By now you’re read Heraldo’s Humboldt Herald post on Rob Arkley’s contribution to the Ohio GOP’s efforts to get black voters to vote for their black candidate. And by now you’ve probably heard that their candidate for governor, current attorney general Ken Blackwell, is in deep trouble. Blackwell is facing allegations of impropriety in the 2004 election, when he presided over the state’s election while simultaneously serving as co-chair of Bush’s campaign.
Well, in what appears to be a desperate move, the Ohio Republican’s “social conservative director” Guy Lankford is spreading innuendo to imply that the Democratic Party candidate Ted Strickland is gay. The evidence is that Strickland and his wife spend much of their time in separate residences, and that they have no children.
Playing to homophobia reaped rich rewards for the Ohio GOP (and President Bush) in 2004. This time however, they have a problem in that they would be appealing to a group of voters who probably won’t vote for Blackwell because he’s black. You play you pay.
Update: As pointed out in the comments section, Blackwell is the Secretary of State in Ohio, not Attorney General – which makes sense because the SOS is in charge of elections. Duh.
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July 29, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Heraldo
Spreading hate and fear appears to be the primary goal of the Republican Party (well, aside from world domination).
I clicked on the “spreading innuendo” link and didn’t find any references to these shenanigans by Guy Lankford. Did I miss it or did you link to the wrong article?
July 29, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Ooops. Wrong article. Thanx Heraldo. I’ll fix it right now.
July 29, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Heraldo
I checked out the corrected link. This is really disgusting.
I’m sure Arkley will quickly denounce such tactics as he would NEVER support such sleazy, low-down politicking. < /end sarcasm >
July 29, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Anonymous
Blackwell is not AG, I believe Sec of State. He is a good candidate and speaker.
Mike Harvey
July 29, 2006 at 10:19 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Made the note – thanx. He is a good speaker. I remember his interviews in the 04 election aftermath.
But why is he so far in the hole? It has to be more than the election allegations. If the voters really thought he’d stolen a national election, there’d be much more hell to pay than low poll ratings.
July 30, 2006 at 12:40 am
Anonymous
I wonder how this issue will play out in Eureka elections, with some well-known gays flacking for the liberal candidates.
July 30, 2006 at 12:48 am
Anonymous
The current issue of The New Yorker has an article by Frances Fitzgerald on Blackwell.Well worth reading — let’s hope he loses big.
July 30, 2006 at 5:24 am
Eric V. Kirk
Anon 5:40 – I’m not sure it will play very big. There aren’t enough homophobe or gay single issue voters to really make a difference one way or another. Maybe in a close election. But I think it’s going to be all about the balloon track/tract, one way or another.
anon 5:48 – Thanx for the tip. I’ll give it a look.
July 30, 2006 at 6:04 am
Anonymous
“Eric V. Kirk said…
But why is he so far in the hole?”
I really don’t understand how he is. I believe he won the sec of state office with a large victory which is of course a statewide race. This stumps me especially since the opposition is not that great of a candidate and OH is doing better economically than they were in 04.
I would say Republican fatigue but I think Dewine is doing fairly well as of late moving the race from “toss up” to “lean GOP”.
Mike Harvey
July 30, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Anonymous
Strickland is a total faggot.
July 30, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Anonymous
we’re queer
we’re here
get used to it
ACT UP!!!
July 30, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Anonymous
i suppose shawn warford isnt on vacation at daddys house after all, judging by that comment.
July 30, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Mike H. – Republican fatigue would impact DeWine more than Blackwell I would think, as would the “culture of corruption” theme. It has to be the 04 election. But if that many Ohio voters really believe he stole an election, I would hope they would be much more up in arms about it. Maybe they’re not sure, but just don’t like the way he’s evading the issue.
July 31, 2006 at 12:39 am
Anonymous
well dont we all know about wes chesbro not living with his wife full time either. dont even get me started on mike thompson and his longtime male chief of staff. the only straight one in the bunch is patty berg, so ugly its no wonder.
July 31, 2006 at 1:42 am
Anonymous
US Senate Candidate Wants Death Penalty For
> Homosexuals
> >
> >TOLEDO — Merrill Keiser, Jr., is a trucker by
> trade, and he’s
> >hoping his next journey takes him all the way to
> Washington.
> >His goal is a seat in the US Senate, but first he
> has to make
> >it through the primary that will determine which
> Ohio Democrat
> >will be the November ballot.
> >
> >The Fremont man is causing some controversy with
> one of his
> >beliefs. He tells News 11 homosexuality should be a
> felony,
> >punishable by death. “Just like we have laws
> against murder,
> >we have laws against stealing, we have laws against
> taking
> >drugs — we should have laws against immoral
> conduct,” Keiser
> >says.
> >
> >Keiser has no political background. He says the
> only reason
> >he’s running as a Democrat is because that’s how he
> was
> >registered the last time he voted.
> >
> >Keiser will face Democrat Sherrod Brown in the May
> primary.
July 31, 2006 at 6:18 am
Eric V. Kirk
He should have switched his party affiliation and run for governor. He might have beat out Blackwell, and pledged to kill his opponent if he won.
August 1, 2006 at 7:14 am
Anonymous
“Strickland is a total faggot.”
You talkin’ about that Port Development bag?