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Main Page » Ohio politics

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Tuesday, October 24

Nikki Giovanni was right

by Mike on Tue 24 Oct 2006 10:52 PM EDT

If you live outside of Ohio, you might have a hard time appreciating just how dirty the politics have gotten as we approach the mid-term elections. This year's round of political fighting has included what is probably some of the most lurid and salacious mudslinging in the history of modern politics and with just a few weeks left to go, there's no sign of things getting better. The Cincinnati Enquirer — a newspaper from a very conservative city, mind you — recently published a rundown of some of the more scandalous allegations from the recent campaigns for Ohio offices. But even this list doesn't include highlights (or are they lowlights?) Like Mike DeWine's accusations that Sherrod Brown didn't pay his unemployment taxes over a decade ago (which was later debunked by the media) and DeWine's use of footage from the 9/11 attacks in his negative campaign ads.

Ohio collage

And then, there's what might well be the biggest story of all in Ohio's 2006 elections: As an uncanny climax of months and months all sorts of drama and political intrigue, Kenneth Blackwell — the current Republican candidate for Ohio Governor and current Secretary of State — might soon have the opportunity to officially disqualify his opponent on what is virtually the very eve of the mid-term election.

from Dayton Daily News:

Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell and Democrat Ted Strickland tangled on a wide range of subjects Wednesday before Dayton Daily News reporters and editors, but one issue dominated: Blackwell's role in the legal challenge to Strickland's voting status.

On Tuesday, Monty Lobb, assistant Ohio secretary of state, instructed the Columbiana County Board of Elections to hold a hearing on a challenge filed Oct. 4 by Jacquelyn Long of East Liverpool.

The county board tied 2-2 last week on whether to hear Long's challenge, which asserts that Strickland's actual residence is in Columbus, not Lisbon where he is registered to vote.

Depending on how the hearing goes, Blackwell in his status as secretary of state could determine the issue.

Just what's at stake is hard to say. (full article)

What's at stake is actually very easy to say: It is basically the death of the electoral process in Ohio...and it's hauntingly similar to the complete failure of the national electoral process that we experienced in the 2000 elections. Of course, Ken Blackwell is somewhat of an expert in dirty politics, having personally delivered Ohio to Bush & Cheney in 2004.

I am certainly no Ted Strickland booster (especially given his support of HR4437), but sometimes there is a very clear choice between the lesser of two evils. And Strickland is definitely the lesser of two evils this time around.

Renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni had some harsh words for Blackwell at a recent public appearance in Cincinnati. Cincinnati media was really up in arms over her comments for a while, but Giovanni has (rightfully) refused to apologize. And why should she apologize for telling the truth, anyway? The fact of the matter is, Ken Blackwell has proven her assessment to be correct time and time again. Thankfully, Nikki is not one to back down, though, and she will continue to tell people what they need to hear, whether they want to hear it or not.