her to undergo the abortion at the behest of her soccer coach.

Neither Planned Parenthood nor the soccer coach notified the parents of the abortion or the sexual relationship. Planned Parenthood also did not notify civil authorities, which is required in cases of statutory rape. The soccer coach was convicted of sexual battery and served three years in prison.

So, let me get this straight...This "doctor" who claims to be pro life and is running against incumbent Jean Schmidt, who actually is pro life, by the way; voted to give money to an organization that openly violated the law...Hmmm....guess he really shouldn't be running on the GOP ticket. That sounds like something the Dems would do. Of course, this "doctor" couldn't even beat the pathetic Mark Mallory for Cincinnati mayor....

However, this is disgusting. All of the doctors on this board are saying OK to an organization that harbored and hid child rape. Disgusting!

This guy A)couldn't beat a guy who can't throw a baseball to home plate and was a national joke, and B) for being a doctor, does not seem to understand what pro life means and C)voted to give more money to an organization that covered up child rape.

Does this sound like someone you want representing you in Congress, citizens of the 2nd district?

I don't think so.

More Proof. Romney=Obama

Romney's advisors were brought in to help draft Obamacare. Yep, there you have it. From NBC News:

Newly obtained White House records provide fresh details on how senior Obama administration officials used Mitt Romney's landmark health care law in Massachusetts as a model for the new federal law, including recruiting some of Romney's own health care advisers and experts to help craft the act now derided by Republicans as 'Obamacare.'"

Don't be shocked if this report surfaces at tonight's Republican debate in New Hamsphire, which is previewed at our On Politics blog.

Investigative ace Michael Isikoff further reports, "The records, gleaned from White House visitor logs reviewed by NBC News, show that senior White House officials had a dozen meetings in 2009 with three health care advisers and experts who helped shape the health care reform law signed by Romney in 2006, when the Republican presidential candidate was governor of Massachusetts.

"One of those meetings, on July 20, 2009, was in the Oval Office and presided over by President Barack Obama, the records show." "The White House wanted to lean a lot on what we'd done in Massachusetts," said Jon Gruber, an MIT economist who advised the Romney administration on health care and who attended five meetings at the Obama White House in 2009, including the meeting with the president. "They really wanted to know how we can take that same approach we used in Massachusetts and turn that into a national model."

Romney has forcefully defended the Massachusetts law he signed, but says he is adamantly against a "one-size-fits-all national health-care system" imposed on all 50 states. "I will repeal Obamacare," he has said. "And on day one of my administration, I will grant a waiver from Obamacare to all 50 states."

Asked about the White House records, a Romney campaign spokeswoman responded by citing comments that Romney made last April after Obama suggested the White House had borrowed from his law in Massachusetts.

"He does me the great favor of saying that I was the inspiration of his plan," Romney said of Obama. "If that's the case, why didn't you call me? ... Why didn't you ask what was wrong? Why didn't you ask if this was an experiment, what worked and what didn't. ... I would have told him, 'What you're doing, Mr. President, is going to bankrupt us.'"

Sorry, Mittster, no dice. So, you didn't care about what happened to Massachusetts, because it was 'just an experiment?' By the way, your policy has made healthcare worse in Massachusetts, and more people are fleeing the state. Sorry, Mitt, I don't believe you. And then there is the new Rick Perry commercial equally damning:


More proof that


Don't vote for Obama Lite, Republicans. Don't let the same wizards of smart (blueblood, George HW Bush Republicans like Bill Kristol, Chris Christie, and others) who gave us John McCain in 08 convince you to go with the Mittster now. He is objectively unfit. Just as Tom Blumer at Bizzyblog.

What Has Tom Niehaus Done for Brown County?

My co-blogger asked a similar question the other day and I thought I'd ask the same question about Tom Niehaus.

Tom Niehaus has retroactively raised income taxes. This we know. But did you know he has single-handedly made defending SB5 / Issue 2 a complete utter mockery? It's true. Read all about it right here.

So the next time you hear Kevin DeWine talking about how important SB5 / Issue 2 is, ask him what he thinks of Tom Niehaus and this pathetic scheme.

I am disgusted that there are staffers that make six figures in either party in this statehouse. Y'all better get your act together because this is simply unacceptable in this economic climate. Just what color is the money in Tom Niehaus' world anyway?

Mark's Remarks

But Matt, you don't understand...Niehaus has ponied up money for fundraisers and stuff. He has given cash so the Brown County GOP could do events, and his wife has donated some very nice bath and beauty products and other collectibles to the silent auction, don't you know.

This guy represents the worst of small minded, self important political hacks who need to be driven from our system. The fact that Joe Uecker is aligning himself with this arse make me think less of Uecker. Tom Niehaus sucked his way up the political ladder by selling off votes of his to many parties, just like his mentor, Bill "the scumbag" Harris did. Niehaus and his ilk make it hard to promote Republican ideas because a clown like Niehaus in leadership who changes his spots when the winds are blowing make it hard to point to someone who is "walking the walk."

Tom Niehaus has put into jeopardy the future of the workers of the biggest employer in Brown County. Other than that, he has just shown up to parades and such, occasionally doing something shady in the statehouse that Brown Countians can point to as evidence of a conspiracy, and has made long winded empty speeches that mean nothing. Oh yeah, he retroactively raised taxes in Brown County, too.

Tom Niehaus Does It Again

With friends like these, who needs Democrats?

Tom "Retroactively Raising Your Income Taxes" Niehaus is at it again...

When is this guy done???

Mark's Remarks

Tom Niehaus is concerned about keeping "his staff?" What for, retirement errands? This clown is done next year! Next year! Who cares if "his staff" loses people? Shouldn't they be considering a move to the private sector anyway? Give me a break! I don't care what the rest of my county party says, this guy is a blight on conservative principles and I will be glad when is raspy voice is over and done and back to being an ex-hack newspaper guy.

HealthCare Strangles Obama, Democrats and The Country Into Higher Taxes

There is no escaping this deficit crisis. This "deal" that BONER and B**ch McConnell allowed to happen does nothing. Even the NY Times says so, as does this article from the Washington Examiner:

One expects House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to write, as he does in today’s Wall Street Journal, “We are already seeing evidence that its maze of mandates, dictates, controls and tax hikes will actually push costs even further in the wrong direction.” And it is not that surprising to read National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson write, “If we can’t find a way to slow the rapid rise of health care costs, they will drive this country to bankruptcy.” But what is noteworthy is to see The New York Times admit, “Indeed, both the government and its debts will continue to grow faster than the American economy, primarily because the new [debt limt] law does not address federal spending on health care.”

Obamacare has completely trapped the Democrats on fiscal policy. In order to pay for Obamacare’s trillions of dollars in new spending, they had to raise taxes by $500 and raid Medicare by another $500 billion. As a result, all the low-hanging revenue and spending fruit are already gone. As even The Washington Post's Ezra Klein admits, the Democrats must now argue for higher taxes, and not just on the wealthy. In order to pay for all their entitlement programs, the middle class is going to have to pay more, too. But Ezra can admit this because he doesn’t have to win elections; Democrats in public offices do. That is the reason you haven’t seen a Democratic budget since Obamacare became law and it is the reason you will not see another one till at least 2013.

Yes, and thanks to BONER and McConnell, the can has been kicked. The issue has been given cover. And Obama's reelection just got easier. And if that happens, you won't see a budget until 2017. If there is still a government to budget funds for....

Paul Ryan Mixes Truths with B.S. in Asking Obama Where's His Budget

Rep. Paul Ryan is a young man that I admire. However, in trying to defend this debt ceiling "deal", he loses some of his luster. That being said, he does ask some salient and pertinent questions in his latest WSJ editorial. Here are some of the important exerpts:

During the negotiations over raising the debt ceiling, President Obama reportedly warned Republican leaders not to call his bluff by sending him a bill without tax increases. Republicans in Congress ignored this threat and passed a bill that cuts more than a dollar in spending for every dollar it increases the debt limit, without raising taxes.

Yesterday, Mr. Obama signed this bill into law. He was, as he said, bluffing.

That's a creative way of selling the crap sandwich, sir. Obama called YOUR bluff by getting the Senate to veto CutCapBalance and all of Boehner's halfway decent plans. He got you and the House boys to kowtow to accounting gimmicks and a commission that puts taxes on the table. Don't try to sell us this bill of goods.

However, Ryan does hit his stride here:

the president still hasn't shown us his cards. He still hasn't put forward a credible plan to tackle the threat of ever-rising spending and debt, and his evasiveness is emblematic of the party he leads.

Ever since they abused the budget process to jam their health-care takeover through Congress last year, the Democrats have simply done away with serious budgeting altogether. The simplest explanation—and the president's real bluff—is that they don't want to commit publicly to the kind of tax increases and health-care rationing that would be required to sustain their archaic vision of government.

The president's February budget deliberately dodged the tough choices necessary to confront the threat of runaway federal spending. It was rejected unanimously in a Senate controlled by his own party. Since then he has offered a lot of rhetoric but no real plan to avoid a spending-driven debt crisis. His speeches and press conferences are no substitutes for actual budgets with specific numbers and independently verified projections of future deficits and debt. Meanwhile, it has been over two years since the Democrat-controlled Senate passed any budget at all. This is a historic failure to fulfill one of the most basic responsibilities of governing.

This leadership deficit has thrown the federal budget process into chaos at the worst possible time. Even though Congress has cut spending by a significant amount, it still hasn't dealt with the drivers of our debt—primarily federal spending on health care.

Mr. Ryan, the House hasn't led. Boehner got led, played, fooled, bamboozled and so did you. This deal doesn't do a damn thing to address our serious problems. You let Obama off the hook by letting the deal run past the election. You and B**ch McConnell and the sheep in the Senate took debt off the table. Nice work, thanks for making Obama's reelection campaign easier. But, you are right. THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, save Jim DeMint. But your buddies in the Senate won't listen to him, and you guys in the House have showed you don't have much of a spine, either.
And the situation is dire:

The math is scary, yet simple: In the years ahead, spending on programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Democrats' new health-care entitlements is projected to skyrocket relative to the size of the economy, even as federal spending on everything else is projected to decline....
Even the president seems to understand that the status quo of these programs is unsustainable. As he put it during a press conference on July 11, "If you look at the numbers, then Medicare in particular will run out of money, and we will not be able to sustain that program no matter how much taxes go up."

On this point, Mr. Obama and I couldn't agree more. Where we disagree is over how best to confront this problem.

No, Paul, you allowed your speaker to do this with Barry O and B**ch McConnell:


Rep. Ryan goes on to talk about the seriousness of Medicare and how we are failing. Then he ends his editorial with a big lie that Boehner and Co. tried to get us to believe:

The president tried to use the debt-ceiling negotiations to secure the first of many tax increases that his party needs to pay for its legacy of unfunded promises. He failed. Instead, Republicans won the policy debate by securing the first of many spending restraints we need to avoid a debt-driven economic calamity.

Much hard work remains. But this work will be harder still if leading Democrats remain unwilling to lay their cards on the table and give the American people the debate they deserve.

Taxes are still on the table with this deal, Paul. If you and leadership didn't see that, then you are blind and stupid. If you did see it, then you are being duplicitous. Either way, it is not a bright spot for Speaker Boehner's and Ldr Cantor's leadership.

More Mecklenborg Mayhem

Seems like Stiffy McDrinkypoo is in more trouble with the State Patrol. Lying on a government document, anyone? From WKRC in Cincinnati:

The Ohio State Patrol gets involved in the investigation into a former state lawmaker who faces d-u-i charges.

The State Patrol says investigators will try to determine if Robert Mecklenborg broke the law when he applied for an Ohio driver's license four days after his arrest on drunk driving charges in Indiana.

The application for a renewal says that he was not facing any pending motor vehicle citations.

The State Patrol will turn over the findings to the prosecutor's office to determine if charges will be filed.

Will Kevin DeWine take a stand on this issue? Doubtful.

Oh, and Just some further thought Kevin. In case you thought just us grassroots liars and noisemakers were the only ones who noted the silence from your office and the hypocrisy regarding your rush to take a stand on Anthony Weiner, think again:
Ohio GOP Forgets Its Zero Tolerance Pledge After Three Members Get In Trouble With The Law

See, Kev, other people remember that part of the Leading Ohio document you whitewashed and scrubbed. Oh, and it isn't just lefties, but magazines like CityBeat calliing you a hypocrite also:

But in the days and weeks since Mecklenborg’s arrest became publicized through the media, the state GOP has been curiously silent about the matter.

The muted reaction is a far cry from what occurred in early June, when Ohio Republican leaders felt a pressing need to weigh in on the texting controversy surrounding then-Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who sent photos of his penis to females through Twitter and the Internet.

Even though Weiner hadn’t been charged a crime, Christopher Maloney, the Ohio Republican Party’s communications director, issued an overheated public statement urging U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to call for Weiner’s resignation.

“Talk is cheap,” Maloney said in the June 9 statement. “It’s time for Sherrod Brown to walk the walk when it comes to draining Washington’s ‘ethical swamp’; it’s time for him to join his fellow candidates for U.S. Senate, and Democratic Party peers, in calling for Anthony Weiner’s resignation. Sherrod Brown sits on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. As long as Sen. Brown intends on continuing to incorporate ethics and good government into his 2012 campaign platform, he should join with his Democratic colleagues and provide Ohioans with an answer on whether Anthony Weiner should resign his seat in Congress.”

Ironically, Mecklenborg — a self-styled “family values” conservative on social issues — is a member of the Ohio House’s Judiciary and Ethics Committee.

CityBeat sent an email to Maloney and Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine earlier this month, asking them why the party hadn’t made an official statement about Mecklenborg’s arrest. Specifically, the email asked whether the party thinks Mecklenborg should resign. Also, it asked if party leaders were aware of the arrest when it occurred in April. If not, it asks if Mecklenborg should’ve informed them. And if they were aware, the email asks why the party didn’t inform the public.

Neither Maloney nor DeWine have replied.

Way to help change that tarnished image, Kevin....nice way to lead...from the rear, as usual.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (RINO-KY), Wants to Defy the Constitution by Giving Obama Power to Raise Ceiling

Mitch McConnell is no conservative. I am not sure he is a higher order life form. I mean, the man has no backbone, so how can he be an evolved lifeform. He is so afraid of standing on principle that he seeks to defy the Constitution's Article I by giving President Obama authority to raise the debt limit on his own three times a year. From Erick Erickson:

In a nutshell, the President would get to raise the debt ceiling three times in the next year at several billion bucks a pop without making any spending cuts unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress disagree. In his press conference, McConnell says he would not give the President “unilateral authority to make spending cuts on his own,” but this plan would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling pretty much automatically.As the Politico notes,

Senate Republicans are actively pursuing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval.

In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority will be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.

Yes, instead of putting the burden on the White House, McConnell would make it damn near impossible to block a debt ceiling increase. We’ve seen this before. The House once had the Gephardt rule that required the debt ceiling vote be attached to a more popular measure so members of Congress could escape a tough vote.

Consequently, the debt ceiling has gone up to $14 trillion without Congress ever having to make a tough choice about debt.

And now Mitch McConnell wants to make it even easier by allowing Congress to go through a dog and pony show of feigned cuts that never get cut while allowing escalation of our national debt. So much for accusing Barack Obama of smoke and mirrors.

Typical Spineless RINO. Rather than take any heat and actually stand for something, B*tch McConnell (RINO, KY) decides he wants to cut a deal so he can look like a hero to the lamestream driveby media. Who cares if it subverts the very framework of our government and destroy the division of powers, it will get B**** a lifetime invite to all the cool Sunday talk shows and all the cool DC parties?

Our government is one of separated powers so the executive cannot run roughshod. Congresses over the past few decades have ceded more and more power to the executive, without engaging in next to any oversight. The threat of the purse is one of the last refuges Congress has. Doing this deal will basically create an unfettered executive branch that has little to answer to Congress. But, it does mean that B**** McConnell won't have to hurt his itty bitty brain and make a decision.

Flood the lines to DC and tell the GOP Senators that this proposal doesn't just suck, it blows.