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Introducing Ken Taftwell - same failed record, just angrier

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
 

OHIO GOP  TO OFFICIALLY

INTRODUCE KEN TAFTWELL TONIGHT

“Same Taft GOP record -- just angrier” 

For Immediate Release                                                          May 2, 2006

Contact: Brian Rothenberg,                                                 Phone: 614-221-6563

        Communications Director

COLUMBUS – Introducing Ken Taftwell. He can run from his Taft Republican record, but he can’t hide.

  • CREATED BY THE FOLKS THAT BROUGHT YOU BOB TAFT
    • Taftwell was appointed by the Ohio GOP and supported by Bob Taft in 1994. Taftwell was supported by Bob Taft in his run for Congress in 1991 where he opposed the first President Bush’s civil rights legislation.
    • LITERALLY GAVE BOB TAFT A FREE RIDE TO GOVERNOR TWICE 
      • Taftwell stepped aside after threatening to campaign for Governor to allow Bob Taft a free ride to the Governor’s mansion in both 1998, 2002. Taft goes on to become the lowest rated Governor in the history of polling. (PD 4-23-06; TB 4-25-06)
    • HYPOCRITE ON TAXES
      •  Taftwell chooses a running mate who not only voted for Taft’s taxes, but serves as a leader in the Ohio House that passed the largest and second largest tax increases in Ohio history. At the same time, Taftwell complains about Bob Taft passing the largest tax increase in Ohio history in 2003. And Taftwell as a Mayor and Councilman in Cincinnati supported not one but two tax increases including a half-cent sales tax hike (1982) and a proposed Earnings Tax Hike (1987). (PD 2-7-06, CE 1-22-82, CE 12-4-87)
    • HYPOCRITE ON ETHICS
      • Taftwell owns stock in election machine company Diebold, which he is pushing local Ohio counties to buy for elections. Taft is convicted of ethics violations. (CD 4-4-06; DDN 8-21-05)
      • Taftwell owns stock in gambling companies, drug companies making the “morning after pill” all while hypocritically claiming he opposes legalized gambling and abortion. Bob Taft fires high level cronies for taking freebies but is convicted of the same thing himself. (CE 4-25-06, PD 4-25-06, Lancaster Eagle Gazzette 8-19-05)
      • Taftwell criticizes his opponent Jim Petro who is under investigation from the FBI over contract steering allegations. But Taftwell himself steered over $1 million dollars from political donors who had contracts with the his State Treasurer’s office. (PD 2-16-06; 4-16-06)
      • Taftwell attacks Bob Taft for his association with coin dealer Tom Noe. Taftwell takes $3,000 in political donations from Tom Noe. Taftwell tells the Toledo Blade on April 5 2005 “most people” wouldn’t find it “unreasonable” to invest in coins.  (TB 3/5/06;-6/5-05)

    “When you run a fund the size of $18 million dollars and you’re looking at $50 million beyond what one’s disposition might be, is that an irresponsible risk? Most people would say no.” – Ken Taftwell to the Toledo Blade on April 5, 2005 – two day after the Blade’s initial report on the coin investment. 

    •  HYPOCRITE ON BIG GOVERNMENT 
      • Taftwell increases spending of Secretary of State’s office by 82% over Bob Taft’s expenditures. (CD, 1-31-06)
      • Raises Secretary of State fees for the first time in 20 years. (CD 1-31-06)
    • AND HYPOCRITE ON THE GOP
      • “Longline” Taftwell becomes 2004’s Katherine Harris. Poor African-American precincts and Democratic leaning precincts are saddled with longlines and numerous diversionary directives leading to a scathing Congressional report on his work as Ohio Secretary of State.
      • “Longline” Taftwell serves as the Co-Chair of President Bush’s 2004 campaign while serving as Secretary of State overseeing non-partisan elections. Later, when Bush’s numbers falter, Taftwell is no-where to be seen when Bush visits Ohio. 
      • “Longline” Taftwell issues directives to make it harder for 2006 write-in candidate Charlie Wilson to garner support by instructing poll-workers not to interfere and offer ballots or advice. But “Longline” Taftwell looks the other way when African-American radio stations (who he used to have ownership stake in) instruct voters to “ask for the Blackwell ballot” which would force pollworkers to violate the Wilson rule.

          You can expect Ken Taftwell to use divisive social issues to divert attention from his record.

          Beware. It’s the same Taft Republican record. It’s just angrier.

           

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