* Isn't it amazing that suddenly Gov. John Kasich is concerned about the middle class?
>>>> Was he concerned about the middle class when he cut funding to public schools?
>>>> Was he concerned about the middle class when he started closing unemployment offices in the state?
>>>> Was Kasich concerned about the middle class when he said he wanted to eliminate the prevailing wage on construction projects? (see ThinkProgress)
>>>> Did Kasich show his concern for the middle class and the poor when he made cuts to foodbanks, and Children's Hospitals? (see Cleveland Leader)
I'll let State Sen. Nina Turner explain, from this YouTube video from MSNBC's Ed Show:
Vote NO on Issue 2.
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*** Given the Ohio GOP's history with election/voting manipulation (see NY Times), especially in 2004, Ohio's Republicans do not need encouragement or suggestions from Mike Huckabee.
Here is what Huckabee said in Mason, Ohio on Friday (Masonbuzz):
...In addition to personally committing to vote and engaging in prayer, Huckabee advised the crowd of 350 to reach out to their friends and family in support of Issue 2.
“Make a list… Call them and ask them, ‘Are you going to vote on Issue 2 and are you going to vote for it?’ If they say no, well, you just make sure that they don’t go vote. Let the air out of their tires on election day. Tell them the election has been moved to a different date. That’s up to you how you creatively get the job done.”
- Audio: Listen to Huckabee’s speech (quoted part above is about 12 minutes in)...
What has been the reaction to Huckabee's suggestion to keep people away from the polls?
Masonbuzz:
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s comments in Mason on Friday have gained national attention and are now ‘blowing up’ say Democratic and liberal groups.
As reported by the Enquirer’s Politics Extra blog, the story has been picked up in Politico, which noted: ’Huckabee didn’t say he was joking, though the laughter suggests his audience knew he was; a similar riff in Virginia in 2009 drew criticism from Democrats.’
The Huffington Post wrote about it today, and quoted We Are Ohio’s Melissa Fazekas: “These comments reflect an entire campaign of deceit from Issue 2 supporters. They are willing to go to any extremes to keep Ohioans from letting their voices be heard…Enough is enough.”
The Ohio GOP has already tried to "fix" the election by adjusting the length of time that voters can register and cast ballots. Wouldn't this kind of behavior, as suggested by Huckabee, be encouraging criminal behavior, law breaking, and vandalism?
This is what we are up against, Ohioans. The governor of Ohio brings in his friends who suggest ways to stop people from voting, and no one says it was a joke. I've never listened to Mike Huckabee, and I lost all respect for him when I found out how he released prisoners as Governor in Arkansas, and the former inmates went on to commit more violence and more crimes.
Vote NO on Issue 2.
** Republican Josh Mandel can brag all he wants about how much money he raised, but he has still not followed the law. His personal financial disclosure form was due in the U.S. Senate on May 15th. He has still not filed it. Will he be bragging about that?
How we not forget that Josh Mandel signed on for cuts to Medicare and Social Security:
Mandel Signed Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare Pledge; Plan Will Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Mandel signed a radical Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare budget pledge. “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012. And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed. It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” [Cut Cap Balance Act.com signers, accessed 7/19/2011; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11] (h/t dscc)
I wonder if all those little old ladies up in Cleveland would support someone that wants to cut their lifelines.