OHIO's FIRST

I told you so... Driehaus is in!

2007-03-27T22:35:00.000-04:00

Cincinnati, we finally have hope. One of the two people that I envision beating Chabot in the general election has decided to run...

The Battle of the Steves?

Rep. Steve Chabot won a seventh term in the U.S. House last fall by fending off a well-financed challenged from Democrat John Cranley, but the Westwood Republican may not be out of the woods yet.

Next year, if he decides to seek an eighth term, Chabot is likely to face a Democratic challenger whose family is well known in the GOP enclaves of Cincinnati's west side suburbs and who has made a career of winning elections in a Republican-leaning Ohio House district - State Rep. Steve Driehaus.

The Price Hill Democrat has already had discussions with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) about taking on Chabot in 2008; and will be in a perfect position to do it - his eight years in the Ohio House under Ohio's term limits law will be ending and Driehaus will have to move on.

Tuesday, he sounded like a candidate.

"By next year, Steve Chabot, with all due respect, will have been there 14 years and people are going to start looking at whether or not it is time for something new,'' Driehaus said.

Driehaus, the minority whip of the Ohio House, said that term limits forces him to "look at other options'' and running for Congress, he said, "ranks right up there at the top of the list."

Last year, Chabot won re-election by about 9,000 votes out of about 202,000 cast in the 1st District, which includes most of the western half of Hamilton County, a small area of Butler County, and most of the city of Cincinnati.

The district is considered to have a 50-50 split between Republican and Democrat voters, based in part on the nearly flat-footed tie between George W. Bush and John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.

Chabot's Next Contender

2007-01-03T11:29:00.000-05:00

What Democrat has the balls to challenge Congressman Steve Chabot in 2008? Let's get this discussion started early so that we can field the best candidate that can run the best campaign. The district is winnable with the right strategy.

Add your ideas for candidates and your thoughts by commenting.

What about:

John Cranley (probably not)
Mark Mallory (not yet)
Charlie Luken (probably not)
Greg Harris (don't think he can win)
Todd Portune (hmmmm)
Bootsy Collins (please no)
Charlie Sanders (not funny)
Paul Hackett (you never know)
David Pepper (not yet)
Ken Blackwell (as a independent, or as a Republican challenger in a primary... very unlikely)
James Tarbell (he's too close to retirement)
Laketa Cole
David Crowley
Steve Driehaus (interesting...)
Eric H. Kearney
Catherine L. Barrett
Tyrone Yates (a possibility)
Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco in Zero Ocho)
Nick Lachey

Congratulations Steve Chabot; 2 More Years of Boredom

2006-11-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

Last OH-01 Update. goodnight.

2006-11-08T00:16:00.000-05:00

Unless Cranley picks up a lot of votes - meaning around 60% - of the remaining precincts, and tons of provisional and absentee - Chabot will win. If Cranley does pull off a last minute surprise, this will be too close.

97% of me is saying Chabot pulled it off.

Although, Cranley is a come from behind kinda guy. Cross your fingers, but go ahead and get some sleep.

I think Chabot just won. 52-47.

2006-11-07T23:59:00.000-05:00

John you had an amazing race. Congratulations. God bless.

Chabot 94477
Cranley 87208

3 precincts left.

69% counted, Chabot at 51%

2006-11-07T23:56:00.000-05:00

Chabot 52,888
Cranley 51,385

69% reporting...

Hamilton Co:

Cranley 51
Chabot 49

Chabot Has Narrow Lead - 50% - 11:46pm

2006-11-07T23:53:00.000-05:00

STEVE CHABOT (R)
64404

50%

JOHN CRANLEY (D)
62577

49%

Total Votes: 126981
462 of 597 precincts reporting

Chabot takes back lead - 11:43pm

2006-11-07T23:48:00.000-05:00

STEVE CHABOT
64,404
50%

JOHN CRANLEY
62,577
49%

462 of 597 precincts reporting

Cranley EXTENDING lead! * 51% * 11:35pm

2006-11-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

With over 1/3 of Hamilton County counted, Cranley has 55% of the county's votes, and 51% overall.

Butler Co.

Chabot - 6253
Cranley - 2939
100% counted

Hamilton Co.

Chabot - 22,651 (45%)
Cranley - 27,336 (55%)
34% counted

TOTAL WITH 37% PRECINCTS COUNTED
CRANLEY 51%
CHABOT 49%

OH-01 Update: 12:57PM

2006-11-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

Update from the Cincinnati Enquirer from earlier today:

Steve Chabot forgets how to vote, must leave polling location, drive his piece of crap Buick home, and get a utility bill, wait back in line, and then finally vote... How can we listen to someone that doesn't even know how to vote?! The ironic thing is that he didn't even realize the polling location worker was wrong! If you have a valid (not expired) Drivers license, YOU CAN VOTE, regardless of the address printed on it.

I have heard poll workers making this mistake numerous times today. So remember, if you bring your drivers license and they reject it because your old address is printed on it, ask to speak to their supervisor. If they still give you trouble, call 1888DemVote and, if possible, show them ORC Section 3505.18(A).

No ID, no vote
Chabot turned away at polls

WESTWOOD - Congressman Steve Chabot found out just how serious elections officials are about the new voter ID law when he showed up to vote at his polling place in Westwood.

Chabot went into the polling place at Westwood First Presbyterian Church about 9:30 a.m. and pulled out his Ohio driver’s license to show the poll workers. They looked at his license, and told the congressman that, even though they know perfectly well who he is, his driver’s license was issued to his business office, not his home, which is his voting address.

Somewhat sheepishly, Chabot went back out into the parking lot, jumped in his 1993 Buick - the one he talked about on his campaign commercials - and started heading back to his home a few blocks away to find a proper ID.

“I guess I’ll see if I can find a utility bill,” Chabot said. “That’s the law. You have to have proper ID.”

Chabot returned about 10 minutes later with a bank statement and a Social Security Administration statement in hand.

He went inside and voted quickly.

"My wife told me to bring two documents just to be sure," Chabot said. "I guess this just shows the poll workers are really doing their job."

OH-01 Update: 11:26AM

2006-11-07T11:33:00.000-05:00

From the Cranley for Congress Campaign Manager at 11:12AM:

Friends, Just a quick update. Things look good out there. John is working hard fighting for every last vote.

We are lucky enough to have hundreds of volunteers . . . all working hard and having a great time. Turnout looks very good despite some early splashes of rain. So if you haven’t voted yet, we appreciate your support. And if you can lend a hand, we could always use more volunteers. Just call: 513-241-1777.

Thanks for everything. Now get out there and vote!

- Luke Blocher, Campaign Manager

OH-01 Update: 10:35AM

2006-11-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

From the myDD blogger in OH-01 at 10:15PM last night:

Tonight in the Ohio First we had a final rally GOTV rally at HQ with candidate John Cranley and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

I saw a shirt today for John Cranley that said "Faith in People" and I think it's a pretty appropriate slogan for a campaign that has opened its arms to someone like me.

Finally, a campaign note about tomorrow. An old campaign hand told us today that the adage, "It's All in God's Hands Now" is no longer true. Advances in targeting technology have made is so that resources like phone banks and canvassers can now be quickly redirected to underperforming precincts, which can make all of the difference in a close election. Tomorrow is game day and we need everyone to show up. Anyone at home reading a blog when they could be out making calls or knocking on doors...well if we lose, I'm placing the blame solely on you.

Do more than vote on Tuesday.

From the myDD blogger in OH-01 at 8:43AM:

Update [8:43am]: Things are looking pretty good here in OH-01, turnout looks good, and energy high. We haven't had any reports of egregious 2004-style voting problems (though we have an army of lawyers ready to jump in if need be). All that we need is for y'all to Get Out The Vote.

It's 5am and I'm about to leave to to staff the election. It has been a blast to blog this election from the road for you guys. Here's a favorite quote that's gotten me through a lot in politics. Lets bring this one home.

"So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was."
-Molly Ivins

Game Day. See you on the other side.

From the Cranley campaign at 8:49AM:

Hey, everyone. I will be checking in throughout the day to share reports from the field... We have been expecting great turnout today and so far the reports are excellent...

Hearing everything is going smoothly at the polls... better than expectations... our teams of poll workers reporting lots of voters moving through easily...

John Cranley has greeted enthusiastic voters in College Hill, Mt. Airy, and Wyoming... Very high turnout reported in Avondale and College Hilll...

We have hundreds of excited volunteers today, and have been getting new ones showing up to help turnout the vote...

Today is looking great already.

Elliott Ruther
Cranley for Congress

Tomorrow in Cincinnati - OH-01 - Last Post Before Election Day

2006-11-06T20:59:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is a big day for Cincinnati. There is a good chance that Cincinnati will turn around tomorrow. We could have a Democratic County Commission, a Democratic Congressman, a Democratic Governor and Senator, and of course, a Democratic mayor and council.

If that happens tomorrow - Strickland, Brown, Pepper, and Cranley win - a new era will begin in Cincinnati. It won't be like it used to under Democratic rule; it will be different. The city will grow, both in people and business, and life will get better.

The Bengals will go to the playoffs, Ken Griffey Jr. will hit 50 home runs, the banks project will speed along, and Bearcats will advance to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Don't believe me? Look at historical trends.

Regarding our Congressional seat, John Cranley is the only candidate that will bring noticeable change to the city. Heck, Steve Chabot is proud that he hasn't helped us out - and that's just ridiculous. But not only will Cranley fight for better housing, economic policies, reduced crime, safer streets, and a more beautiful downtown, he will finally be someone to represent the interests of our city to Congress.

Cranley is with us regarding the war in Iraq. He's with us on gas prices. He knows how we feel about middle class taxes, and piss-poor job growth. He knows that building a fence along the border will only encourage Mexicans to pack a rope on their trip to America, and he knows that so many educational and social welfare programs are mis-administered and greatly underfunded.

Labor unions back Cranley, community leaders back Cranley, John Glenn, Wes Clark, Bill Clinton, David Mann, Charlie Luken, Roxanne Qualls, David Pepper, Alicia Reece, Todd Portune, John Conyers, Richard Clark, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Tim Ryan, Sherrod Brown, Ted Strickland, and Bono, yes Bono, back Cranley.

Tomorrow on election day, go to the polls and back Cranley. Take off work, volunteer for the campaign, and back Cranley. Call your family and friends, co-workers and neighbors, drag them to the polls, because this is the only chance we have to back Cranley, and actually, to back our own city.

For the sake of the men and women of the first district that have died in a mis-guided war that Chabot has blindly and unconditionally supported, back Cincinnati tomorrow.

Vote Cranley, and you won't regret it.

* NPR Predicts a Cranley Win! *

2006-11-06T20:29:00.000-05:00

Final Call: Dems Take House, GOP Keeps Senate

OHIO

1st CD: Steve Chabot (R) vs. John Cranley (D) -- CRANLEY (Dem pickup)

First Politics1, now NPR: CRANLEY WILL WIN TOMORROW.

New! MyDD on Cranley - Chabot Matchup

2006-11-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

Why OH-01 Matters

by Adam Conner, Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 12:38:28 AM EST

Almost all of the races that I have visited on my "Midwest MapChangers" roadtrip (OH-01, OH-02, KY-02, KY-03, KY-04, IN-08, and IN-09) have had certain factors that have helped make them competitive this year. IN-09 and KY-04 are both rematches between incumbents and former incumbents, KY-03 is a heavily Democratic district, the Democrat in IN-08 jumped to an early lead, and the KY-02 and OH-02 are heavily Republican districts that are considered competitive mainly because of the Democratic wave (and because of the craziness of Schmidt).

But the OH-01 is different. This is a race that is as evenly matched as Democratic challenger can make them these days. Of course this means that the incumbent still retains many advantages, particularly financial, as Republicans desperately pour money into the district in a last-minute attempt to hold onto Steve Chabots seat as polls show Democrat John Cranley narrowly ahead.

The race in OH-01 is important because it falls between the seats we're almost guaranteed to win and the long-shot races that may be swept up in a wave. It's a closely matched, hard-fought, and an absolutely essential win for a future Democratic majority. It's the kind of race that we have to win, not just for control of Congress, but to regain our confidence that Democrats can face Republicans head-on and win. Which is one of the reasons I decided to stay here until Election Day.

There are other races like this, in places like NM-01 and KY-03, where incumbents who haven't committed egregious offenses, like e-molesting pages or choking their mistress, but none the less find themselves in the last throes of their incumbency. Without a record of accomplishment to run on all they have left is their horrendous negative campaigns, replete with as many dirty tricks as they can fit into the next 2 days.

As Election Day approaches and the polls naturally tighten as the undecideds decide, the center of this kind of battle is Ohio's First District. CQ has just switched the race to "Toss-Up" and now it all comes down to beating the Republicans on the ground.

And with less than 48 hours left till the polls close, the people around me now in the Cranley HQ aren't shying away from a fight. In fact they're relishing it. They've had enough. They're ready for a change.

So if you're in or near Cincinnati come by Cranley HQ at 3621 Harrison Ave or call 513-241-1777 to help out. Trust me, you're going to want to be a part of this. Because The Democratic Majority starts in the Ohio First.

Adam's "Midwest MapChangers" Roadtrip is brought to you by the AFL-CIO's Labor 2006 Program

Holy Bootsy! GOTV with Cranley! Sign up today!

2006-11-05T23:49:00.000-05:00

1. Tell your boss you need off on Tuesday, election day.

2. Call the Cranley campaign HQ at 513-241-1777 to discuss how you can help their get-out-the-vote effort.

3. On election day, get as many voters to the polls as you can. The more the better, regardless of who they are. High voter turnout will secure a Cranley win.

4. Watch for Chabot campaigners suppressing the vote. They are up to no good.

5. Watch this Bootsy Collins video

New York Times Profiles OH-01, calls it a toss-up

2006-11-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

Ohio Roundup: Will Cincinnati Give GOP a Chilly Reception?

• Ohio’s 1st District: Voters in the 1st District, which takes in most of Cincinnati as well as areas to the west and north, have re-elected Republican Steve Chabot five times since he joined Congress in the historic GOP Class of 1994. But he faced a tough challenge in 2000 from Democrat John Cranley, who then was very young and inexperienced — but is back again this year to challenge Chabot with six years on the Cincinnati city council under his belt.

The greater seasoning that Cranley brings to the rematch, set against a national backdrop of voter fatigue with the Republican Party, has prompted CQPolitics.com to change its rating on the race to No Clear Favorite from Leans Republican.

The 1st District’s southern border is the Ohio River, not the Rio Grande, yet immigration is a top-tier issue here as it is this year in many districts scattered across the nation.

Chabot began the fight with an ad accusing Cranley casting a city council vote that amounted to supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants. Cranley responded by trying to turn the issue back on Chabot by arguing that Republicans haven’t solved the immigration issue and don’t have a plan to keep jobs in the state, where the heavily industrial-based economy has not kept up with the economic growth numbers exhibited by the nation as a whole.

Two late October polls showed Chabot trailing Cranley slightly and holding percentage support in the low- to mid-40s, below the 50 percent comfort level experts say incumbents need in order to be confident of victory.

Gene Beaupre, director of government relations and a political scientist at Xavier University in Cincinnati, says southern Ohio voters have a long history of supporting Chabot, who served on the Cincinnati city council from 1985 to 1990 — losing an initial 1988 bid for the House — and on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners from 1990 until he entered Congress in 1995.

“It’ll be very hard for people not to vote for him, because they’ve been doing it for so long,” Beaupre said.

Still, the 1st is hardly a GOP stronghold, even in much better years for the party than this one. President Bush took 50 percent of the district’s vote and edged Democrat John Kerry by just 1 percentage point in 2004.

Black Congresswomen Stump for Cranley

2006-11-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

From the Enquirer Blog:

Cranley stumps for black votes

1st Congressional District candidate John Cranley zeroed in on African-American voters Sunday morning, with help from two Aflrican-American congresswomen.

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Cleveland and Rep. Gwen Moore, a Democrat from Milwaukee, showed up in Cincinnat Sunday morning to join Cranley as he shook hands with church-goers at Allen Temple AME Church in Bond Hill.

Later, Jones and Moore - who were both at a Sherrod Brown event in Cleveland Saturday with Sen. Barack Obama - traveled to Forest Park with Cranley for breakfast at Frisch's Big Boy and another round of hand-shaking at African-American churches.

Jones said that the key for candidates like Cranley and other Democratic congressional candidataes is turning out voters who came out in 2004 to vote for John Kerry but who often skip mid-term elections.

This year, the Democrats have the right message for those voters, Jones said.

"Two years ago, we were out talking about bread-and-butter issues and the voters were voting on something else, like national security,'' Jones said. "This looks like a bread-and-butter year to me."

Crowley, Conyers, Cranley, and the Buzz

2006-11-03T23:07:00.000-05:00

Congressman Crowley paid Cranley a visit last week, along side Councilman Crowley. This week, distinguished Congressman John Conyers joined Cranley on the Buzz radio station, and even submitted a blog post about him on his website. Here is is:

I made the trip to Cincinnati today to help my friend John Cranley, who is running for Congress in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District. You remember we helped raise over $15,000 for John last week.

Well, I felt I had to make the trip to Cincinnati because Cranley’s opponent, Rep. Steve Chabot, had been telling everyone that he had my support because of his civil rights record.

You can imagine my surprise at learning this knowing that Chabot has long supported the modern day version of the poll tax, the photo ID voting requirement. This measure would impose unnecessary barriers to vote for the most vulnerable American citizens - African Americans, the elderly, the poor and the disabled.

I was also surprised that Steve Chabot would claim my support knowing that he had also worked to cripple the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for years using his subcommittee to tie up the commission’s resources with false allegations of misconduct that had no merit.

And of course, Steve Chabot was one of those people who supported Ken Blackwell’s work in 2004 to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters

So, I took a flight from Detroit to Cincinnati and spent the day with Chabot’s opponent, a rising star in Democratic politics, John Cranley.

I joined John meeting with local ministers at the Southern Baptist Church. We discussed the issues that Cincinnati residents are facing and had a nice lunch. Reverend Pankie led us in prayer and it was good to see old friends again in the southern Ohio area.

Mr. Cranley and I also dropped by the radio show, the Buzz, where local DJ Jay Love interviewed John and I talking about the issues that face the African-American community in Cincinnati.

The Republican Chabot is the type of guy who would blame his opponent for the riots that occurred in 2001. No really. He’s been doing that. So Jay Love, Cranley and I had a good laugh over that and spoke to the Cincinnati audience about how important the upcoming election was and why they need to get to the polls.

I had a great time with John Cranley and hope to work with him in the 110th Congress. Right now it’s all down to turnout. Make sure you vote.

Politics1 Predicts a Cranley Victory

2006-11-03T23:02:00.000-05:00

Politics1 predicts a Cranley victory in OH-01!

(Founded in 1997, Politics1 is published as a non-partisan public service to promote fully informed decision-making by the American electorate. Our traffic statistics show that Politics1 continues to be one of the most popular political sites on the net. According to the WebTrends traffic report (as of the period ending July 22, 2006), Politics1 is currently recording over 480,000 unique user sessions, 927,000 page views, and 13.5 million hits per month.)

Cincinnati Herald Endorses Cranley

2006-11-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

I don't have the text of the endorsement yet. If anyone does, please post it as a comment or just email it to me. Thanks.

Enquirer - City Beat - Herald - all go for Cranley

Post - goes for Chabot

Reckoning OH-01

2006-11-03T11:48:00.000-05:00

I heard about the Cranley GOTV program yesterday. They certainly have their shit together.

I have heard conservative skeptics say that although Dems lead national polls for U.s. House races, what the polls don't measure is party and candidate GOTV efforts. In other words, Democratic campaigns are only as good as their GOTV efforts.

In OH-01, I think Steve Chabot would have a real chance of receiving 50%+ if Cranley had a poor GOTV program. Chabot would probably get 48-49% and the race would be very close, perhaps, if Cranley had a standard GOTV program.

But since the Cranley campaign really has a creative and organized GOTV program together, I wouldn't be surprised if Cranley surpasses what the OH-01 polls are saying -- especially if they get tons of independents and non-voters actually out to the polls.

From what I have heard about the Chabot campaign, they have the usual amount of volunteers lined up, but a sub-par GOTV program in place. Go figure.

From my perspective, this race is over. It leans more toward Cranley every time Chabot keeps lying in public. Moreover, Cranley has outraised Chabot on two fundraising cycles so far, he received THE most important endorsement in the race - the Enquirer - AND EVERY OH-01 POLL HAS CRANLEY TIED OR AHEAD OF CHABOT.

Steve Chabot still has not released ANY poll on his race, including the poll the NRCC ran for Chabot's campaign that had him way behind.

The OH-01 race is over.

On November, 7th, Cincinnati will have a Democrat controlled City council, a Democratic Mayor, a Democrat-controlled County Commission, a Democratic Congressman, a Democratic Governor, and a new Democratic Senator.

Chabot Lies Again! And Cranley Knocks Him Out...

2006-11-03T11:06:00.000-05:00

From the Cranley Campaign:

State of Denial: Chabot & The Jack Abramoff Orbit = $250K +
--Chabot denies any direct or indirect money from Abramoff Orbit--

Like Steve Chabot’s denial of giving billions in corporate welfare to oil companies despite all the proof that he did, Steve Chabot is telling people in Cincinnati the opposite of what he did in Washington on another subject – the Jack Abramoff culture of corruption.

Chabot went to Washington, running on the Republican Contract with America promising to clean-up congress: “to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives” and “to end its cycle of scandal and disgrace.” However, the Republican-controlled congress took a very different path. Steve Chabot joined his party in voting to loosen ethics rules, allowing more trips to be paid for by private interests and by changing the rules to protect Tom DeLay.

(SOURCES: The Republican Contract with America; H. Res. 5, Vote #4, 1/07/03; “Let them eat pizza!”, CBS News, 1/08/03; “Republican Revolution Fades,” USA Today, 1/22/03; “Loosening the rules,” USA Today, 5/20/05; “GOP to reverse ethics rule blocking new DeLay probe,” The Washington Post, 4/26/05; HR 5 Vote #6 1/4/05; HR 213 Vote #106 4/14/05; HR 241 Vote #145 4/27/05; Conservative News Service, 3/25/99; “House Republicans Act to Protect DeLay,” The Washington Post, 11/18/04)

Yesterday, on a 1230 AM WDBZ talk show, Steve Chabot was asked if he ever took any direct or indirect money from Jack Abramoff. Chabot denied that he had, despite a mountain of proof and previously admitting that he did.

Transcript:

- Caller: How are you today? Congressman Chabot let me, let me premise [sic] this. My son works on your campaign, I believe that you're going to win this race, but I have some, a couple real pointed questions.
- Chabot: Sure.
- Caller: Have you ever received, directly or indirectly, any monies from Jack - Abramoff or Tom Noe?
- Chabot: No.
- Caller: No to either one of those?
- Chabot: No to either of them.

It is outrageous that Chabot would say this. It is well-documented that Chabot has taken money from Abramoff’s clients, Abramoff’s partners, and from clients of Abramoff’s partners. The Associated Press even singled-out Steve Chabot for being one of 33 lawmakers who took official action for Abramoff clients, then got money from Abramoff clients. (“Lawmakers who wrote letters, got money,” The Associated Press, 11/17/05) Chabot even publicly gave up a small portion of the money he took from Abramoff clients. (“Chabot to pass money to charity”, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/07/06)

Steve Chabot needs to be honest with the people of the First District.

JACK ABRAMOFF’S ORBIT

Money Steve Chabot took for his campaigns from the Abramoff Gang
(source: FEC reports; Lobbyist Registration Forms; House Travel Forms)

1. Jack Abramoff
(convicted of corruption of public officials)
“Lawmakers who wrote letters, got money”, AP wire, 11/17/05
Clients of Abramoff who contributed to Chabot

$1,000 Chippewa Saginaw Indians**
03/01/04

$1,000 Agua Caliente Band of Indians**
07/30/03

$1,000 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians*
10/18/02

$1,000 Agua Caliente Band of Indians**
10/18/02

$1,000 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians*
05/15/02

$500 Pitney-Bowes
10/14/98

$1,000 Preston Gates
10/29/03

$1,000 Preston Gates
12/29/01

$500 Preston Gates
06/30/99

$300 Preston Gates
08/24/98

$500 Preston Gates
03/14/98

$500 Microsoft
06/29/98

Total: $9,300

Cumulative: $9,300

* = Also listed on Rudy’s lobbyist report
** = Also listed on Volz lobbyist report

2. Michael Scanlon
(pled guilty to corruption charges)

“Impeachment managers website to aid vulnerable republicans”, Conservative News Service, 03/29/99

“Politics”, Washington Post, 05/09/99 (est’d that Delay’s ROMP PAC, administered by Scanlon, would raise $200,000 - $500,000 for former impeachment managers)

Total: $200,000 +

Cumulative: $209,300 +

3. Tony Rudy
(pled guilty to conspiracy)

“Impeachment managers website to aid vulnerable republicans”, Conservative News Service, 03/29/99

Clients of Rudy’s who contributed to Chabot

$1,000 Time Warner Pres. Reed*
09/16/04

$1,000 United Parcel Service*
08/18/04

$4,000 American Bankers Association*
08/11/04

$1,500 Microsoft*
07/28/04

$2,000 Microsoft*
03/01/04

$1,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.*
06/22/05

$4,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.*
09/30/04

$1,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.*
08/17/04

$3,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.*
02/06/04

$1,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.*
10/31/03

$5,000 Nat’l Auto Dealers Assn.
09/29/02

Total: $24,500
Cumulative: $233,800 +

* = Also listed on Buckham’s lobbyist report

4. Neil Volz (pled guilty to conspiracy)

Contributions to Chabot:

$500
Neil Vol
05/01/03

Total: $500
Cumulative: $234,300 +

5. David Safavian (convicted of corruption)

Contributions to Chabot

$250
David Safavian
06/26/00

$250
David Safavian
03/28/00

Total: $500
Cumulative: $234,800 +

6. Ed Buckham (Dept of Justice investigating; named as un-indicted co-conspirator)

Clients contributions to Chabot

$500
Enron
06/28/99

$1,000
AT&T
11/06/03

$1,000
AT&T
06/17/03

$1,000
AT&T
07/05/02

$1,500
AT&T
12/29/01

$1,000
AT&T
10/25/01

$1,000
AT&T
06/22/01

$1,000
AT&T
05/18/01

$500
AT&T
10/25/00

$1,000
AT&T
09/30/00

$1,000
AT&T
06/30/00

$1,000
AT&T
03/04/00

Total: $11,500

Cumulative: $246,300 +

7. Korea-US Exchange Council

The Korea-U.S. Exchange Council is registered as a foreign agent and Steve Chabot accepted a trip from them from 6/26/04-7/01/04. The Council was formed by the lobbyist firm Alexander Strategy Group, run by Rudy and Buckham.

[“S. Korean Group Sponsored DeLay Trip”, The Washington Post, 3/10/05]

That trip was worth $7,742.

GRAND TOTAL: $254,042 +

GET YOUR WALLETS AND PURSES OUT NOW! Cranley needs last minute help!

2006-11-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

RETURN CINCINNATI TO GREATNESS!

The Cranley campaign needs last minute help. In order to get the last wave of radio and tv ads, a some more direct mailers out, they need some contributions.

If you want to see the closest race in the country go Democrat, DONATE NOW! If you want to see a Democrat controlled Congress, seriously, now is the best chance we have!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

[[ ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT !! ]]

Chabot and Oil, an interesting read

2006-11-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

From a recent Cranley PR:

CHABOT'S OIL STOCKS GUSH WITH PROFITS - 11/2/2006

CHABOT'S OIL STOCKS GUSH WITH PROFITS
--Chabot denies his votes that stand to benefit his oil stocks--

(Cincinnati -- OH-1) Chabot's oil stocks Gulf Island Fabrication and Encore Acquisition have reported another quarter of profits. SEE article on Gulf Island here and Encore Acquisition here.

This news follows a recent analysis of Chabot's stocks by The Cincinnati Enquirer:

"Chabot's investments have done quite well. Not including some small dividends, GIFI is up 24 percent since Chabot bought it. EAC is up 34 percent, and MTRX (boosted by some private contracts to repair facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina) is up 74 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 percent over the same period." (From "Ad Watch: Oily Welfare," The Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/24/06)

Chabot, however, still refuses to admit that he has been voting to give oil companies billions in royalty relief and tax breaks for oil companies. (Cranley-Chabot Waycross Debate 10/09/06)

Also, from the DCCC:

Cheney, Chabot Team Up for Oil Special Interests as Gas Prices Keep Rising

Oil Loving Duo Get Together for Special Interest Fundraiser as Ohio Families Pay More in Gas Than Ever Before. Fundraiser Will Cost Cincinnati Taxpayers Thousands

$1.07 Price per Gallon of Gas in U.S. When Chabot Took Office

$2.33 Price per Gallon of Gas in Ohio When Energy Bill was Signed

$2.70 Price per Gallon of Gas in Ohio Today

$2,000 Amount of Money From Cheney-Run Halliburton Accepted by Chabot

$76,350 Amount of Big Oil Money Accepted by Steve Chabot

$2.6 billion Amount in Giveaways to Big Oil Voted for by Steve Chabot

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, with gas prices on the rise, Vice President Dick Cheney is flying to Cincinnati for a campaign stop with Rubber Stamp Republican Steve Chabot. The high-dollar, special interest fundraiser that Cheney is holding for Chabot is just the latest one likely to net money from Cheney and Chabot’s friends in the oil industry. Cheney, the former oil executive who received widespread criticism for holding secret White House meetings with oil executives now making historic profits, has long been a proponent of big oil. Cheney has helped campaigns raise money and has pushed legislation in Congress designed to benefit big oil, but not the Americans paying record gas prices. Chabot, too, has been a supporter of big oil. He has taken more than $76,000 from the oil and gas industry over his career and just last year, voted in Congress to send at least $2.6 billion in taxpayer-funded giveaways to big oil. Chabot’s vote was for the Bush-Cheney special interest energy bill that does nothing to stop gas price gouging nor has it slowed the meteoric rise in the price at the pump.

“In Congress, Steve Chabot rubberstamps the Bush-Cheney agenda which sends sending billions to big oil. Meanwhile, back home in greater Cincinnati, families are pumping their wallets dry with record gas prices,” said Bill Burton, communications director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Greater Cincinnati families deserve a member of Congress who puts their interests ahead of the special interests and by bringing Dick Cheney in to campaign for him, Chabot confirms that a vote for him is a vote for the Bush-Cheney status quo. It’s time for a new direction in Washington because while Chabot and Cheney have been padding the pockets of big oil, Ohioans are paying more for gas than ever.”

Chabot Voted For Energy Bill That Sent Billions to Big Oil. In voting for the energy bill, Steve Chabot and Republicans in Congress supported a measure that did nothing to lower gas prices and gave short shrift to energy efficiency and renewable fuels all while sending $2.6 billion in giveaways to the oil and gas industry. [HR 6, Vote #132, 4/21/2005; Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 7/29/05]

Chabot Opposed Cracking Down on Price Gouging & Lowering Gas Prices. In 2005, Steve Chabot and Republicans in Congress voted three times against measures to provide the Federal Trade Commission with new authority to investigate and prosecute those that engage in predatory pricing, from oil companies on down to gas stations, with the emphasis on those who profit the most. This included price gouging of gasoline and natural gas, home heating oil and propane. [HR 3893, Vote #517, 10/7/2005; HR 3893, Vote #518, 10/7/2005; HR 3402, Vote #500, 9/28/2005]

Cheney Fundraisers are Expensive

It could cost upwards of $57,000 per hour to taxpayers. President Bush's plane, Air Force One costs $57,000 per hour. With Vice President Cheney soaring in to campaign for Steve Chabot, doesn’t Chabot have an obligation to repay taxpayers for this expense?

Question: Will Chabot Pay for Cheney’s Visit? Having the vice president come to town is a very expensive process. Between the cost of flying a plane like Air Force Two and landing it on a runway, the cost to local police and the cost to the city for traffic and other interruptions, a Cheney visit is a pricey affair. There is precedent for campaigns reimbursing their cities for the cost of these visits, as recently as a few months ago. Chabot’s colleague, Representative Chris Chocola, reimbursed two cities after a visit from President Bush. According to news reports, Chocola will send at least $12,000 to two cities as a result of costs incurred from extra security, and use of the airport. [Elkhart Truth, 3/4/06]

Chabot Whining - Enquirer Blog - Funny

2006-11-03T09:39:00.000-05:00

Chabot upset over latest Cranley radio ad - UPDATED

UPDATES BELOW.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory stumps for Democrat John Cranley in Cranley's latest radio ad, attacking Republican Rep. Steve Chabot for not joining him in signing a pledge to uphold the Voting Rights Act.

There's only one problem: Chabot held 12 hearings this year over the re-authorization of VRA, sheperded the bill through the House, and joined nationl civil rights leaders at the White House when the bill was signed into law earlier this year, so it can hardly be said that he doesn't support it.

His campaign is furious. Here's what they had to say in a news release e-mailed to reporters this morning: "John Cranley has broken his word and is again making false, misleading attacks about Congressman Chabot's work to renew the landmark Voting Rights Act. ... This is the second time that Cranley has lied about Congressman Chabot's support for the Voting Rights Act."

CLICK HERE to read a Cincinnati Post story about the first mistake where Cranley's spokesman Elliott Ruther acknowledged that the campaign goofed: "We'll make sure it doesn't happen again,'' he said at the time.

Chabot spokeswoman Jessica Towhey: "John Cranley should take a pledge to stop lying about the Voting Rights Act."

TEXT OF THE RADIO AD:

Mallory: "… this is a choice between the failed policies of George Bush and Steve Chabot. For a new direction for Ohio and America, I'm supporting my friend John Cranley because I know he can provide the kind of change we so desperately need. John took a pledge to protect the Voting Rights Act and to stand up for our civil rights. John invited Steve Chabot to join him in signing that pledge and you know what? We're still waiting. In fact, Mr. Chabot has run campaign ads attacking our city and attempting to (unintelligible) and that is just wrong. John is a unifying voice and he will work to create new jobs. He'll vote to raise the minimum wage. And he'll work the end the war in Iraq. This election is too important not to vote. Please join me, Mayor Mark Mallory, in helping elect John Cranley to Congress."

Cranley: "I'm John Cranley and I'm running for Congress. I approve this message because a time for change is now."

UPDATE: Cranley's campaign spokesman Elliott Ruther responds via e-mail:

"This is ridiculous. Steve Chabot has spent millions of dollars on tv, radio, billboards, mailers, direct mail and flyers attacking John Cranley with lies on social security, illegal immigration, Section 8, taxes, spending, pension, crime, population loss and more.

"However, it is true that Steve Chabot has refused to sign the John Cranley Voting Rights Pledge. Like the ad says, the Cranley pledge is to protect the Voting Rights Act and to stand up for civil rights by making it easier for all Americans to vote AND to fight against voter suppression schemes like the one Steve Chabot voted for repeatedly in 2005 that blocks nonprofits from using their own funding for nonpartisan voter registration if they wish to receive federal funding.

"Despite outreach, Chabot has refused to reverse his position on gagging non-profits who get federal help from non-partisan voting activities and sign the Voting Rights pledge. "

UPDATE UPDATE: Cranley responds via phone call to The Enquirer:

"He's trying to make it seem like we are saying something that we're not. Our pledge is much broader than he is making it out to be," Cranley said, adding that Chabot's vote against allowing non-profits to engage in get-out-the-vote activities, in his opinion, supresses the vote.

"Chabot is part of this overall nationwide effort, in my opinion, that is taking a step backward in terms of encouraging people to vote. You can't be for voting rights and vote supression at the same time," he said.

"I still encourage him to sign the pledge," he added.

AND HERE ARE THE COMMENTS:

8 Comments:

at 3:53 PM, November 02, 2006 Little Johnnyliesalot said...

Hmmmmm ... Cranley is lying again. There's a shocker. Imagine John Cranley lying. Hard to believe.

I wonder just how desperate he must be.

at 3:58 PM, November 02, 2006 Little Johnnydrinksalot said...

Cranley's pledge is an entirely different pledge altogether.

All together: "Cranley's pledge is an entirely different pledge."

You see, Cranley-ites, the with your misguided strategy is that the people know the difference between action and words. Holding hearings and shepherding legislation through a committee are actions. Pledges are just words. And giving Cranley's aversion to the truth, pretty cheap words at that.

Fortunately for the future of this country, the voters of the First District see through Cranley's lies.

Have another drink, Johnny. You're going to need it.

at 4:07 PM, November 02, 2006 Jon Carry said...

Cranley must be taking notes from the Kerry camp. Say something wrong but blame someone else and don't take ownership. Typical Demoncrat- no personal responsibility.

at 4:11 PM, November 02, 2006 Anonymous said...

Steve Chabot wasn't even responding to the ad.

There is a difference between the text of a pledge, and the text of a bill.

Hey Enquirer: Please define "sheperd" and please explain what actions Chabot took that constitute sheperding.

There have been ample amount of scientific studies that show the more often undecideds and people that usually don't vote actually vote, more than a majority of those votes go to Democrats.

THAT is why people like Chabot have been very careful while blocking legislation (like the new voting rights act) while at the same time publicly supporting it.

It's like the resolution vote for authorization for the war in Iraq. No Democrat wanted that resolution to come up for a vote, but once it was up, most Democrats were too afraid NOT to vote for it.

Steve Chabot is cleverly trying to dupe us. In fact, he's been doing it for 12 years. Duping time is over.

Vote for John Cranley.

at 7:57 PM, November 02, 2006 Anonymous said...

"However, it is true that Steve Chabot has refused to sign the John Cranley Voting Rights Pledge."
BUAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
That's a good one, Johnny!

at 8:47 PM, November 02, 2006 Anonymous said...

John Cranley wrote the pledge on a bar napkin soaked in beer. Needs to lay off the sauce.

at 12:00 AM, November 03, 2006 Anonymous said...

from: http://www.johncranley.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=844

CHABOT DEFENDS HIS VOTES TO GAG NONPROFITS & TAKE AWAY VOTER RIGHTS

Cincinnati, Ohio (OH-1) -- At taxpayer expense Steve Chabot held a short “townhall” meeting at the Urban League on the Voting Rights Act that limited citizen participation to a mere forty minutes, leaving about a dozen citizens with unanswered questions.

Citizens were very concerned about Chabot overseeing the strengthening of the Voting Rights Act when just last October of 2005 Chabot defied the National Urban League, NAACP, The National Voting Rights Institute, U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops and hundreds of organizations by voting to take away voting rights and gag nonprofits when he voted for House Amendment 596 to H.R. 1461.

Chabot defended his votes to prohibit nonprofit grantees from using their own funds to encourage citizens to exercise their rights to vote, by saying that “all money is fungible” even though federal law already restricts housing grants to only be spent on housing purposes.

Chabot’s Anti-Voter Rights & Nonprofit Gag Provision

Chabot voted to disqualify nonprofits from an affordable housing fund if they, or an affiliated organization, have engaged in any one of the following in the preceding 12 months or while applying for the funds:

-- All nonpartisan voter activities
-- Voter registration
-- Voter identification
-- Get-out-the vote
-- Public education & grassroots issue advocacy

“Under this bill, if you are a religious organization, and you maintain an elderly housing project, which are built with these funds, you cannot get a bus to take people to vote.” -- Rep. Barney Frank (D) who tried to take-out the anti-voter rights provisions, but was defeated by Chabot

-- Chabot is a member of the group, the Republican Study Committee, who crafted the anti-voter rights and nonprofit gag provision

-- Chabot voted for amendment that put the anti-voter rights and nonprofit gag provision into bill [H.AMDT.596, Y-210, N-205, 10/26/05]

-- Chabot voted against motion to strip anti-voter rights and nonprofit gag portions from the bill [Motion to recommit with instructions, Y-200, N-220, 10/26/05]

-- Chabot voted for final bill with anti-voter provisions [H.R. 1461 – Federal Housing Reform Act of 2005, Y-330, N-90, 10/26/05]

Bill Status
Chabot’s plan passed in the House & is now being considered in the Senate.

Links to more on the anti-voter measure:
OMB Watch - Group has comprehensive listings of testimony before congress, letters signed by hundreds of organizations opposing the measure and education on the effects of the gag.

at 12:02 AM, November 03, 2006 Anonymous said...

http://www.johncranley.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=859

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2006

CRANLEY SIGNS VOTING RIGHTS PLEDGE
TO FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION SCHEMES

(Cincinnati--OH-1) Today, Congressional Candidate John Cranley signed a pledge to the people of the First Congressional District of Ohio that he would fight for voting rights. Mr. Cranley will fight against new anti-voter schemes in Congress designed to suppress the vote AND will work to strengthen the Voting Rights Act.

Mr. Cranley was joined by Civil Rights Legend Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Congressman Artur Davis, who represents Birmingham and Selma (AL-7), and Former Vice Mayor Alicia Reece to support Mr. Cranley's candidacy and voting rights pledge.

Mr. Cranley's opponent, Steve Chabot, has cast votes designed to suppress voter efforts. Specifically, Steve Chabot has cast votes to stop non-profits from using their own funds for non-partisan voter registration activities if they wish to receive federal funding.

In October of 2005, The Republican Study Committee, of which Chabot is a member, crafted an anti-voter rights and non-profit gag provision that disqualifies non-profits from federal funding if they, or an affiliated organization, have engaged in non-partisan voter activities, voter registration, voter education, voter identification and/or public education and grassroots activity in the preceding 12 months or while applying for funds – with their own money.

Despite calls from hundreds of organizations, including the NAACP, the National Urban League, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to oppose this voter suppression provision, Chabot repeatedly voted for it. The bill is now in the Senate. [H AMDT 596, 10/26/05; Motion to recommit with instructions to strip out the anti-voter rights and non-profit gag provision, 10/26/05; HR 1461, 10/26/05 more at: http://www.ombwatch.org/gseresourcecenter]

Once elected to Congress, Mr. Cranley will make sure to fight against new voter suppression schemes, like the non-profit gag, and will work to strengthen voting rights.

Mr. Cranley's pledge:

VOTING RIGHTS PLEDGE

Whereas, the right to vote is a hallmark of American freedom; and

Whereas, the right to vote has not always been readily available to all Americans; and

Whereas, recent elections and actions by Congress have revealed that there are still forces within our country who will go to considerable lengths to make it more difficult for some Americans to exercise the right to vote; and

Whereas, every branch of government, and especially the United States Congress, should take whatever steps necessary to ensure that no American will ever be unfairly denied the right to cast a vote, and whereas Congress should take steps to prevent anyone from being discouraged from voting;

Therefore, I hereby proclaim that as an elected official, I will continue to work to uphold the precious right to vote and remove any and all barriers intended to discourage Americans from exercising that right; and

Further proclaim that, upon election to the United States House of Representatives, I will always vote to uphold the Voting Rights Act and support efforts to make it easier for Americans to take full advantage of the right to vote.

Proclaimed today, on the Seventh Day of July, 2006 by:

John Cranley, Candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Ohio’s First District.

NRCC Gives Chabot $237,197

2006-11-03T09:34:00.000-05:00

Damn. This race is getting more even every day.

Click here for the details.

Click here to donate to Cranley.

Let's win this!

Cranley Rally for Change: this Saturday!

2006-11-01T22:18:00.000-05:00

RALLY FOR A CHANGE IN CINCINNATI

Come out for a rally on election weekend to support John Cranley and David Pepper

Please join us for a final push this election weekend on Saturday, November 4th from 1-3 PM. The rally will feature John Cranley, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and David Pepper, Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner.

Rain or shine, this is our chance to take back Cincinnati and our country. Refreshments will be served. For those willing to take to the streets, Democratic campaign canvassing routes will be made available after the rally.

WHO: John Cranley, David Pepper, local Democratic Leaders

WHAT: Final Push rally on Election Weekend

WHERE: Home of Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune,

4689 Summit Oak Lane, Bridgetown, OH 45248

WHEN: Saturday, November 4, 2006 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Street parking available.

Any questions contact Brooke Hill, brooke.hill@johncranley.com

Chabot 'Bomb' Report: #6 on Google, #3 on Yahoo!

2006-10-31T23:00:00.000-05:00

Voters are finally getting honest web results that Steve Chabot doesn't want anyone to see...

Just search for "Steve Chabot" in Google or Yahoo and see what comes up...

MyDD in Cincinnati

2006-10-31T22:52:00.000-05:00

On The Ground in the OH-01

by Adam Conner, Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 12:43:54 PM EST

Yesterday I got a chance to sit down with OH-01congressional candidate John Cranley when I stopped by his campaign office. All eyes are focusing on his race against incumbent Steve Chabot. CBS Elections Analyst Dotty Lynch and Hotline Editor Chuck Todd have both named the OH-01 a bellwether race to watch as results come in on Election Night. Lynch notes:

There is no real bellwether, but my rule of thumb is to look at Republican incumbents in traditionally Republican states and districts to see how they are performing compared to last time for them and the Presidential vote in their states or districts...The Ohio competitive seats may be atypical because of the state's uniquely poisonous atmostphere, but OH-1 and OH-15 are my keys.

Before I spoke with the candidate, I met Marilyn Wellinghoff, a lifelong Cincinnati resident and an early volunteer for the Cranley Campaign. Marilyn is the kind of volunteer that campaigns die for, the indispensable kind who helps work long hours because she believes that Ohio, and America, are ready for change. Every campaign could use more volunteers like Marilyn and they're going to be one of our keys to victory on November 7th.

I spoke with John Cranley for a few minutes about how this election felt different then any other in recent memory, and he confirmed what I'd heard all over Ohio. The change message is especially powerful this year and a lot of Ohio Democrats are going to do well because of it.

Though young, Cranley seems a man of far more experience. He spoke quietly during our talk of his deep roots in the district and how the community needed a change. I asked him about how things were different from 2000, when he first ran against Chabot with no electoral experience and held him to just 53% of the vote. He said that the first time he ran he wasn't well known and was judged only be the D behind his name. Now, after being elected and re-elected to the Cincinnati City Council and building working relationships across the area, he much more than just a Democrat to the voters.

It's not easy to be the candidate in targeted, top-tier race (first wave of the DCCC's Red to Blue Program) running against a well-funded incumbent but Cranley seems to making all of the right moves at the right times.

One of the central points I discussed with Cranley was about his opponent, Steve Chabot, who came to Congress in the Republican Revolution of 1994. Wave elections have a tendency to sweep in weaker candidates but who, thanks to powers of incumbency, are difficult to remove. While other Ohio Congressman have quickly ascended through the ranks of power - Boehner to Majority Leader, former Congressman Rob Portman in the neighboring Second District to Trade Rep and then Head of OMB - Chabot has stayed firmly a backbencher in his 12 years in DC. The Cincinnati Enquirer noted this in its endorsement of Cranley:

He went to Congress in 1994, part of the Republican sweep of that year, but others with as much or less time in the House have risen further and faster.

Many of the Congressman from the 94 election have gone on to bigger things (Santorum, Frist, Brownback, Ehrlich, Ensign, Graham, Coburn) but some of those who are still congressmen, like Hostettler in the IN-08 and Bass in the NH-02, look to be in trouble this year. Ironically, a wave may sweep out those who came to power on a similar wave 12 years ago.

Later, as I talked shop with Cranley's campaign manager Luke Blocher (seen above hard at work), he challenged my assumption that this race was only about the national environment. "This race would be competitive even without a national wave," he said, arguing that Ohio's current political environment plus a strong candidate would've made this a race regardless. But that wave can't hurt either.

(I'll probably be returning to OH-01 to ride out the Election after this trip is over)

Yet Another Poll Showing Cranley Ahead

2006-10-30T22:24:00.000-05:00

Steve Chabot 46
John Cranley 48

Poll taken: Oct. 24-26

Poll taken by Constituent Dynamics, here's the details.

Chat with Chabot, Give Him an Earful

2006-10-30T08:16:00.000-05:00

Chat with Chabot online

Chat live with U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot from noon to 1 p.m. today at Cincinnati.com.

A log-in box will be posted on the front page of Cincinnati.com just before noon.

You can e-mail questions in advance to cweiser@enquirer.com or go to Cincinnati.com at noon and ask questions then.

Chabot, a Westwood Republican, is fighting to keep his 1st Congressional District seat against Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley.

Boston Globe Exposes Chabot's Taser Ad, Along with other NRCC ads

2006-10-29T22:54:00.000-05:00

Click here for the article, it's too long to post.

More Details of the New OH-01 Poll

2006-10-29T22:42:00.000-05:00

New DCCC sponsored Grove Insight Poll:

OH-01: John Cranley (D) vs. Steve Chabot (R-Incumbent)

Head to Head: Cranley 49%, Chabot 40%.

Of those surveyed, only 39% approve of Steve Chabot’s job performance and only 32% approve of Bush’s job performance.

[Grove Insight, 400 voters; October 26; margin of error 4.9%]

Cranley is ahead of Chabot by 9 points in head to head, and 4 points above the margin of error. That's pretty comfortable, considering the election is only a few days away. Unless John Cranley does something crazy on Halloween, it's safe to say we have a new Congressman!

Also, the undecided percentage seems to be around 11%. Considering Cincinnati residents only give Bush a 32% approval rating, I predict at least 55% of the undecideds go Cranley's way, but probably more like 63%. National polls show independents also leaning left quite a bit this election cycle.

John Cranley, start measuring the drapes.

New Cranley PR

2006-10-29T22:39:00.000-05:00

STAY-THE-COURSE-CHABOT REPEATEDLY VOTES AGAINST ACCOUNTABILITY IN IRAQ

Rubberstamp Republican Also Refuses to Hold Oversight Hearings on the War

(Cincinnati--OH-01) Steve Chabot sits on the Committee responsible for oversight on Iraq, the House International Relations Committee. He not only failed his constitutional duty of oversight, but he actively blocked investigation into the run-up to the war and ongoing operations.

Furthermore, he and his Republican Rubberstamp colleagues blocked congressional hearings on the issue of Iraq. It has been almost four years since the war began, we’ve spent over $300 billion, and Chabot’s committee refused any open government hearings from May 2004 to August 2006.

John Cranley is running for Congress to bring a change in Washington by restoring accountability to the people.

US Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) sits on the International Relations Committee with Chabot and came to Cincinnati Friday to talk about Chabot’s repeated votes against accountability and transparency. (See video) Chabot voted down several resolutions that demanded answers from the Administration on its handling of this war to its gathering of intelligence and its policies that affect the lives of our troops in harm's way. Here is a sample:

H Res 549 (Dec. 8, 2005 – Hinchey)
Bush Cincinnati Speech, Union Terminal
Bush made the uranium claims and Iraqi nuclear program in this infamous speech. This resolution asked for draft materials of the speech.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr351&dbname=109&

H Res. 505 (Nov. 5, 2005 – Kucinich)
White House Iraq Group
Requests the President and directs the Secretary of State to provide to the House of Representatives: (1) all documents from 2003 pertaining to the taskforce organized by Andrew Card, consisting of Karl Rove, Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin, Nicholas E. Calio, James R. Wilkinson, Condoleezza Rice, Stephen Hadley and I. Lewis Libby, known as the White House Iraq Group; (2) all drafts of all white papers concerning Iraq's nuclear threat assembled in 2003 by the Group; and (3) all documents, including notes from meetings, memos, telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the President or the Secretary relating to the Group. The allegation is that the Administration cooked the books and ignored the evidence of experts of both the reasons for the invasion and the aftermath of the bloody postwar. This group, it is alleged, convened with the sole intention of selling the war to the American public.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr291&dbname=109&

H. Res 408 (Sept. 14, 2005 – Hinchey)
Iraq Policy
Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Defense to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all documents in the possession of the President and Secretary of Defense relating to communications with officials of the United Kingdom relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr224&dbname=109&

H. Res 375 (Sept. 14, 2005-Lee)
Pre-War Intelligence
Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all information in the possession of the President and the Secretary of State relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr223&dbname=109&

H Res 419 (Sept. 14, 2005 – Holt)
Valerie Plame
Directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of the Secretary of State relating to the disclosure of the identity and employment of Ms. Valerie Plame.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr225&dbname=109&

2006-10-29T22:37:00.000-05:00

Helping voters obtain information about the 2006 election...

Steve Chabot

Jean Schmidt

Deborah Pryce

Joy Padgett

Sandra O'Brien

Greg Hartmann

Mike Turner

Mary Taylor

Mike DeWine

THE OH-01 RACE IS OVER!!! Cincinnati Enquirer Endorses Cranley; New Poll Shows Cranley Up 9 Points!

2006-10-29T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hallelujah in Ohio's First !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, the conservative and influential Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed (see below) John Cranley for U.S. Congress (OH-01). If I remember correctly, this is the first time the Enquirer has not endorsed Chabot as an incumbent. This is HUGE news. But here's more:

- A new DCCC poll from Grove Insight shows Cranley up 9 points
- FEC fundraising reports from yesterday show Cranley outraising Chabot again!
- This endorsement follows my prediction from a couple days ago that the Enquirer editorial board is intelligent enough to realize Chabot's time to go is now.
- Cincinnati CityBeat also endorses Cranley!

Enquirer endorses Cranley

The race for Ohio's First Congressional District offers voters a choice between a veteran worker and an energetic leader. It is time for the district's representative to pick up the pace. For that reason we endorse Democratic challenger John Cranley over incumbent Steve Chabot.

Cranley's generally moderate positions and his willing talent for coalition-building will best serve the diverse First District, which takes in most of Cincinnati as well as western Hamilton County.

For the past five years Cranley, a native of Cincinnati's West Side, has been an active and effective member of Cincinnati City Council. His hallmark has been an ability to forge nonpartisan alliances with other members to successfully tackle such tasks as passing balanced city budgets. In this campaign he has made much of the need for Congress to adopt a pay-as-you-go philosophy about federal spending. Chabot prides himself as a budget hawk, but he can't escape the fact that the federal deficit has grown to record heights under the Bush administration and its Republican-controlled Congress.

The energy Cranley brings to this race is refreshing. He understands that to achieve energy independence the United States must pursue conservation as well as exploration. Chabot has not supported strong conservation measures. But Cranley also supports what he calls a "man-on-the-moon" initiative to seek clean fuel alternatives that would break our dependence on petroleum imports once and for all.

The campaign for this seat unfortunately has featured the type of negative campaigning so prevalent in this year's election - a tactic that leaves voters distrustful of everybody. Cranley says Washington has "changed" Chabot, implying that "changed" is a synonym for "corrupted." Chabot is anything but corrupt, yet his commercial essentially blames the 2001 Cincinnati riot on Cranley and implies that the post-riot collaborative agreement led to the rising number of homicides in the city. In truth, the collaborative was unanimously approved by City Council and praised by then-U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Chabot has been a supporter of personal privacy and an ardent foe of abortion, spearheading efforts to ban so-called partial-birth abortions. An attorney, he serves on the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs and Small Business Committees, chairing the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution. He went to Congress in 1994, part of the Republican sweep of that year, but others with as much or less time in the House have risen further and faster.

Cranley also is opposed to abortion. He has law and divinity degrees from Harvard. His energy and willingness to work with those across the aisle will lead to him becoming an influential member, whichever party holds the majority.

Chabot has served with honor, but his effectiveness seems to have peaked. It is time for him to come home.

We support John Cranley for Congress.

Finally, a REALLY good new Cranley ad

2006-10-28T13:44:00.000-04:00

Cranley Outraises Chabot Again!! @#@!#%$#%^

2006-10-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

Cranley outraised Chabot

The latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Democrats in BOTH Cincinnati congressional districts raised more cash this month.

Victoria Wulsin of Indian Hill outraised Rep. Jean Schmidt of Miami Township in the 2nd District while John Cranley of Price Hill outraised Rep. Steve Chabot of Westwood in the 1st District. The latest reports cover Oct. 1-18.

Both Democrats, however, are still behind in the amount of cash in the bank.

Maybe personal appeals LIKE THIS ONE from Cranley will help change that?

And now, here are the breakouts on the 1st Congressional District race:

Rep. Steve Chabot (R):
Money Raised 10/1-18: $406,554
Money Spent 10/1-18: $574,837
Money in the bank: $565,201

CLICK HERE to read Chabot’s full report.

John Cranley (D):
Money Raised 10/1-18: $408,409
Money Spent 10/1-18: $249,861
Money in the bank: $277,575

CLICK HERE to read Cranley’s full report!

This completely caught me by surprise. Chabot clearly outraised Cranley in the last fundraising report, but this gain by Cranley is amazing. True, it's only $1-2,000, but the fact that he tied or even surpassed Chabot this late in the game is simply amazing.

Remember, the NRCC and DCCC are still funneling quite a bit of money into this race. This has the be one of the most competitive - if not THE most competitive - races in the country.

One last thing: remmeber, Chabot has STILL NOT released ANY polling reports on this race, which would lead me to believe that his pollster has yet to find ANY poll that shows Chabot leading. Cranley, on the other hand, has released several polls that show him either tied, a little ahead, or way ahead.

11 MORE DAYS!

Steve Chabot Commits Felony (Fuck You Steve Chabot)

2006-10-26T00:16:00.000-04:00

Chabot has produced a new “daisy ad” against John Cranley. This ad is up there with the racist one against Harold Ford, Jr. in Tennesse.

It’s so bad that the Chabot campaign will not release it until it’s already on the air – they don’t want to give the media and people like you and me more time before the election day to bash him for it.

In the ad, there is a white, pig-tailed, little girl wearing lipstick and eating an apple in what looks to be a 3rd grade class.

Try to imagine what horrible thing Steve Chabot is going to do to this girl in the ad to try to score some points for his re-election campaign…

He is going to taser her with two blue lightning bolts.

Steve Chabot consented to running an ad that shows a little, beautiful, perfect school girl, about to be brutally attacked by a taser gun.

Evil.

And guess who is shooting the girl?

John Cranley is, with his vote in City Council – WHICH WAS IN LINE WITH THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT – to maintain current laws surrounding police policies on taser guns.

So the FOP endorsed Cranley in the past, the CPD supported NOT changing a taser policy, and Cranley HELD FIRM his support FOR the CPD, and somehow Cranley is the big loser here?.... I don’t think so.

This ad is nothing. It has no content. All it has is some girl being shot by a taser gun because Chabot wants to scare people into voting for him.

F*** you Steve Chabot. I cannot think of any better thing to say to you. This is low, this is felonious... this is Blackwellion.

Please call Steve Chabot today to urge him not to air this horrible, shameful ad.

(513) 684-2723 (Cincinnati Office)
(202) 225-2216 (DC office)
(513) 481-9998 (campaign)
ChabotCups@ChabotforCongress.com (stupid campaign email)
(513) 381-5454 (Hamilton Co. GOP)
(202) 479-7000 (National GOP Campaign HQ)
(666) 666-6666 (Purgatory)

Clinton Event Photos

2006-10-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

Post-Clinton Visit Article

2006-10-25T23:08:00.000-04:00

Bill Clinton was in town to raise a lot of money for Cranley, the next Congressman in Ohio’s First District.

Here’s a good recap:

Clinton jabs GOP for Cranley
Fundraising visit part of effort to help Democrats take Congress
BY HOWARD WILKINSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Former President Clinton's trip to Cincinnati Tuesday was just like the good ol' days, back when he was traveling in Air Force One.

It had all the elements of Clinton in Cincinnati, circa 1996:
A packed house at a fundraising event, this time raking in about $300,000 for the 1st Congressional District campaign of Democrat John Cranley.
An unscheduled stop, this time at a Starbucks on Columbia Parkway on the way from Lunken Airport.

And, most likely, a split right down the middle between voters who were glad to see him back and voters who could live without him.
Clinton came to Cincinnati on Tuesday to jump feet-first into one of the most hotly contested House races in the country, in a year when his political party is putting it all on the line to win back the Congress that it lost 12 years ago on Clinton's watch.

This year is the perfect year for Democrats to take it back, the 42nd president told a crowd of about 600 who paid anywhere from $250 to $2,100 to hear him speak at the Millennium Hotel downtown.

Because the Republicans in Congress and the White House embraced "extreme ideology" and have kowtowed to special interests, Clinton said, "the Democratic Party can be the party of both conservatives and progressives.''

Clinton said the GOP campaign theme goes something like this:
"So we messed up, so Iraq's not going so well, and we probably shouldn't have put the head of the Florida Show Horse Association in charge of FEMA,'' Clinton said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.

"But you still have to vote for us, the Republicans say, because the other side will tax you into the poorhouse and on the way there, on every street corner, you will find a terrorist, and when you try to run, you will trip over a terrorist.''
Clinton's speech whipped up the crowd of Democrats, as Clinton speeches often do and gave Cranley's campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Chabot a quick infusion of last-minute campaign cash.

But how the former president's visit played with 1st District voters is, as it always has been, a matter of which voters you ask.

Bernice Swann of Price Hill wasn't among the 600 who ponied up at least $250 to hear Clinton at the downtown hotel Tuesday. That morning, she was out on Glenway Avenue waiting for a bus.

"I love Bill Clinton," she said. "He's so much better than what we got now. We had better jobs in those days. Better everything. I wish he could have been president forever.''

Nearby, Frank Turner, a Whitewater Township resident who was in Price Hill Tuesday morning to stop at an auto-body shop, said he was never much of a Clinton fan.
"With everything going on in the world, I don't see how he could have done much better than Bush,'' Turner said.

Voters in the 1st Congressional District were always of two minds about Clinton.
In his last election 10 years ago, when the 1st District was configured differently, Clinton won there with 52 percent of the vote, compared with 42 percent for his Republican opponent, Bob Dole.

But, in the same election, Chabot was elected to a second term in the U.S. House with 54 percent.

Tuesday, the Chabot campaign - which has brought its own political heavyweights to town, such as Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John McCain - had little to say about Clinton's visit. It issued a statement saying the 1st District race is "a contest between Congressman Chabot and a liberal John Cranley" and that Chabot stands for "stronger borders, lower taxes and safer neighborhoods.''

At the Millennium, Clinton - who also attended a private reception with couples who had contributed $4,200 and those who raised $10,000 for Cranley - argued that the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress have gotten little right: increasing the national debt by $3 trillion, cutting college financial aid and creating a Medicare drug plan that doesn't allow Medicare to negotiate prices with the drug companies.

"Every time, they choose the special interests' paths,'' Clinton said. "We are tired of them using ideology to divide people.”

Bill Clinton Warns of Chabot’s “Scare Tactics”

2006-10-25T23:06:00.000-04:00

Former President Raises Money For Cranley Race

CINCINNATI- Former president Bill Clinton helped raise money today to fuel Democrat John Cranley's stretch drive against six-term Republican congressman Steve Chabot.
Clinton told some 600 Democratic politicians and donors at a downtown Cincinnati hotel that people across America, quoting, "know there's something not right."
He says Cranley and other Democrats will win if voters don't believe what he calls, quoting again, "the fear tactics."

The Cranley campaign said the event would raise about 300-thousand dollars. Cranley was delighted with the boost from Clinton, who carried Ohio twice. But Chabot campaign spokeswoman Jessica Towhey says voters in the First District understand that the race is between Chabot and, quoting, "his liberal opponent."

.......Good one Chabby! Can’t call Cranley, a moderate, any other bad word than “liberal”? That’s ridiculous! Cranley is a moderate and you are the most conservative member of the U.S. House, freak.

Who, oh who, will the Enquirer endorse?

2006-10-25T23:03:00.000-04:00

Since the Cincinnati Enquirer already has endorsed a crazy man over Ted Strickland, I wouldn’t be surprised if they soon endorse another crazy man: Steve Chabot.

The Enquirer will endorse the most radically conservative member of the House of Representatives because:

1) It will be too hard for the conservative hardliners on the editorial board to go with anyone else. (Unless the Republican candidate is actually mentally ill, like Jean Schmidt, whom they did not endorse).

2) By not endorsing John Cranley, no feathers will be ruffled. People will interpret it as “same ol’, same ol’”.

3) By endorsing Chabothead, the Enquirer will provide its best effort to maintain the post-Nixon era Cincinnati Republican dominance.

Although the three reasons above are enough for me to end this discussion, I believe the Enquirer may actually go the other way and endorse Cranley.

Ask anyone in Cincinnati what Steve Chabot has done for them, and they will say either “I don’t know” or “I can’t recall anything specific”. Ask anyone what public policy sets Chabot apart from Cranley. A couple will say “abortion”, only to be told that Cranley is also a pro-lifer. Another will say “tough on defense,” only to find out that Chabot’s votes in Congress have actually made Cincinnati and the country more prone to a terrorist attack.

Ask the members of the Enquirer editorial board, David Wells, Byron McCauley, Ray Cooklis, Krista Ramsey, Tony Lang, and Shakila Ahmad, what Chabot has brought Cincinnati. They will actually give you a precise answer: Chabot has brought nothing specifically to Cincinnati, instead, he has sought to further President Bush and the GOP’s agenda in Congress, which, by most standards, has failed during the six years.

They will continue to explain that Chabot is a “good guy” with a “nice family” and isn’t afraid to break with President Bush (7% of the time). What they won’t mention is that other 7% is when Chabot votes MORE conservative than Bush!

In the end, the editorial board will realize that this isn’t the same ol’, same ol’ OH-01 election. They will realize that this is a chance to turn Cincinnati around. A new, excellent mayor is in at City Hall, the Bengals are frickin’ sweet this year, the banks is nearing completion, no one riots anymore, and Cincinnati as a city is really starting to turn around….

NO THANKS TO STEVE CHABOT!

The reason the Enquirer will endorse John Cranley is because now is the opportune time to back someone who has already proved to be effective and moderate. It is the right time because John Cranley’s ideas and views are mainstream with Cincinnati. And it is the right time, believe it or not, to turn the Cincinnati Enquirer (“Republican rag,” as some are now calling it) into a MAINSTREAM, MODERATE professional newspaper.

There are million reasons to go for Cranley, those are just a few, but after you all at the editorial board endorse Councilman Cranley, thousands of others will have a reason. Now is the time to represent your readers and advance our great city. God Save the Queen.

OH-01 Debate, Paris Hilton, and Paris Chabot

2006-10-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

Chabot, Cranley miles apart

BY HOWARD WILKINSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Whatever the topic – Iraq, North Korea, which of their campaigns has the most negative and distorted ads – the two candidates in the 1st Congressional District race were miles apart from each other in a televised debate Monday.

They even argued about Paris Hilton.

That’s right, Paris Hilton.

Republican incumbent Steve Chabot and Democratic challenger John Cranley – locked in a battle that is drawing national attention – went toe-to-toe for an hour at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Harriet Tubman Theater in a debate that was broadcast live on WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

Chabot stepped up his attacks on Cranley’s five-year record as a Cincinnati city councilman, while Cranley continued his campaign theme that 12 years in Washington “has changed Steve Chabot.”

“He is part of what is a do-nothing Congress at best, and a corrupt Congress at worst,” said Cranley, who will have former President Clinton in Cincinnati Tuesday campaigning for him.

Chabot, a six-term congressman who lives in Westwood, laid most of the city of Cincinnati’s problems at Cranley’s doorstep, saying that on Cranley’s watch, the city has seen its homicide rate has skyrocket, seen the highest population loss of any U.S. city, and has created a climate that discourages business growth.

“He wants to talk about change; this city – and I live in it – has certainly changed,” Chabot said. “Not for the better.”

Questioned by a media panel before a live audience split evenly between Chabot and Cranley supporters, each candidate accused the other of making false and misleading statements about the other in 30-second television ads.

Chabot said the ad “that gets under my skin the most” is one that says he voted against legislation to give troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan a $1,500 bonus.

“What that ad doesn’t tell you is that I voted to give all of our troops more, and to make it permanent,” Chabot said.

Cranley complained about ads by the Chabot campaign and the National Republican Congressional Committee that accuse him of supporting Social Security benefits for illegal immigrants.

“I don’t support that and I have never said anything like that,” Cranley said.

Hilton, the celebrity heiress to the hotel fortune, came up in a discussion of taxes.

Cranley mentioned her several times, saying that Chabot and the Republicans in Congress are more interested in doing away with estate taxes (Republicans call them ‘death taxes’) than in helping middle-class families.

“They made sure Paris Hilton got her estate tax-free and they do nothing to help families send their kids to college,” Cranley said.

Chabot said the estate tax relief helps small business owners and family farmers pass on their businesses to future generations.

“I don’t give a hoot about Paris Hilton,” Chabot said.

The two tangled over the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea, with Cranley blaming the Bush administration for making the situation worse.

Chabot said he agreed with the Bush administration’s strategy of working with “our partners in the region” and said China is “the nation with the most leverage on North Korea.”

The U.S. cannot depend on China for help, Cranley said, “Because we have no leverage with them. They’re our banker. They can just say to us, ‘you owe us money.’ ”

On Iraq, Chabot said he is “not a stay-the-course guy,” but said he opposes setting a hard-and-fast timetable either for U.S. troop withdrawal.

The recent upsurge in violence in Iraq shows that the Iraq government is not yet ready to go it on its own, Chabot said.

“Our principal failure is that we have allowed the Iraqis to become too dependent on our troops,” Chabot said.

“I haven’t heard any of that in Washington,” Cranley told Chabot. “Have you tried to stop Donald Rumsfeld from bullying our military?”

Cranley said he favors a “phased re-deployment so that the Iraqis will have to stand up for themselves.”

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com

Cranley-Chabot Debate Watch Party TONIGHT!!

2006-10-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

JOHN CRANLEY TO DEBATE STEVE CHABOT TONIGHT at 7PM, LIVE ON WCPO.

Join the campaign family at the debate watching party tonight at The Bistro, located inside the Millenium Hotel downtown.

Event Debate Watching Party at The Bistro

Date 10/23/2006

Time 7 - 8 PM

Details Meet at The Bistro in the Millennium Hotel on Monday night to watch the third debate between John Cranley and his opponent. Those attending the debate will be going to The Bistro afterward.

The candidates for Ohio's 1st Congressional District, John Cranley and Steve Chabot will debate on October 23, 2006 from 7 to 8 PM at the Freedom Center. There are 75 tickets available for the debate. If you would like to go, give us a call at 513.241.1777.

The debate will be broadcast live on WCPO, CET and WVXU, and will be streamed live on Cincinnati.com.

Ironic Quote of the Day From Chabot

2006-10-23T12:36:00.000-04:00

Admist reports that Chabot lied to Cincinnati high school students about his own votes, the Enquirer published this quote from him:

Steve Chabot, Republican incumbent, 1st Congressional District: "You don't do anything, say anything to win. Your character and your integrity are more important. Most of all, you tell the truth."

He must have meant to include an asteric that indicates he lies only during tough re-election years.

Chabot is a lying creep, and you heard that first here, on Ohio's First Blog, Cranley v. Chabot. Now back to you Norma.

Clinton OH-01 Pre-Visit Article in KY Post

2006-10-23T12:32:00.000-04:00

Though they've never met, Clinton to campaign for Cranley
By Joe Wessels
Post contributor

Clinton meet Cranley; Cranley meet Clinton.

It will be an unlikely first meeting of sorts for the two politicians, and a happy one at that.

Though they have never met in person, the two will be best of friends Tuesday afternoon at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. That's when former President Bill Clinton makes a stop in Cincinnati to stump for Cincinnati City Council Member John Cranley, a Democratic candidate for Ohio's 1st District.

For Cranley, it's an indication the globetrotting Clinton is taking his campaign seriously.

"It's certainly humbling," Cranley said. "He wouldn't be coming if he didn't think we could win. And we wouldn't be doing it unless we thought he could give us some help."

And help he will.

The event is expected to raise $300,000. Tickets range from $250 to $1,000, based on where your seat will be to hear Clinton's remarks. Plus those who contribute more than $4,200 get a photo opportunity with Clinton before he takes the stage.

The event starts at 2:30 p.m., with doors opening at 2 p.m. - a time later than was previously announced.

Clinton is making appearances for only three candidates running for the House of Representatives, all in tight races, said Elliot Ruther, Cranley's campaign manager.

Cranley said he plans to ask Clinton for advice on his campaign, plus acknowledge Clinton's other work since leaving office, including the former president's outreach and fund-raising to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa and his work to combat global warming. "He is using his influence to make a good impact on the world."

With just 17 days until Election Day, Cranley said he is confident in how his race is going but with relative political obscurity on the national scene, he is a little surprised by the attention he is receiving. "As a challenger, no, I never expected it," he said.

Incumbent Congressman Steve Chabot, Cranley's opponent in the race, is not bothered by Clinton's appearance. In fact, he thinks it will portray Cranley negatively, said Jessica Towhey, communications director.

"Washington's liberal leaders are pulling out all the stops to get Cranley elected," she said.

Neither Cranley nor Ruther knew what the former president plans to say in his address or if he would meet with the local media.

But Cranley was fairly sure of one thing on Clinton's agenda.

"I'm pretty sure he is going to encourage people to vote for me," Cranley joked.

Make that $198K for Cranley from the DCCC

2006-10-23T12:31:00.000-04:00

I don't know where all these figures come from:

In Ohio's 1st Congressional District, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent another $198,000 this week to buy and produce ads attacking Republican Congressman Steve Chabot of Cincinnati. So far, the committee has dumped $617,945 into the race.

I was wrong, Cranley gets the full $780K

2006-10-23T12:26:00.000-04:00

I heard two days ago that Cranley, Space, and Kilroy aren't actually splitting that $780K from the DCCC, they all are receiving it; for a total of $2.3m!

Who cares about Cranley being behind Chabot in the last fundraising report. He will have a million dollars in a week (the DCCC plus Bill Clinton's visit tomorrow may add an additional $1,000,000 or more!!!!).

Chabot Boldly Lies To High School Students

2006-10-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

From a Cranley PR:

CHABOT SLASHES STUDENT LOANS,
TELLS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HE DIDN'T

Chabot says one thing in Cincinnati, does the opposite in Washington

(Cincinnati -- OH-1) Yesterday, at a First District Congressional exchange for McAuley high school seniors, Steve Chabot denied his vote to cut over $12.7 Billion in student loans. Chabot also denied his vote to raise interest rates on student loans. What's worse, Chabot falsely claimed he increased student loans, even though he voted for the largest single cut to student loans in history.

This is just the latest example of Chabot voting one way in Washington -- like giving billions in royalty relief to oil companies -- then telling everyone in Cincinnati he did the opposite. Washington has changed Steve Chabot, it is time we make a change in congress.

Congressional candidate John Cranley promises to fight for supporting student loans and proposes to make college more affordable through tax credits and deductions.

Chabot voted for the largest single cut to student loans in history
Chabot recently voted for “the largest single cut” to student loans in history which will “increase the debt burden of students and their families” and "raises interests rates"...

"Congress raised interest rates on Stafford loans to a fixed 6.8 percent. Right now, rates on Stafford loans, which are variable and reset each year, are as low as 4.7 percent, the paper said. Stafford loans are popular among students because they don't have to demonstrate need to qualify for one.

The new legislation also raises interest rates on Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students to a fixed 8.5 percent from a variable rate currently set at 6.1 percent, the Journal said. Also known as PLUS loans, these loans are granted to parents rather than students.

The move to fixed rates will cost students and their families thousands of dollars over the life of the loan, the report said, citing estimates from Mark Kantrowitz, a financial aid expert."

(SEE ARTICLES AND CHABOT'S VOTE:
“Students to face heavier debt burden,” CNN Money, 2/08/06;
“Congress gets an F for student loan move,” The Chicago Sun-Times, 2/06/06;
"Concerns mount over higher rates on student loans," San Francisco Chronicle, 3/06/06; HR 653 Vote #4, 2/01/06)

HAD ENOUGH? ELECT CRANLEY TO CONGRESS

Chabot Won't Even Respond to Enquirer Web Chat Invite (With Cranley)

2006-10-20T09:39:00.000-04:00

Cranley will do live web chat Oct. 27

John Cranley, running for the 1st Congressional district seat, will do a live web chat at Cincinnati.com on Oct. 27 from 12 to 1.

Victoria Wulsin, the Democrat running for the 2nd Congressional district, is doing a live web chat tomorrow, Friday Oct. 20, from 12 to 1.

You can ask questions live - or simply comment on the chat - or you can email questions in advance to cweiser@enquirer.com

The Enquirer still has outstanding invitations out to the two Republicans in those races: Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood, and Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Township.

NRCC-Pulled Chabot Ad May Head to Ohio Election Commission

2006-10-20T09:36:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer, and first posted by our friends at Take Back Cincinnati:

ATTACK AD YANKED

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) yanked a TV ad attacking Democratic congressional candidate John Cranley on immigration, after the Cranley campaign complained to Cincinnati TV stations that the charges in the ad were false.

But the Cranley campaign is not letting the issue alone - it filed a charge Tuesday with the Ohio Elections Commission, which set a hearing on the complaint for Thursday.

The 30-second TV ad said Cranley supports legislation that would "let illegal immigrants receive Social Security benefits," a claim the Cranley campaign says is not true.

The claim is based on a Cincinnati City Council resolution passed in March that urged Congress to pass an immigration reform bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.

When a campaign challenges a TV ad, federal regulations require that the ad be pulled temporarily to allow the campaign or committee sponsoring the ad to offer proof of its claims.

WCPO-TV (Channel 9) general manager Bill Fee said that after the Cranley campaign filed its complaint Friday, the NRCC voluntarily pulled the ad.

But the Cranley campaign filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, which investigates false claims in ads. If the commission finds probable cause that the ad violated election law, the commission will conduct a full-blown investigation.

San Diego Newspaper Examines Immigration in the OH-01 Race

2006-10-20T09:33:00.000-04:00

Illegal entry a hot issue in Ohio

By Finlay Lewis
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
October 18, 2006

CINCINNATI – Leaning on a shovel as his three-man landscaping crew turned over sod at a local shopping mall, Jude Adkins stewed over what he considers the personal economic threat posed by low-wage competitors.

“The kind of work we do, the Mexicans are basically cutting our throats. They shouldn't be here,” declared the 30-year-old owner of an outdoor services company. “They should be arrested immediately and gotten the heck out of here.”

Adkins' remarks underscored the roiling emotions that have made illegal immigration a hot-button issue in a congressional race more than 1,800 miles from San Diego and the U.S.-Mexico border.

The closely contested battle in Ohio between Republican incumbent Steve Chabot and Democratic challenger John Cranley is not unique. Candidates in such disparate states as Arizona, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Montana, Indiana, Georgia and Minnesota are focusing, with varying degrees of intensity, on immigration.

Congress has groped – futilely so far – for a solution to the challenges posed by the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants who have settled in communities across the nation.

Like Chabot, many GOP candidates – and some Democrats – have framed the remedy in terms of border security, with the centerpiece solution embodied in a bill awaiting President Bush's signature: 700 miles of fence along the most porous points of the 2,000-mile border. In so doing, they have tacitly repudiated Bush's insistence on a comprehensive solution that includes a path to citizenship, saying his approach would amount to “amnesty” – a dirty word in today's political climate.

First lady Laura Bush appeared with Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot at a campaign event in Cincinnati. Chabot is trying to extend his 12-year stint in the House.
For Republicans, exploiting popular anger over illegal immigration may help mobilize their core voters, who might otherwise stay home on Election Day in discouragement over an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq, a huge federal deficit and the scandal over a former congressman's sexually explicit electronic messages to congressional pages.

That strategy could be risky over the longer term given U.S. Census Bureau statistics that project decades of growth for the Latino population. Many political experts link the weakening of the Republican Party in California to then-Gov. Pete Wilson's hard-line stance on Hispanic immigration during the early 1990s.

“I think it would be a very bad strategy for our party to decide we are going to rerun the Pete Wilson 1990 campaign – you know, we are the party that hates immigrants more. That would be disastrous for us,” said Brian Nienaber, a Republican pollster.

But many Republicans see a more immediate problem in predictions that the GOP could lose as many as 30 seats – and its majority – in the House. Democrats must gain 15 seats to regain the majority they lost in 1994.

Democrat John Cranley, who hopes to unseat Chabot, paid in August to lower the price of gasoline temporarily to $1.26 a gallon at a station in West Price Hill.
“I think they have thrown caution to the winds,” said Gary Jacobson, a political scientist at the University of California San Diego. “They are far more interested in short-term political gain than they are on long-run political damage. I think they have discounted the future pretty heavily. It is based on their individual districts. This is not something that is going to come back and haunt Chabot in his district.”

At first glance, the Cincinnati area would seem an unlikely flash point in the immigration debate, which burns with greatest intensity this year in places like Arizona, whose 361-mile border with Mexico has been the crossing point of choice for many illegal entries. Whereas a third of Arizona's population is Latino, the 2000 census found that 1.3 percent of Cincinnati's population of 317,361 claims that ethnic background.

Perhaps more significant politically is that the Hispanic population of Cincinnati and surrounding Hamilton County grew by 83 percent during the 1990s, according to the Census Bureau. The suddenness of that development has captured the attention of longer-term residents, some of whom feel threatened by the newcomers.

A recent reader survey by The Cincinnati Enquirer reflected that unease, finding that illegal immigration ranks with crime and drugs as the top concern of voters this year.

The anxieties prompted Chabot and Cranley to trade angry television ads attacking each other's record on immigration.

With polls showing a tight race, Chabot, a 12-year congressional veteran, triggered the fight with an ad accusing Cranley, a member of the Cincinnati City Council, of supporting “amnesty” for illegal immigrants.
Chabot based his claim on a council vote cast by Cranley in March supporting a bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican. The measure outlined a comprehensive approach similar to Bush's.

Cranley fired back with an ad chastising Chabot for doing nothing to solve the immigration problem and for backing several measures that Cranley characterized as providing an amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Bush has promised to sign the border security bill that includes the fence. But in a news conference last week, he argued that the problem is too complex to lend itself to an enforcement-only solution. He renewed his support for a temporary guest-worker program that would allow immigrants into the country for limited time to work on specified jobs.

“You can't fence the entire border,” Bush said. “I happen to believe that in order to make the entire border secure we need a guest-worker program so people aren't sneaking in in the first place.”

Chabot last spring dissented from that approach, saying, “I think it is a mistake to even consider a guest-worker program until we have better control of our borders.”

White House press secretary Tony Snow said that Bush, too, opposes amnesty, contending illegal immigrants would have to pay penalties and meet other conditions to gain legal status. He said that the president's detailed proposal constitutes “a real test of desire to figure out who wants to be an American citizen.”

“I think people who clear those hurdles will have demonstrated their bona fides,” he said.

In Ohio, where state government scandals have left the Republican Party in disarray, generating excitement among the GOP faithful could be crucial to candidates like Chabot and may explain his decision to invest in three separate television ads devoted to the illegal immigration issue.

While the issue helped Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad, capture Randy “Duke” Cunningham's vacant House seat in June's special election, it has not figured prominently in the fall campaigns in California.

That may be due in part to the absence of competitive congressional races in November, Jacobson said.

DCCC Spends $12m on More Races; $780K split between Cranley, Kilroy, and Space

2006-10-20T09:28:00.000-04:00

DCCC Pumps $12 Million Into Races In One Day
By Eric Kleefeld

Game on: Yesterday the DCCC pumped a staggering $11,859,818.68 into 32 races in 17 states, new filings with the FEC show. Here's what's noteworthy in the Dems' money drop:

* Notably, almost half of the cash — $5,042,707.45 — was spent on three House races in Pennsylvania alone, on ads targeting incumbents Jim Gerlach, Curt Weldon and Mike Fitzpatrick. Meanwhile, the DCCC spent another $107,185.28 against incumbent Republican Don Sherwood.

* The DCCC made its first-ever buy — $332,601.56 — for ads targeting GOP candidate Michele Bachmann, who is fighting a challenge from surging Dem Patty Wetterling.

* Some $778,546.77 was pumped into three races in Ohio, targeting GOP Reps. Steve Chabot, Deborah Pryce and Joy Padgett.

* And $649,694.19 went to three races in Indiana, targeting GOP Reps. Chris Chocola, John Hostettler and Mike Sodrel.

Cincy Post Looks At OH-01 Debate

2006-10-20T09:27:00.000-04:00

Chabot, Cranley pump up supporters

By Joe Wessels
Post contributor

It is easy to tell Election Day is less than three weeks away.

If it was not apparent on either the faces of Congressman Steve Chabot or Cincinnati City Council Member John Cranley or in the barbing comments during their second-to-last 1st District congressional debate Wednesday evening, it was in the raucous reactions of the crowd.

About 150 people, each getting tickets from the candidate's campaign they were supporting and mostly West Side residents, gasped at nearly everything when they didn't like what they heard. Or they applauded in support, even when opposing candidate attacked their candidate on an issue they supported.

Cranley asked Chabot to apologize for some TV ads running now accusing the Cranley of supporting giving Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants. Chabot, on a property rights question, said Cranley "did not know what (he is) talking about."

Thus set the tone for the approximately one-hour debate at the Delhi Township Senior Center.

Cranley is aiming to take back for the Democrats the seat Chabot has held since beating then-incumbent and former Cincinnati Mayor David S. Mann in 1994. Democrats had held the seat for 12 years prior, with Tom Luken serving 1982 through 1990, when his son and former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken took over for one term.

"My opponent and his liberal allies have spent a lot of money attacking me," Chabot told the crowd, which included his mother, sitting in the front row, and the mother of one of Chabot's campaign workers who gasped at nearly every comment Cranley made.

When asked about his voting record - he votes for President Bush's initiatives 92 percent of the time - Chabot said he often agrees with Bush, but sometimes does not. Cranley shot back that the other 8 percent, he's more conservative than the president. Supporters of both candidates erupted into applause.

Polls have the two in a neck-and-neck race and have garnered the attention of both national political parties.

"Chabot, Cranley swap barbs" at first OH-01 Debate

2006-10-19T08:42:00.000-04:00

Chabot, Cranley swap barbs
The issue's Section 8 on the West Side

BY HOWARD WILKINSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
DELHI TOWNSHIP - Here on the West Side of the 1st Congressional District, Wednesday night's debate between Republican incumbent Steve Chabot and Democratic challenger John Cranley started not with international politics or economics, but with an issue close to home - Section 8 housing.

The two candidates, locked in one of the most hotly contested House races in the country, argued about a scenario that has concerned many West Side residents - the potential for the spread of government-subsidized housing in their neighborhoods.

In the hour-long debate at the Delhi Senior Center, Chabot told the crowd of about 200 - almost all of them residents of the West Side - that Cranley, a Cincinnati city councilman, is the architect of a plan called the "impaction ordinance," which would cut city funding for any project that would lead to an increase in public housing in city neighborhoods saturated with it.

The real aim of the "impaction ordinance," Chabot said, is to put more low-income housing in the suburbs, where, he said, it would likely lead to an increase in crime.

"My opponent's plan is to push it out into Delhi Township and Green Township and our other communities," said Chabot. He said he voted for legislation stripping $800 million out of the budget for Section 8 low-income housing.

Many in the crowd cheered Chabot's remark, even though moderator Dave Wagner, the WLWT channel 5 news anchor, had warned the crowd not to cheer, boo or make any other remarks.

Cranley responded by saying that it was "ridiculous" to blame a city councilman for a program that is the responsibility of the federal government.

"All of the problems with Section 8 have happened on your watch," Cranley said.

"They are exclusively the responsibility of the federal government."

Cranley said that the owners of apartment buildings and other properties who accept Section 8 housing vouchers have a political action committee, which he claimed has given $10,000 to Chabot's re-election campaign.

"I don't know what he's talking about," Chabot said after the debate. Chabot said he might have received contributions from the apartment building owners, "some of whom do Section 8 housing and some of whom don't."

After the debate, Chabot's chief of staff, Gary Lindgren, also claimed that Cranley's campaign has received contributions from owners of low-income housing in Cincinnati.

The debate - a mix of questions from a media panel and several submitted by the audience - was a contentious affair, with each candidate claiming the other is lying about him in television ads.

Cranley told Chabot that "your allies" in the Republican party are running TV ads claiming that Cranley supports giving Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.

"Absolutely untrue," said Cranley. "I have never said anything like that. It is not true."

Chabot said he supported House legislation that authorized a fence to be built on the U.S.-Mexico border. Chabot pointed out that Cranley voted for a council resolution supporting Senate legislation that would give some illegal immigrants a chance to become U.S. citizens.

"Listening to you, you'd think Cincinnati City Council controls the Mexican-U.S. border," Cranley said.

Chabot had his own beef with a Democratic TV ad criticizing him for voting against bonuses for service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chabot said the truth is he voted, instead, for legislation giving all service men and women a 4 to 6 percent raise.

The two congressional candidates will meet for a final time Monday night in a debate at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com

First 'Real' OH-01 Debate Tonight

2006-10-18T13:36:00.000-04:00

A Cranley email to supporters:

JOHN CRANLEY TO DEBATE STEVE CHABOT TONIGHT AT THE DELHI SENIOR CENTER - 647 Neeb Road @ 7PM

After dragging their feet for months, the Chabot camp has finally agreed to debate John Cranley in front of the people of the 1st District. Although we have had many smaller debates and candidate nights at which John has been able to contrast his vision for our country with the status quo message of Chabot, tonight is the first large scale debate with media panelists.

We have a limit of 100 tickets for tonight's debate with Steve Chabot and we want YOU to be there! Our campaign will be handing out tickets to our friends at the door. Please call the office if you will be attending so we can reserve a ticket for you (241-1777).

DETAILS:

WHAT: Debate between John Cranley and Steve Chabot
WHEN: 7pm tonight
WHERE: Delhi Senior Center - 647 Neeb Rd, 45238

You will need a ticket to enter the debate. Look for JIM GINOCCHIO in a "Cranley for Congress" T-shirt starting at 6:00 at the entrance to the building.
Thanks, as always.

Chabot Raises More Direct Funds, Cranley May Have More Indirect Funds

2006-10-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

First read the Enquirer blog posting, including the posts here.

It appears with the Darth Cheney etc fundraisers, Steve Chabot has clearly edged out Cranley this reporting period, which was expected.

Rep. Steve Chabot (R):
Money Raised 7/1 - 9/30: $699,122
Money in the bank: $733,484

CLICK HERE to read Chabot's full report.

John Cranley (D):
Money Raised 7/1 - 9/30: $402,471
Money in the bank: $119,027

CLICK HERE to read Cranley's full report.

RAbid Blog, don't get too excited.

The DCCC has been pouring in tons of money into the First District for Cranley, as has labor unions, even running commercials bashing Chabot.

Chabot, on the other hand, has been receiving weak support from the NRCC.

In summary, Cranley could have done better this reporting period, but it's really not that big of a deal. There are around 20 days left in this campaign. Cranley commercials on are 24/7, and many more are on the way. Polls have continued to be favorable, and Chabot has STILL refused to release ANY poll!

We have a race on our hands. If the recent campaign finance reports say anything, this race may have moved from a "lean Democrat" to a "tie".

Donate money now! Click here to do so.

"One candidate wants to stay, other wants change"

2006-10-15T11:39:00.000-04:00

One candidate wants to stay, other wants change
BY KURT BACKSCHEIDER | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-1st District) said he wants to continue fighting for working families; Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley (D) said it's time for a change.

The television commercials are airing more frequently and the debates are getting more heated as November approaches and Chabot tries to retain his congressional seat against Cranley.

Voters in the first district have until Tuesday, Nov. 7, to make up their minds.

Chabot, 53, Westwood, was first elected to the house of representatives in 1994, and is seeking re-election to serve a seventh two-year term.

He said he and his opponent differ on many issues, including immigration, spending, taxes and crime.

"I stand for and have been working to crack down on illegal immigration," Chabot said. "I am for border patrol."

...Wow, isn't that amazing that Chabot proclaimed he is "for border control". That really means a lot. That's like saying "I am for a better economy" or "I am for succeeding in Iraq". Chabot has a vague platform because he is not closely engaged in any important issue like immigration, the war in Iraq, or improving government services in OH-01...

He said the Citizens Against Government Waste have given him the highest lifetime score among all active congressmen for voting against wasteful spending, and he voted to approve tax credits for children, reducing capital gains taxes and lowering taxes across the board.

"I supported the tax cuts that have resulted in the economy turning around," he said.

Chabot said he has voted to cut Section 8 public housing vouchers and is also among the toughest in the House when it comes to cracking down on crime and protecting victims.

"I think my opponent is far too liberal for this district," he said.

"The people in this district know me. They know I stand up for the taxpayers, the small business people and the parents trying to raise their families in safe neighborhoods."

Chabot said he feels confident the people will make the right choice.

Cranley, 32, a Democrat who lives in Price Hill, said he threw his hat in the ring because he thinks Congress can do a better job in the war on terrorism, national security and representing their constituents in Washington, D.C.

"They've failed and we need to make a change," he said.

"Generally they do nothing, and generally they're caught up in corruption and scandal -- that seems to be their biggest accomplishment."

He said the current members of the house of representatives failed to have adequate checks and balances regarding the war in Iraq, have not implemented recommendations of the 911 commission and have done little to decrease the deficit.

Cranley said he wants to raise the minimum wage, implement the recommendations of the 911 commission for national security and develop a plan to be energy independent within the next decade.

He said he also wants to make sure the voices of the people in Ohio's first district are represented on Capitol Hill.

"I represent a different direction," he said.

"The fundamental question is do we need a change or should we stay the same? We need change."

Enquirer Endorses a Democratic Challenger Against a Republican Incumbment: Pepper v. Heimlich

2006-10-15T11:35:00.000-04:00

The Enquirer actually chose NOT to endorse a local Republican incumbent office holder Phil Heimlich, and instead go with the aspiring Democratic challenger for the county commissioner seat.

This gives hope toward a Cranley endorsement from the Enquirer editorial board.

Both Cranley and Pepper have similar political backgrounds, both entering City Council around the same time, both being moderate, and both having the guts to take on big challenges.

I assume they realize it is time for change in Cincinnati. Let's hope that hope extends beyond county limits.

Chabot Bill Angers Many

2006-10-15T11:28:00.000-04:00

Steve Chabot has introduced an important piece of legislation. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it's actually true. However, the bill isn't important because of the potential of public good, instead, it's important because, if passed, it could do horrible things to towns all over the country.

To top it off, Chabot admitted to the Enquirer that he doesn't even know the practical effect, once implemented, such a law would have.

Here's the Enquirer article:

Chabot property bill debated
Owners could contest local codes federally
BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A property-rights bill written by U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot - and recently passed by the U.S. House - would allow developers and other property owners to sue in federal court if local zoning regulations restrict the use of their property.

The bill expands the national debate over eminent domain - the principle that allows government to take private property for public use - into a related but more obscure area of the law known as "regulatory takings," in which the government doesn't take the property but decreases its value by restricting what the owner can do with it.

Along the way, Chabot's bill - titled the Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 - has propelled the property rights issue into election-year politics and a congressional floor debate over a Cincinnati lawyer's resume.
ADVERTISEMENT

Chabot said citizens should be allowed to go to federal court when their rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are violated. And the Fifth Amendment says "no person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

"People deserve the same protections as they would any other constitutional protection, like freedom of speech, freedom of religion - and freedom from having your property taken from you," he said.

Bill opponents - including environmentalists, city planners and 36 state attorneys general including Ohio's Jim Petro - say the bill would eviscerate local control over land use, allowing big developers to bulldoze local zoning laws to build what they want, where they want.

"This bill is an attack on homeowners," said John D. Echeverria, director of the Environmental Law & Policy Institute at Georgetown University, "because a typical homeowner plans to stay there, they're not building anything. The typical homeowner depends on zoning regulation to protect their communities and the property values."

The bill passed the House, 231 to 181, the week before Congress recessed for the campaign season. It faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which is out of session and will have only a few weeks of "lame-duck" proceedings before the 109th Congress adjourns.

Even Chabot says he doesn't know what practical effect the bill would have.

[[Read More]]

Cranley at the Enquirer Editorial Board

2006-10-13T09:21:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer blog:

Cranley at Enquirer

John Cranley was at the Enquirer editorial board Thursday morning, making his case that he is the mainstream candidate in his 1st Congressional District contest with Republican incumbent Steve Chabot.

“Steve’s a personable guy, an affable guy, but he is at the extreme right wing of the spectrum,’’ the Democratic Cincinnati city councilman told the editorial board. “He doesn’t represent the diversity of the district.’’

Cranley pointed out that, two years ago, President Bush won the 1st District presidential vote with only 51 percent.

The editorial board is interviewing congressional candidates individually before making endorsements in the race. Chabot, the six-term congressman, is scheduled to appear before the board Tuesday morning.

Chabot the Hypocrite at Laura Bush's Visit

2006-10-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

First he invites President Bush's wife in for a visit to raise money so he can keep his job.

After she leaves, he goes outside the Union Terminal and tries to separate himself from Bush.

Chabot is a corrupt, weak, lying, fool. This is the only time we can get rid of him. Here's an article on my post:

Bush here for Chabot fundraiser
BY HOWARD WILKINSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

QUEENSGATE - First lady Laura Bush heaped praise on Rep. Steve Chabot - while barely mentioning her own husband - at an afternoon fundraiser at the Cincinnati Museum Center that put another $170,000 in Chabot's re-election campaign fund.

Moments after she left, Chabot was on the sidewalk in front of the Museum Center, telling reporters that, as grateful as he was for the help, he couldn't promise to support the Bush administration on every issue, every time.

"When I agree with the president, I vote with him,'' said Chabot, who is in a tough re-election battle with Democrat John Cranley, whose campaign is running a TV ad with a fake President Bush thanking Chabot for his support.

"When I disagree - like I did with the Medicare prescription drug plan - then I vote against him,'' Chabot said.

The Hill Monitor, an independent Congress watch group, recently said Chabot voted with the Bush administration position 92 percent of the time - which ranks him at the bottom among area Republican members of Congress.

At the $1,000-a-plate fundraiser, Mrs. Bush - who is far more popular than the president in local and national opinion polls - gave a 10-minute speech in which she thanked Chabot for supporting Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, which she said have helped create 5.7 million new jobs.

"And Congressman Chabot is helping Ohio's families by making sure tax dollars are being spent wisely,'' she said.

Speaking in the same building where, four years ago, her husband made a major speech laying out his case for going to war in Iraq, Bush led a standing ovation for four families in the audience. They were the families of three area Marines from Lima Company killed in Aug. 2005 - Lance Cpl. Michael Cifuentes of Oxford, Lance Cpl. Christopher Dyer of Evendale, and Sgt. David Kreuter of Miami Township - along with the widow and father of Benjamin Moore of Hamilton, an Army sergeant killed in training.

"There are a lot of unfortunate ads out there; a lot of special-interest money my opponent has paid for that distort my record,'' Chabot said in his remarks to the crowd.

"For a professional politician, he sure is a crybaby,'' Cranley said. "He's practically said that I am responsible for 400 murders in Cincinnati and you don't hear me whining about it.''

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com

Cranley Chabot Voter Forum

2006-10-12T21:47:00.000-04:00

Chabot, Cranley At Price Hill Candidates Forum

Reported by: 9News
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: 9News
First posted: 10/10/2006 11:11:06 PM

Several candidates made a push for their election in a couple weeks in Price Hill candidates forum Tuesday night.

Most of the candidates at the forum live on the West side.

The candidates for Congress, Steve Chabot and John Cranley, had five minutes each to explain to Price Hill voters why they deserve to be elected, as well as taking shots at the other over the city's crime.

"When my opponent went to Congress in 1994, there were roughly 300 Section-8 vouchers in Price Hill," said Cranley. "Now, there are 1200."

"It's a community I care a lot about and I don't like some of the things I see happening," responded Chabot, "and some directly relate to the failures of my opponent on his time on Cincinnati city council."

Chabot says Cranley was heading the Law and Public Safety meeting that got out of control the day before the April 2001 riots.

Enquirer Exposes Lies in Another Chabot Ad: 2001 Cincy Riots

2006-10-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

You know Steve Chabot's campaign is hard up when one of the main things they're attacking Cranley for was his role in the build up to the Cincinnati riots. Anyone that knows anything about riots and civil unrest knows just how complex and dynamic they are. For instance, Cincinnati's Congressman at the time - STEVE CHABOT - is also to blame.

Of all elected officials, community leaders, police officers, and others to blame, John Cranley should be on the very bottom of the list. It was his first months in Council, he was a freshman just back from Harvard, and he led one City Council meeting that got a little crazy - which isn't unusual these past few years.

So according to Chabothead, it must be all John Cranley's fault.

That argument is so baseless it really doesn't even deserve a blog post. Oh well, if Chabot's going to run so blatant lies, I may as well set the record straight; better yet, let's have the Enquirer do it for us:

What did Cranley do during 2001 riots?
Ad Watch
BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

ABOUT THE AD

"Riots," a 30-second television ad from the Steve Chabot for Congress campaign. It attacks the record of his Democratic opponent, Cincinnati Councilman John Cranley. It started running last weekend.

Male announcer: "Cincinnati riots. April 9, 2001. The Enquirer said John Cranley 'lost control' of the Law & Public Safety Committee at the start of the riots. Cranley admitted he didn't know what to do. So Cranley turned his back on the police and voted to pay off riot sympathizers with millions of our tax dollars. The result: almost 400 murders, and a 16 percent increase in violent crime. John Cranley lost control, and we're still paying the price." Chabot: "I'm Steve Chabot, and I approved this message."

STRATEGY

The Democrats-are-soft-on-crime strategy is a GOP staple. In fact, some of the most powerful language in the Chabot ad - "riots," "turned his back," "riot sympathizers" "millions of ... dollars" and "murder" are identical to key phrases in the commercial Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich is now running against his Democratic challenger, former Councilman David Pepper.

FACT CHECK

The footage of that fateful committee meeting will haunt Cranley for his political career, and he knows it. He had been on City Council exactly four months when the police shooting of Timothy Thomas led to bedlam in City Council chambers. Things only got uglier when an angry mob - getting no satisfaction from city officials - poured out into the streets and started riots that lasted four nights.

The 2001 quote from The Enquirer that John Cranley "lost control" of the committee meeting is accurate. But it came in an editorial endorsing him for election to City Council. The full passage, in context, said: "Democrat John Cranley, appointed last year to succeed Todd Portune, also has been a strong consensus builder. He has proposed hiring 75 more police officers and curtailing the development of new subsidized housing projects within the city. Mr. Cranley has made some beginner's mistakes, most notably when he lost control of the Law and Public Safety Committee at the start of the April riots. But he has since regained his feet and shows promise of real leadership in the years to come."

The police-reform agreements, passed unanimously by City Council in 2002, were supported by politicians across the political spectrum, including two Republican councilmen (Pat DeWine and Chris Monzel) and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The Fraternal Order of Police was also a signatory to the agreement, and the national president was present at the signing ceremony. Cranley was endorsed by the FOP for City Council twice after he supposedly "turned his back" on them.

It's not entirely clear who the "riot sympathizers" are that Cranley voted to pay off. The vote for the Collaborative Agreement, which settled a federal class-action lawsuit alleging racial profiling, called for changes in the Police Department and outside monitoring. The reforms cost taxpayers millions, but none of that money went to "riot sympathizers." The plaintiffs had their legal bills paid for through private contributions.

Although no one has scientifically proved a causal relationship, it's well documented that arrests declined and violent crime soared after the riots. But to imply that Cranley is personally responsible for 400 murders is a hyperbolic quantum leap.

RESPONSE

"It's pathetic that Steve Chabot is viciously attacking Mr. Cranley's proven crime-fighting record," Cranley spokesman Elliott Ruther said in a written statement. "Chabot's attack cites a unanimous vote of City Council that was endorsed by the police and the FOP. To blame Mr. Cranley for the crime in our city - which Chabot has represented for over 20 years - is a cheap shot and underscores how desperate Chabot is to hold onto power at any cost."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com

VISUALS: Television news footage of 2001 riots, followed by video of Cranley chairing the raucous April 9 Law & Public Safety Committee meeting. It ends with swirling newspaper stories and headlines about crime.

Enquirer Exposes Chabot's New Misleading Ad - Gameshow

2006-10-10T14:54:00.001-04:00

From the Enquirer:

Looking at Cranley's 'Game Show'
Ad Watch
BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
ABOUT THE AD

"Game Show," a 30-second ad from the National Republican Campaign Committee for the 1st Congressional district race between Republican incumbent Steve Chabot and Democrat John Cranley. The ad started running Tuesday.

SCRIPT

Announcer: "Who was the biggest spender on City Council? The Cincinnati Enquirer says John Cranley. Cranley 'spent the most' and had the council's highest payroll. And with that record of spending our tax dollars, it's no surprise John Cranley voted in support of higher taxes and tax rates eight times. After all, somebody has to pay for Cranley's big spending. And John Cranley seems to think it should be you. The National Republican Congressional Committee paid for and is responsible for the content of this message."

STRATEGY

It's a tried-and-true page from the Republican playbook, painting Democrats as profligate spenders and tax-hiking liberals. Cranley, a Democratic Cincinnati councilman, is challenging incumbent Republican Steve Chabot for Congress.

FACT CHECK

The "biggest spender" claim is an accurate representation of a 2003 Enquirer story, "Council Members Cut Budgets, But Not Their Own." The previous year, Cranley spent $98,393 on his council office, ranking him first among the council nine. Most of that went to payroll; Cranley had three full-time employees when most members had only two. All the council offices combined account for about 0.1 percent of the city budget.

Chabot, by comparison, has the second-highest payroll in the region's six-member House delegation, with a projected $935,519 annual payroll, according to first-quarter salary data obtained by Legistorm, a non-partisan provider of congressional information.

The claim that Cranley voted to raise taxes eight times is less tenable. Of the eight votes cited in the GOP ad, two were on resolutions expressing the city's opposition to state tax policies, three were non-binding votes asking future City Councils to reduce taxes (including one proposal counted twice - once when Republicans proposed it and again when the city manager wrote a report saying it was a bad idea), and one was an objection to an Over-the-Rhine liquor license - which had nothing to do with taxes or spending.

That leaves only two votes on ordinances to raise taxes, both in 2002: a 37 percent increase in the hotel tax (a tax the hotel industry actively lobbied for in order to expand the convention center), and the application of the city's earnings tax to visiting athletes and entertainers (known as the "jock tax").

RESPONSE

"It's another false, misleading, and hypocritical ad paid for by Chabot's Washington friends to deflect attention from their fiscal failures," the Cranley campaign said in a written statement. "The fact is, while Chabot and the Republican-controlled Congress turned record surpluses to record deficits in Washington, Finance Chairman Cranley turned multi-million-dollar deficits into balanced budgets, held the line on city spending, and cut property tax rates for five consecutive years with bipartisan support."

How was the OH-01 Debate?

2006-10-10T14:54:00.000-04:00

I missed it, please let me know your comments.

New DCCC ad Against Chabot - Hilarious

2006-10-07T08:44:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer:

Anti-Chabot ad implies he's sucker for lobbyists' shrimp

'People ... know that Steve Chabot is a fish-stick kind of guy and proud of it'
BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
AD: "Fish Sticks," a 30-second ad produced by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

SCRIPT: Female announcer: "We sent Steve Chabot to Congress to do a job for us. But nearly $3 million from Washington special interests has changed Congressman Chabot. While we stretch our paychecks to pay for gas and groceries, housing and health care, Chabot has lost touch with Ohio's working families."

Actor, presumably portraying a Washington lobbyist: "You have to try the shrimp."

Actress, portraying working mom: (To son) "You have to eat your fish sticks."

Announcer: "Election Day, tell Steve Chabot the party's over. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

VISUALS: A blurry portrayal of a Washington cocktail party, juxtaposed with a family sitting down to dinner.

STRATEGY: Steve Chabot's image has always been of a regular West Side guy who hasn't changed his hair style - much less his politics - in 25 years. Democrats, trying to win back a swing seat that they held for 20 years before Chabot took it in the "Republican Revolution" of 1994, are trying to convince voters that Chabot isn't the same guy they sent to Congress 12 years ago.

FACT CHECK: In the language of attack ads, "special interest money" means campaign contributions from political action committees. According to Political Moneyline, a non-partisan group that tracks campaign money, Chabot has taken $2.8 million from PACs since he first ran for Congress in 1988. That's 40 percent of his campaign contributions. Opponent John Cranley has taken $428,813 in PAC money - or 28 percent of his total - in his two bids to unseat Chabot.

But that's campaign money. The ad also suggests that Chabot is being wined and dined by those special interests.

Chabot's lobbying disclosures show that he's taken $31,662 worth of travel - including $2,522 in meals - from interest groups since 2001. Most of that money came from foreign governments and foundations, for travel related to his work on the Foreign Relations Committee.

But Chabot has also been known to frequent West Side fish fries during Lent, and still lives in the same $174,300 Westwood home he bought in 1985.

RESPONSE: "Sounds like the political gurus at the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee have been sipping too much champagne at their Georgetown cocktail parties," said a written statement issued by Chabot campaign press secretary Jessica R. Towhey. "Here's the thing: People in this community know that Steve Chabot is a fish-stick kind of guy and proud of it."

Cranley and Wulsin want House Leader Change

2006-10-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

As former FOX NEWS commentator and current White House Press Secretary Tony Snow travels to the First District today to campaign for Chabot and Schmidt, Cranley and Wulsin held a press conference to demand a new leader to replace Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.

I have a feeling we will see a new leader soon, though it may be after the election (one way or another).

Cranley, Wulsin want leader change
THE ENQUIRER

Democrats John Cranley and Victoria Wulsin will hold a joint press conference today at 11 a.m. to demand new leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives.

They say that a growing number of Republican leaders like Speaker Dennis and Majority Leader John Boehner continue to change their story on what they knew about former Rep. Mark Foley's conduct in the congressional page scandal.

Wulsin and Cranley want a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation and if any House member knew about Foley's actions and failed to act they should resign.

Cranley is running against Rep. Steve Chabot in the 1st Congressional District. Wulsin is challenging Jean Schmidt in the 2nd District.

White House press secretary Tony Snow will be in Cincinnati today to campaign for Schmidt and Chabot.

Jewish Group Rates Chabot as One of the Worst

2006-10-06T11:49:00.001-04:00

National Jewish Democratic Council PAC Unveils Backwards 18

18 Members of Congress "are the worst of the worst for the Jewish community in the 109th Congress."

NJDC PAC today unveiled its Backwards 18, a list of the 18 worst members of Congress up for re-election this November on issues of importance to the American Jewish community. These 18 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representative hold positions and have legislative records in direct contrast to the mainstream of the Jewish community.

The members of the Backwards 18 are:

Senator George Allen (VA)
Senator Conrad Burns (MT)
Representative Steve Chabot (OH)
Representative Barbara Cubin (WY)
Senator Mike DeWine (OH)
Representative Mike Ferguson (NJ)
Representative Mike Fitzpatrick (PA)
Representative Scott Garrett (NJ)
Representative J.D. Hayworth (AZ)
Representative John Hostettler (IN)
Representative Randy Kuhl (NY)
Representative Marilyn Musgrave (CO)
Representative Ron Paul (TX)
Senator Rick Santorum (PA)
Representative E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (FL)
Representative Don Sherwood (PA)
Senator Jim Talent (MO)
Representative Curt Weldon (PA)

U.S. Representative Steve Chabot (OH-1): Representative Chabot, currently in his 6th term in the House, is anti-choice and an outspoken supporter of the radical right. Chabot has a 97 percent voting record with the National Right to Life Committee since 1997. He has also earned a near 100 percent voting record with the Christian Coalition since 2000. In the 109th Congress, Representative Chabot opposed legislation which would have permitted the federal government to conduct stem-cell research and has voted for legislation permitting employers to discriminate in their hiring practices based on religion. In Ohio, Representative Chabot fought to expand state science curriculums to include "Intelligent Design."

Jewish Group Rates Chabot as One of the Worst

2006-10-06T11:49:00.000-04:00

JOHN GLENN TO BOOST CRANLEY !!!

2006-10-05T21:45:00.000-04:00

John Glenn doesn't just campaign for anybody, but he is going to for our own JOHN CRANLEY!

From the Enquirer Blog:

Former astronaut to campaign for Cranley

Well, he’s also a former U.S. senator: John Glenn.

He’ll be in Cincinnati for a John Cranley for Congress fundraiser on Oct. 26. That’s just two days after former President Bill Clinton headlines an event for Cranley, a Democrat trying to unseat Republican Rep. Steve Chabot.

Looks like the party really is bringing in the big guns for Cranley’s campaign.

Not to be outdone, however, Chabot has already hosted fundraisers with Vice President Dick Cheney and White House strategist Karl Rove. He also is hosting first lady Laura Bush at a luncheon fundraiser next Wednesday.

What this all means? Lots of money will be on hand for TV ads from both campaigns as we get closer to the Nov. 7 election.

George Bush's Wife Comes to Town; Irony Sets In for Chabot

2006-10-04T13:26:00.000-04:00

From a Cranley PR:

Today, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Steve Chabot will return to where President Bush first made the case that Iraq was a nuclear threat to the United States with a Bush fundraiser. (The Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/04/06)

Today, is also the five year anniversary of when Steve Chabot took to the floor of the House and pushed for war with Iraq -- warning of an Iraqi nuclear threat.

Chabot's speech was made days before we responded to bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan:

“I personally believe that Iraq, and Saddam Hussein in particular, ought to be—I think he has given us more than enough reason to put him up there with Osama bin Laden in this war against terrorism. And if we are serious about ending, destroying and stopping international terrorism, we absolutely have to target Saddam Hussein… What I have said, and I firmly believe, is that the loss of life that this Nation suffered just a few weeks ago in New York and here in Washington, DC and in Pennsylvania, as terrible as it was, pales in comparison to the potential loss of life next time if chemical or biological or, God forbid, nuclear weapons are used sometime in the not-too-distant future in this country. And that is why it is absolutely critical that we prevail in this war against terrorism. And I believe Saddam Hussein has to be a principal target of that war. I would urge the Administration to include him in those people that we absolutely have to get rid of.”

-- Steve Chabot, October 4, 2001, LINK: U.S. POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EASTAND SOUTH ASIA OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Pederasty in the People's House: Comparing Cranley and Chabot's Solutions

2006-10-04T00:25:00.000-04:00

So far, one married, Republican Congressman has been identified as having inappropriate sexual relationships with male teenage pages. However, I suspect more went on in-person than online.

So what does Congressman Chabot have to say about the possible institutionalization of gay statutory rape among his peers in his place of employment?

Chabot said calling for a special prosecutor is "probably premature," but said he wouldn't rule out the idea "if it can be shown that it would help get the facts out."

...So twelve years ago, when two adults (Clinton and Lewinsky) engaged in consensual sexual relations, Chabot was the first to call for an investigation from a federal prosecutor. Now that the tables are turned, and the spotlight is one Republicans, not Democrats, Chabot has adopted a "wait and see" approach! Coincidentally, this is the same approach that he has adopted for the Iraq crisis!
Cranley, on the other hand, has the moral standard to recognize that 50 year old adults messing with 15 year old boys is not just wrong, it's sinful. Any further information or even a possible cover-up should be exposed.

Cranley said an internal investigation by the House Ethics Committee, as ordered by the House last Friday, is not enough.

"They can't investigate themselves," Cranley said. "This calls for an independent investigation by a special prosecutor."

What's worse than the horrible acts is a party leadership knowing about it, and sweeping it under the carpet to avoid negative press (all the while, more boys being attacked by Congressman Foley and possibly others).

All Members of Congress, including our own Steve Chabot, should adopt Cranley's view on this matter.

Cranley PR on Congressional Page Scandal, or NAMBLA

2006-10-03T11:15:00.000-04:00

Cranley: Special Prosecutor Needed to Investigate Republican Leaders on Foleygate

Washington has changed Steve Chabot: Chabot should do the right thing for once and hold his leaders accountable

(Cincinnati -- OH-1) Today, Congressional candidate John Cranley held a press conference calling on congress and his opponent, Steve Chabot, to launch an independent investigation with a special prosecutor to discover what Republican House Leadership knew regarding the Foleygate scandal. According to their own words in news reports, Republicans leaders, like Hastert and Boehner, knew about Foley’s activities up to a year ago. Why didn’t they act then?

Steve Chabot was elected to congress in 1994 on a platform to reform ethics in congress. Chabot maintains he hasn’t been changed by Washington. (“I don’t change,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/05/06) Yet, when Tom DeLay was in trouble, Chabot voted to change the rules to protect him. (LINK)

Cranley is calling upon Chabot to demand a special prosecutor to investigate Republican House leadership. Chabot should not be hampered by the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Republican leadership has given to him this election cycle.

House Leaders Boehner & Hastert Fumble Around Scandal with Retractions

Numerous news reports indicate that House leaders Boehner & Hastert knew about Foley's actions for over a year. News reports also have Boehner & Hastert both changing and retracting their initial statements in response to Foley’s resignation Friday:

“As the scandal broke, Hastert contended he learned of concerns about Foley only last week. But after Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R-NY) said Saturday that he notified Hastert months ago of Foley’s emails to a 16-year-old boy, the speaker did not dispute his colleague, and Hastert’s office acknowledged that some aides knew last year that Foley had been ordered to cease contact with the youth.”

-- “FBI to Examine Foley’s E-Mails,” The Washington Post, 10/02/06

“Boehner indicated early Friday to the Washington Post that he knew in late spring and told Hastert, but later retracted that statement, saying he could not be sure he had spoken with Hastert. Boehner could not be reached Sunday for comment.”

-- “Boehner under fire in e-mail scandal,” Dayton Daily News, 10/02/06

What did they really know, and why didn’t they act?

Chabot--Top 5 Recipient of Republican Leadership Money--$228,308

When Chabot was elected to congress in 1994, he ran on the Republican Contract With America, promising to clean-up congress “to restore accountability to Congress” and “to end its cycle of scandal and disgrace.” (The Republican Contract With America)

Chabot should return to that pledge and join Mr. Cranley in calling for a special prosecutor to investigate what House Republican leaders knew and did regarding Foley. The fact that Mr. Chabot’s campaign coffers are lined with Republican leadership money through the efforts of Hastert and Boehner, should not hamper Chabot in seeking the truth.

-- According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Steve Chabot is a top 5 recipient of House Leadership money with $228,308 taken as of 6/30/06. LINK

-- Hastert – Speaker Hastert was Chabot’s fundraising guest for an Indian Hill fundraiser that was sponsored by the Tom DeLay created PAC ROMP. News reports say that Chabot raised around $100,000 from the event. Hastert’s Keep Our Majority PAC gave Chabot $10,000 on 11/21/05 and Hastert for Congress gave Chabot $4,000 on 3/17/06. (“Alexander, Chabot and others to get help from ROMP event,” The Hill, 3/02/06; “Chabot aims earmarks at places linked to donors,” The Hill, 9/16/06; FEC reports)

-- Boehner – Chabot backed Boehner to be the new majority leader and took $10,000 from Boehner’s Freedom Project PAC. (FEC Reports)

Flashback: Chabot is 100% with Bush

2006-10-03T11:12:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the user that posted this, it really caught me off-guard. This is a 2003 WaPo article that shows Chabot's loyalty with his crazy President, and NOT any "independent mindedness".

Chabot backs Bush, touts action in Iraq

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Shelly Whitehead
Post staff reporter

Sounding a bit like a commander rallying the troops for battle, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot told Northern Kentucky business and community leaders Friday that he is "100 percent with the president" in the plan to disarm Iraq.
About 100 people attending the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce monthly government forum luncheon in Covington heard Chabot, R-Westwood, of Cincinnati, detail the threat he feels Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein poses and why war with Iraq may be the only way to stop that threat.

"My greatest fear if we do nothing is Saddam Hussein, when he gets nuclear weapons, he'll provide (them) to terrorist organizations -- and we can literally lose cities," said the five-term congressman.

Though he is hopeful the U.S. can avoid war with North Korea, Chabot said he could not say the same for Iraq. He said short of the increasingly unlikely possibility that Hussein will seek foreign exile, military action appeared likely.

When pressed for why United Nations weapons inspectors have not presented more proof Iraq is producing weapons of mass destruction, Chabot said he believes President Bush will come forward with such information before any U.S. military attack on Iraq begins.

"Since Saddam is doing most of the stuff underground, it's not stuff we can see from satellites," Chabot said in explaining why there has been no visual proof of Iraqi arms production.

"And we have to make sure we don't jeopardize the people we have on the ground. -- Saddam is very brutal. -- My belief is that the American public will be satisfied when we give more information before (taking) any military action."

Chabot, who co-chairs the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, just returned from a trip to Taiwan and Japap. He said the nine- member congressional delegation worked to build support in Taiwan and Japan for the fight against terrorism and controlling the growing threat posed by North Korea.

He said though it now appears North Korea was "cheating all along" and may well have several nuclear weapons, he is still hopeful the conflict can be resolved diplomatically. He acknowledged the threat North Korea presents, however, with weapons currently capable of striking Alaska, Seoul, and thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea.

Though recent national polls indicate Americans are most concerned about the economy right now, the issue fell further down on Chabot's agenda.

Sounding less enthused about the president's economic plan than his Iraqi war plan, Chabot nonetheless called Bush's economic stimulus package "a good one," designed to work by cutting taxes. But Chabot said he would like to see some additions, like further cuts in both the capital gains and government spending.

He stressed that even though Republicans are the majority on Capitol Hill, that doesn't guarantee legislation furthering the GOP's agenda can get the necessary votes. "A lot of people think Republicans can do anything they want because they have control. -- But it's really not like that."

Publication Date: 01-27-2003

Chabot Whining About Hilarious Cranley Ad

2006-10-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer:

Cranley calls on 'president' for campaign

BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

AD: "The Call," a 30-second television spot for John Cranley for Congress, airing since Friday.

SCRIPT: John Cranley: "I'm John Cranley, and I approved this message." Sound of speed-dialing. Voice mail message: "Hello, this is Congressman Steve Chabot. If you would like to leave a message, we'll get back to you as soon as possible." President Bush impersonator: "Chabby, Dubya here. Wanted to thank you for voting for my agenda 92 percent of the time. Appreciate you supporting my plan to privatize Social Security. Loved your vote for those oil company tax breaks. And, uh, thanks for not asking any pesky questions about Iraq. Steve, I know I can always count on you. Gotta go. Bye, now." (Click.)

VISUALS: A "transcript" of the imaginary voice mail message appears with photos of Bush and Chabot. The spot opens with "When George Bush needs a vote, he knows who to call," and ends with, "It's time for a change."

STRATEGY: This ad follows a national Democratic strategy of painting GOP congressmen as "rubber stamps" for the president, and it's a direct attack on one of Chabot's biggest perceived strengths - his reputation as an independent-minded Republican who can't be arm-twisted even by his own party.

FACT CHECK: The ad discloses, in small print for three seconds, that the voice is of a "celebrity impersonator" - but the ad uses the real voice of Chabot and puts the transcript in quote marks as if it were an actual conversation. Sophisticated voters are unlikely to be fooled, but the Chabot campaign calls this tactic a clear intent to "confuse and mislead voters."

The 92 percent pro-Bush voting record, which comes from the non-partisan Hill Monitor, actually puts Chabot at the bottom of the area's House delegation. Still, he ranks in the top half of Republicans nationally.

Chabot did support Bush's energy plan and was on the conference committee that approved an energy bill that provided tax incentives for oil companies boosting production - and for those that build nuclear, coal, solar or wind-powered electrical plants.

Chabot's position on Social Security has been somewhat murkier. He told Butler County business groups in 2002 that he favored individual savings accounts for part of Social Security, saying, "I have more faith in people to invest their money than the government." But he has also signed a pledge not to support any plan that would increase Social Security taxes or "means test" benefits.

While generally supporting the Bush administration on the Iraq war, Chabot has been critical of the pre-war planning and failure to anticipate the strength of the Iraqi insurgency.

RESPONSE: "It's deeply disappointing that Mr. Cranley would stoop to the level of creating false conversations and quotations to deceive voters," Chabot said in a statement through campaign spokeswoman Jessica R. Towhey. "He created a fictitious conversation designed to confuse and mislead voters, even concocting false quotations and attributing them to major news sources."

Over 6,500 people on youtube have viewed this ad so far!

Two New Polls Show Cranley Up 2 Points!

2006-09-30T19:57:00.000-04:00

In Cranley's latest youtube video, he talks about his campaign strategy, mentions two internal polls that show him AHEAD of Chabot, and more. Check it out:

And please donate money, because that is the only way Chabot's corrupt campaign will lose.

New PR from Cranley - worth a read

2006-09-30T19:52:00.000-04:00

Washington Changed Chabot into a Rubberstamp for Bush
New Ad from Cranley for Congress

(Cincinnati – OH-1) Cranley for Congress has released a new ad that demonstrates how Washington has changed Steve Chabot into a rubberstamp for President Bush who has lost touch with the people of Ohio’s First Congressional District.

Recently, The Cincinnati Enquirer described Chabot as a “Bush Stalwart” who is “much more conservative than his largely blue-collar district, which is nearly evenly split between Republican and Democratic voters.” (1/31/06) In 2004, the First District gave Bush 51% of the vote. A non-partisan group recently reported that Chabot votes for Bush’s agenda 92% of the time.

Instead of fighting for the people of the First District, Steve Chabot increasingly sides with Bush’s agenda. Cranley for Congress’ newest ad addresses a few of the issues where Steve Chabot is with Bush, instead of the First District: Privatizing Social Security, Accountability in Iraq, and Corporate Welfare for Oil Companies.

---------------------------------------

92% Bushie
According to report last month by a non-partisan group, Hill Monitor, Chabot has rubberstamped Bush agenda 92% of the time.

(Sources: Hill Monitor website and reported in The Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/25/06 and The Cincinnati Post, 8/26/06)

Risky Social Security Privatization Plan

This month, Bush again said he would “revive his plan to overhaul the U.S. Social Security retirement program if his Republican party keeps control of the Congress” by privatizing social security with private accounts.

For years, Chabot has repeatedly called for privatizing Social Security. Chabot has said “private accounts are one of the keys to saving Social Security” and has publicly pushed Bush to move forward with plans to privatize Social Security.

John Cranley has signed a pledge to the people of Ohio’s First Congressional District and to the American people that he will fight to strengthen Social Security and oppose the risky schemes of privatizing Social Security.

(Sources: “Bush wants to renew Social Security push after vote,” Reuters, 9/09/06; The Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/30/04, 8/27/04, 2/04/05, 12/08/02; The Cincinnati Post, 2/01/05, 10/24/98; John Cranley’s Social Security Pledge)

Iraq Accountability
Chabot Rubberstamps Bush’s Iraq Policy 100%
Chabot says he is “100 percent with the president” on his Iraq policy and has praised Rumsfeld’s overall handling of the Iraq war, saying “I think he’s done an exemplary job.” (Sources: Roll Call, 5/07/04; The Cincinnati Post, 1/27/03)

Chabot Pushed for Iraq War days after 9/11 and before Afghanistan
From the House floor, Steve Chabot pushed for war with Iraq just a few weeks after 9/11. Chabot said Iraq ought to be a “principal target” of the war on terrorism and that Hussein should be “put up there with Osama bin Laden in this war against terrorism.” Chabot made this speech days before we responded militarily to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. (Source: Chabot speech on House floor 10/04/01)

Chabot Spread Bush’s Claim that Iraq was a Nuclear Threat to the U.S.
President Bush first told the world that Iraq was a nuclear threat to the U.S. with a worldwide press conference delivered from Ohio’s First Congressional District. Not only did Chabot host Bush to make the claim to the world, but Chabot repeatedly pushed into the public that Iraq was a nuclear threat to the U.S. Chabot said that Hussein was “on the verge of having nuclear weapons” and that he believed “unless we do something to stop him now, Saddam Hussein will do something to harm this country.” (Sources: Chabot speech on House floor 10/04/01; The Cincinnati Post, 10/04/02; The Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/06/02;

Chabot Refuses to Hold Bush Administration Accountable on Iraq
Not only does Chabot refuse to ask tough questions of the Administration, but Chabot has voted to keep the Administration's build-up to the Iraq war secret, and has retaliated against Bush critics of the Iraq War build-up by calling them "liars". (Sources: H. Res 505, 11/09/05; Official Letter, 7/22/04)

Corporate Welfare to Big Oil
In Chabot’s first congressional term he called tax breaks for oil companies “corporate welfare that government can’t afford” and bucked his party by voting against giving “royalty relief” to oil companies. Since Bush and Cheney have been in the White House, Chabot has voted for every one of their Energy Plans, each giving billions in tax breaks and subsidies to oil companies. Chabot even served as a conferee on the House-Senate committee that finalized the bill Bush signed into law.

(Sources: S.395, Vote #771, 11/08/95; The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/27/95; HR 4, Vote #320, 8/02/01; HR 6, Vote #145, 8/11/03; HR 6, Vote #132, 4/21/05; HR 6, Vote #445, 7/28/05, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/30/05)

New Cranley Ad a Hit!

2006-09-30T19:50:00.000-04:00

Protest at Chabot's Office Ends in Arrests

2006-09-28T19:11:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer Blog:

Giving Chabot a peace of their mind

Quan Truong reports:

Update, 9 am!

Two minors and five adults were arrested were taken to police headquarters in district one and charged with criminal trespassing. Shannon Isaacs, one of the seven, said the staff members and police were very professional.

A handful of people were arrested at U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot’s office downtown tonight after a seven hour sit-in.

The group arrived at Chabot’s office on the 30th floor of Carew Tower around 1 p.m. Tuesday, stating they would not leave the premises until Chabot signed a Congressional pledge to end the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq.

During the seven hours, supporters of Greater Cincinnati Declaration of Peace drifted in and out of the office. At one point, up to 20 people were inside. About nine people participated in the sit-in, issuing a group statement on why they were risking arrest.

Both sides maintain there was cooperation and mutual respect. Chabot’s staff accommodated the group with refreshments and bathroom keys. The group remained cordial and asserted their actions were aimed at the issue and not a personal vendetta against those at the Chabot’s office.

They were first asked to leave around 6:30 p.m. Security were called at 7 p.m. and about an hour later, Cincinnati police showed up to arrest those who remained.

Gary Lindgreen, Chabot’s chief of staff, said the arrest was peaceful and there was no commotion. The group’s spokesperson, Ellen Dienger, could not be reached Tuesday night.

Chabot Campaign Still Hiding Secret Polling Data

2006-09-26T14:27:00.000-04:00

It is very interesting that the Chabot campaign still has NOT released ANY polls of the OH-01 campaign. There are only 43 days left in the campaign, which really started on the day John Cranley announced he was running again.

That means that OVER 10 MONTHS have passed during the campaign without a poll released from Chabot. With only 43 days left, I think we all know what his secret campaigns polls reveal:

CHABOT IS FAR, FAR BEHIND.

If his polls said he was within 5 of Cranley, I think he would have already released them, because that would really encourage his base and the GOP to rally behind him to gain 5 more points. But that's not the case, which leads me to believe that Cranley's recent poll that showed him 9 points ahead of Chabot is still accurate.

And the big kicker is that several months ago, the NRCC paid for a poll of OH-01, and, guess what, IT WAS NEVER RELEASED!!

...

Remember, the Cranley campaign has released 3 polls so far, the first showing Cranley a little behind, then tied, then NINE POINTS AHEAD!

So whether you are a Cranley or Chabot supporter, I think now is the time to press the Chabot folks to give us an answer: why no polls yet?! Email the campaign at chabotcups@chabotforcongress.com, which, by the way, is a really stupid campaign email address.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO BOOST CRANLEY!

2006-09-26T12:02:00.000-04:00

From the Enquirer:

Clinton here for Cranley
THE ENQUIRER

"Former President Bill Clinton will be in Cincinnati Oct. 24 to be the featured guest at a fundraising event for John Cranley, Democratic candidate for Ohio's First Congressional District.

Details of the fundraiser were not immediately released.

Cranley is challenging Republican Steve Chabot of Westwood."

This is GREAT NEWS! As of today, I am convinced this race will no longer be within 2 percentage points. Cranley has impressed me month after month, while Chabot's campaign has done just the opposite.

Side note: I personally don't remember Clinton coming to Ohio this election cycle to campaign for any House Democrats. Regardless, his visit to the First District is big news -- especially for Chabot, who knows that Clinton would be VERY HAPPY to see the former Clinton Impeachment Congressional "leader" lose his job.

I cannot wait to hear Steve Chabot's concession speech. Any thoughts on what his speach will include?...

OH-01 Commercials and Strategy

2006-09-22T22:51:00.000-04:00

There's a good Enquirer article on OH-01 campaign commercials. Immigration and energy policy seems to dominate the agenda of the commercials. I'm also glad AFSCME is running a commercial focused on why Cranley is the better choice than old Chabot.

From Cranley's standpoint, I think it's smart to spend less time attaching Chabot with Big Oil. Instead, commercials could be focused on 1) How Chabot is ineffective, radical, and corrupt, and 2) Why Cranley has the political, moral, and professional background to be a better Representative. The last two commercials from the campaign are going in the right direction.

Don't get me wrong, the Cranley and labor union commercials out there are helping Cranley in this race, but I don't think OH-01 voters are getting the whole message about Chabot yet. Since Chabot has been in office for 12 years, this leads me to believe that people will continue to vote for him until they become excited about someone else and/or until they are convinced that he is ineffective and corrupt. One of these things probably has to happen to oust this incumbent.

The OH-01 election is one of the most important in Ohio and in the country. John Kerry proved that the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and OH-01 are no longer conservative strongholds. Paul Hackett proved that eastern Cincinnati and Southern Ohio are not a permanent conservative base. If John Cranley can win (and hopefully Vic Wulsin as well) I am confident that Democrats will reign in Southwestern and Southern Ohio again.

Let us not forget the Tom Luken-Charlie Luken-David Mann 12-year dynasty in OH-01. John Cranley is the best chance in years for Cincinnati to have a long-term Congressman that actually represents the needs of Cincinnati residents.

With that said, all Cranley supporters and anti-Chabot folk need to come together in these last couple of months. All the pieces are in place for victory, so all the campaign needs is money.

Contribute here, and please do it now!

Chabot Corruption Alert: Chabot is Pork Barrelling To His Own Campaign Donors!

2006-09-19T13:22:00.000-04:00

We all know how Chabot feels about pork barrelling to his own district. He is morally opposed to it. There are many quotes from speeches and interviews where he claims to be Mr. Pork Buster in the U.S. House. In the Cincinnati Post he is even quoted as saying, “I wasn’t sent up here to bring pork back to my district.”

Pork Barrel Politics: a derogatory term describing government spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes.

The ironic part of Chabot's beliefs about pork is that he refuses to maintain his beliefs during re-election campaigns. This election, Chabot's pork barrelling is probably at its all-time high. So why does Chabot all of a sudden let loose his moral beliefs? Because his job status is more important to him than his promises to constituents.

With this said, please take a look at today's Hill article which connects the dots between Chabot's top campaign contributors and the recipients of Chabot's recent attempts at pork barrelling.

At your first glance, it may all seem like a coincidence. After all, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Childrens' Hospital, UC, XU, and the Cincy Symphony Orchestra are all major local institutions. It could be a coincidence that Chabot is rewarding these entities after they provided substantial campaign contributions.

But I don't think it is a coincidence. Here's why:

The recent Hill article is not surprising. We have witnessed many attempts during the past several months of Chabot switching-face and being eager to pork barrel (the two fluff visits from cabinet secretaries are two examples). Furthermore, this is Chabot's toughest re-election bid ever. Many top political sources are not calling the race a toss-up or even leaning-Dem. Cranley's fundraising figures are very impressive, in fact, during last quarter Cranley out-fundraised Chabot! And of course, we all remember the two recent polls that showed the race tied and then showed Cranley up by 9 points.

To say the least, Chabot is fighting for his job - and his way of life. He is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep himself in office. He lies to his constituents about being a "maverick", when in fact he votes with Bush 91% of the time. He fails to show up at the first debate. And now he is rewarding his own campaign contributors with genuine pork projects.

Washington has changed Steve Chabot. He is no longer a man of his convictions. We are witnessing exactly what weak-minded men do when enough political pressure is applied to them: they cave in to self-interest.

Through his career and public pledges, Cranley has proven that he is not the type of Congressman that will break under political pressure.

Radar Online Makes Fun of Chabot

2006-09-19T00:22:00.000-04:00

From RadarOnline:

Rep. Chabot, proud owner of the Worst Comb-over in Congress, rabidly opposes abortion in every corner of our nation except on his own head, where he's clearly failed to carry his hair to term. He's also fervently anti-gay, but something tells us he won't have to fend off Barney Frank's lusty advances.

OH-01 needs a little humor these days...

Republicans Caught in a Lie Against Cranley Again

2006-09-17T18:27:00.000-04:00

Republicans are at it again. They lie against Democrats to try to make them look bad. This is from the Cincinnati Post:

Running against Pelosi

WASHINGTON -She's a stylishly dressed grandmother who can turn on the charm and, according to one report, never swears, smiles constantly and keeps a stash of Ghirardelli chocolates in her office.

But to Republicans, Nancy Pelosi is the Dragon Lady, the woman voters should fear as they head to the polls this November.

Every election has its boogeyman, the one person that party operatives try to exploit to scare the dickens out of voters. Republicans had Willie Horton a few years back. The Democrats had Newt Gingrich in '98. And this year, the GOP has Pelosi, a California congresswoman who will likely become speaker of the U.S. House if Democrats win back the majority in November.

Pelosi, a San Franciscan with an undeniably liberal voting record, has led the House Democrats for nearly four years and has been one of President Bush's most vociferous critics in Congress. Republicans shudder at the thought of what will happen to the Bush agenda if she becomes the House speaker and inherits the power that comes with the office.

"There are things in life worth fighting and dying for, and one of 'em is making sure Nancy Pelosi doesn't become the speaker,'' conservative talking head Sean Hannity declared recently during one of his rants on Fox News.

Pelosi has become a factor in some local congressional races.

The Ohio Republican Party sent out a news release this week noting that several Ohio Democrats had been invited to Washington last Wednesday "to schmooze with Pelosi and liberal special interest groups'' and thus show "their true colors.''

Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley, who is challenging Republican Congressman Steve Chabot, was mentioned by name. But Cranley's campaign says the Republicans got it wrong. Cranley never went to Washington or met with Pelosi. He spent the day back in Ohio's 1st Congressional District.

Across the river, Northern Kentucky Democrat Ken Lucas, who is trying to win back his old House seat from Republican Geoff Davis, accepted the invitation. Lucas and other candidates who traveled to Washington were given a chance to meet with the House Democratic Caucus, the staff of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other groups.

A national Republican group promptly ripped into Lucas in a news release that closely resembled the missive from the Ohio GOP.

"Ken Lucas is making it quite clear that he is ready and willing to do the bidding of Nancy Pelosi and her lengthy left-fringe record,'' said Ed Patru of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Lucas' track record would suggest that he is no fan of Pelosi or her politics. Back in 2003, Lucas was one of four conservative Democrats who refused to support Pelosi when House Democrats nominated her to become speaker. Pelosi lost that race to the incumbent, Republican Dennis Hastert.

Lucas has, however, accepted campaign contributions from Pelosi's political-action committee, including $10,000 this year. Those donations have opened him up to Republican charges that, if voters send him back to Congress, he will "flipflop'' and vote to make Pelosi the speaker if Democrats retake the House.

The GOP's efforts to link Lucas to Pelosi are ludicrous, said Lucas campaign consultant Bob Doyle. "He's his own guy, and he voted that way for (the) six years'' that he was in Congress, he said. Doyle also fired back, saying that Davis is "largely bankrolled'' by national Republicans such as Tom DeLay, the former House Republican leader who resigned this year after he was indicted in Texas. DeLay's PAC has given $30,000 to Davis' campaign.

Ludicrous or not, will the Republican scare strategy work?

History would suggest no. The GOP tried the same tactic against Lucas during his first congressional race back in 1998 and again in 2002. Republicans argued then that Lucas would be a shill for Richard Gephardt, the Democratic leader at the time. Voters didn't buy it and sent Lucas to Washington each time.

This year, "we see no indication that people have any interest in Nancy Pelosi,'' said Lucas' campaign manager, Jim Creevy.

Republicans are betting voters will be extremely interested once they understand what could happen if Pelosi runs the House.

Michael Collins is The Post's Washington bureau chief.

Quote Reveals Chabot's View of Women

2006-09-15T14:40:00.000-04:00

Posted at Take Back Cincinnati:

“I’d give her a five out of ten. . . . She’s not a dog, but, you know, she’s not gorgeous.”

- Steve Chabot, offering his views on First Lady Hillary Clinton (1995)

Source: Blackwell Synergy: J American Culture, Vol 27, Issue 1, pp. 99-106 ...

Cranley's View on Immigration and the Fence Idea

2006-09-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

For background on Chabot's short-sighted views on immigration, click here for the old post.

While Steve Chabot recently voted to add more fence along the thousands mile long U.S.-Mexico border (HR 6061), John Cranley has a more encompassing view of the situation. From his website:

Republican Congress Should Quit Playing Election Year Politics and Fix Border and Employer Problems Now - 9/14/2006

Republican Congress Should Quit Playing Election Year Politics and Fix Border and Employer Problems Now

(Cincinnati -- OH-1) Congressional candidate John Cranley supports the House finally taking action to secure America on the Mexican border, but believes measures must also be taken to crackdown on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

While this Republican-controlled congress likes to give big talk this election year on immigration reform, the fact is that they have been protecting big business from the law and not fixing border security.

The Republican-controlled congress has failed to secure the border and has failed to enforce workforce immigration laws:

-- "Between 1999 and 2003, work-site enforcement operations were scaled back 95 percent by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which subsequently was merged into the Homeland Security Department. (“Illegal Hiring is Rarely Penalized,” The Washington Post, 6/19/06)

-- "The number of employers prosecuted for unlawfully employing immigrants dropped from 182 in 1999 to four in 2003, and fines collected declined from $3.6 million to $212,000, according to federal statistics." (“Illegal Hiring is Rarely Penalized,” The Washington Post, 6/19/06)

-- "In 1999, the United States initiated fines against 417 companies. In 2004, it issued fine notices to three."
(“Illegal Hiring is Rarely Penalized,” The Washington Post, 6/19/06)

The Republican controlled congress should quit playing politics with this issue and bring forth solutions.

The Hypocrisy of Pork-Busting Pork-Barrelers

2006-09-15T14:14:00.000-04:00

The Hypocrisy of Pork-Busting Pork-Barrelers is reviewed in a recent Hill article. One of the Republicans mentioned is our own Steve Chabot, who publicly declares he is a Pork-Buster, but at the same time puts his name on anything Congress brings to the First District.

New Chabot Ad Sends a Message to Cincinnati Minorities: You Don't Matter

2006-09-12T12:47:00.000-04:00

The new Steve Chabot commercial seems like a regular, fake campaign commerical on the surface. But watch it twice. You will notice something. Before I tell you, consider this:

The demographics of OH-01 are:

White: 69.1%
Black or African American: 27.5%
Other: 4%

The demographics of the approximately 44 people in Chabot's latest commerical:

43 white
1 black

The demographics of the 11 people in Chabot's other commercial:

11 White
0 black

So in the past two Chabot for Congress commericals, he has showcased a whopping 54 white people and 1 black person (coincidentally, shot from behind). What exactly is he trying to convey?

>>> To view the Chabot commercials, click here for the latest one and click here (and then click on videos) for the previous one from the 2004 campaign.

Chabot skipping out on first debate?

2006-09-10T23:30:00.000-04:00

From WCPO:

"Faith & Values" Forum Held In 1st Congressional District

Six congregations from the 1st Congressional District are sponsoring a forum on "Faith and Values" at St. Joseph Church in the West End Sunday night.

Incumbent Republican Steve Chabot and Democratic candidate John Cranley are candidates in the race for that seat in the US House of Representatives.

According to the original press release, the forum is expected to be a candidate dialogue.

Initially 9News reported that both candidates were scheduled to appear.

However, a representative from Chabot's office has contacted our newsroom to say that this is not the case.

9News has placed a call to Cranley's office to confirm whether or not he has plans to attend the forum.

The forum is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the undercroft of St. Joseph Church, which is located at 745 Ezzard Charles Drive.

The sponsors of the forum include:

Morning Star Baptist Church; Roselawn Lutheran Church; St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church; St. Joseph Catholic Church; St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church; and St. Vivian's Catholic Church.

Excerpt from the Bellarmine Chapel website's Sept. 10 calendar entry:

"Six congregations, including Bellarmine, are sponsoring a candidate dialogue about faith values, Catholic social teaching, and public service. Congressman Steve Chabot and Councilman John Cranley are men of faith who are seeking the opportunity to effect national policies and priorities.

"There has been a great deal of discussion in recent years about religious values having an impact on politics and priorities. You are invited to hear for yourself how our candidates reflect on and are impacted by these issues as they relate to current events and public policy matters."

Chabot + Rumsfeld = "Heckofa Job"

2006-09-10T00:02:00.000-04:00

Amidst the controversy over no-confidence legislation against Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, I found an interesting quote from Steve Chabot. Chabot, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, overheard impeachment hearings of Rumsfeld back in 2004. Back in 2004, Rumsfeld oversaw the Gitmo prison abuses without forcing them to stop, he oversaw the "strategy" to succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the "war" against terrorism.

We all know he has done a piss poor job. Granted, it is a very tough and demanding job, it is unacceptable how poor he has actually carried out the duties of his position. It's important to also remember all the illegalities over many policies Rumsfeld has carried out. With that said, it comes to no surprise that Congressman Chabot thought Rumsfeld was doing a, quote, "exemplary job", and he also added, "I think to bring up impeachment under these circumstances is ludicrous and absurd". [Source]. I wonder what Chabot is thinking now. Considering he votes with Bush 92% of the time, you would think he would continue to act like a sheep and support Rumsfeld. But Chabot also claims to be a maverick, as witnessed in his latest stupid campaign commercial. I don't know what really qualifies him to be a maverick. To find out, I looked up the word in the dictionary:

1 : an unbranded range animal; especially : a motherless calf
2 : an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

Based on the above definition provided by Merriam-Webster, Chabot, a baby cow with no mother, will likely continue to bandwagon with the Republican Party establishment and ignore the poor job Rumsfeld has done; thus, instead passing the buck to a new President.

That is not leadership.

If there is one thing we can count on with Cranley, it's that he will always be an honest and outspoken leader. We have witnessed that during his career at City Council and through his publicly available pledges.

New Cranley Website Revealed!!!

2006-09-09T22:35:00.000-04:00

I must say, I am impressed. With two months left in the race, I think there is ample time to bring in more people to the campaign through their new interactive website. It has a blog, videos, campaign commericials, contests, a platform, a clear listing of all the pledges, as well as a better database of articles and press releases.

Check it out here.

The Chabot campaign website, on the other hand, still has some work to do. After not being updated for several years (literally), they finally released a new version of the website a couple months ago. Since then, it has been updated twice and has two wierd and misleading videos.

Cranley for Congress Platform Revealed!

2006-09-09T22:34:00.000-04:00

Check it out here: http://www.johncranley.com/issues.asp

I will provide a more thorough analysis later.

CityBeat on OH-01 - interesting read

2006-09-09T22:18:00.000-04:00

Cranley mounts second campaign against incumbent Chabot

By Kevin Osborne

Photo By Jon Hughes/photopresse.com

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot says his challenger, John Cranley, is avoiding controversial issues, including the war in Iraq.

On the surface, the showdown between U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) and Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley, his Democratic challenger, for Ohio's 1st Congressional District seat seems a mere replay of their 2000 race.

That year, the freshly scrubbed, baby-faced Cranley -- a political neophyte who had recently graduated from Harvard Law School and never held a full-time job -- returned to his hometown to take on Chabot, a somber Newt Gingrich-era politician then completing his third term as part of a wave of conservative lawmakers swept into office to oppose President Clinton, scale back government and end what many viewed as waste and corruption in Washington.

In that race, Chabot beat Cranley by a 53-44 percent margin, with a Libertarian candidate capturing 2 percent of the vote.

Six years later, though, much has changed. The earlier race occurred before George W. Bush "won" the presidency. Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Before the recession that ended the economic boom of the 1990s and the return of record-breaking federal deficits.

Perhaps more important, the earlier race was before the Iraq War began, before allegations about U.S. human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, before revelations about the president authorizing warrantless wiretapping of American citizens and accessing their Internet records.

It's a different world now, and a different race.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

What In-kind Contribution Would a Wine and Spirits Company Provide to the Chabot Camp?

2006-08-29T22:11:00.000-04:00

I ran across this. (Read toward the bottom.) The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America contributed an in-kind contribution to the Chabot campaign on June 26.

Did a wine company donate alcohol to Steve Chabot? Are you even allowed to do that? If so, I wouldn't be suprised if you are allowed to donate cigarettes (attn: R.J. Reynolds in the post below).

Tabacco Industry Puffin' For Chabot

2006-08-29T22:02:00.000-04:00

From examining Chabot's financial records, it seems that the Tabacco lobby - R.J. Reynolds' PAC and possibly others - are giving Chabot a lot of money.

R.J. Reynolds have forked over at least $3,500 so far.

I'm glad to see Chabot standing up for the cancer producing industries, and the ozone-destroying industries - Big Oil - as well.

Cranley Raises $170K in Less Than 2 Months!

2006-08-29T00:35:00.000-04:00

Mentioned here.

OHIO's FIRST

I told you so... Driehaus is in!

Chabot's Next Contender

Congratulations Steve Chabot; 2 More Years of Boredom

Last OH-01 Update. goodnight.

I think Chabot just won. 52-47.

69% counted, Chabot at 51%

Chabot Has Narrow Lead - 50% - 11:46pm

Chabot takes back lead - 11:43pm

Cranley EXTENDING lead! *** 51% *** 11:35pm

OH-01 Update: 12:57PM

OH-01 Update: 11:26AM

OH-01 Update: 10:35AM

Tomorrow in Cincinnati - OH-01 - Last Post Before Election Day

*** NPR Predicts a Cranley Win! ***

New! MyDD on Cranley - Chabot Matchup

Holy Bootsy! GOTV with Cranley! Sign up today!

New York Times Profiles OH-01, calls it a toss-up

Black Congresswomen Stump for Cranley

Crowley, Conyers, Cranley, and the Buzz

Politics1 Predicts a Cranley Victory

Cincinnati Herald Endorses Cranley

Reckoning OH-01

Chabot Lies Again! And Cranley Knocks Him Out...

GET YOUR WALLETS AND PURSES OUT NOW! Cranley needs last minute help!

Chabot and Oil, an interesting read

Chabot Whining - Enquirer Blog - Funny

NRCC Gives Chabot $237,197

Cranley Rally for Change: this Saturday!

Chabot 'Bomb' Report: #6 on Google, #3 on Yahoo!

MyDD in Cincinnati

Yet Another Poll Showing Cranley Ahead

Chat with Chabot, Give Him an Earful

Boston Globe Exposes Chabot's Taser Ad, Along with other NRCC ads

More Details of the New OH-01 Poll

New Cranley PR

THE OH-01 RACE IS OVER!!! Cincinnati Enquirer Endorses Cranley; New Poll Shows Cranley Up 9 Points!

Finally, a REALLY good new Cranley ad

Cranley Outraises Chabot Again!! @#@!#%$#%^

Steve Chabot Commits Felony (Fuck You Steve Chabot)

Clinton Event Photos

Post-Clinton Visit Article

Bill Clinton Warns of Chabot’s “Scare Tactics”

Who, oh who, will the Enquirer endorse?

OH-01 Debate, Paris Hilton, and Paris Chabot

Cranley-Chabot Debate Watch Party TONIGHT!!

Ironic Quote of the Day From Chabot

Clinton OH-01 Pre-Visit Article in KY Post

Make that $198K for Cranley from the DCCC

I was wrong, Cranley gets the full $780K

Chabot Boldly Lies To High School Students

Chabot Won't Even Respond to Enquirer Web Chat Invite (With Cranley)

NRCC-Pulled Chabot Ad May Head to Ohio Election Commission

San Diego Newspaper Examines Immigration in the OH-01 Race

DCCC Spends $12m on More Races; $780K split between Cranley, Kilroy, and Space

Cincy Post Looks At OH-01 Debate

"Chabot, Cranley swap barbs" at first OH-01 Debate

*First 'Real' OH-01 Debate Tonight*

Chabot Raises More Direct Funds, Cranley May Have More Indirect Funds

"One candidate wants to stay, other wants change"

Enquirer Endorses a Democratic Challenger Against a Republican Incumbment: Pepper v. Heimlich

Chabot Bill Angers Many

Cranley at the Enquirer Editorial Board

Chabot the Hypocrite at Laura Bush's Visit

Cranley Chabot Voter Forum

Enquirer Exposes Lies in Another Chabot Ad: 2001 Cincy Riots

Enquirer Exposes Chabot's New Misleading Ad - Gameshow

How was the OH-01 Debate?

New DCCC ad Against Chabot - Hilarious

Cranley and Wulsin want House Leader Change

Jewish Group Rates Chabot as One of the Worst

Jewish Group Rates Chabot as One of the Worst

JOHN GLENN TO BOOST CRANLEY !!!

George Bush's Wife Comes to Town; Irony Sets In for Chabot

Pederasty in the People's House: Comparing Cranley and Chabot's Solutions

Cranley PR on Congressional Page Scandal, or NAMBLA

Flashback: Chabot is 100% with Bush

Chabot Whining About Hilarious Cranley Ad

Two New Polls Show Cranley Up 2 Points!

New PR from Cranley - worth a read

Cranley EXTENDING lead! * 51% * 11:35pm

* NPR Predicts a Cranley Win! *

First 'Real' OH-01 Debate Tonight