Licking County Pro-Active Citizens (www.licopac.org)

WHAT "GREEN" MEANS AT THE SIERRA CLUB

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:57:22 EDT

I know this is UNITY WEEK but before we start singing in sweet harmony, let me shout out more profane lyrics at the boneheads over at the Sierra Club.

When Hummingbird and I received our newest issue of the Central Ohio Sierran, I noticed that among the 16 candidates (all Democrats) endorsed for local offices, there was no mention of Democratic 12th District Congressional Candidate David Robinson.

Now I'm used to the news media ignoring the 12th District race but the Sierra Club? How shortsighted can these people be? Are we really depending on groups like this to save the Earth?

For David Robinson is not just a Democrat. He's a volunteer lecturer for Al Gore's Climate Project Initiative, traveling about the country on his own dime making presentations on climate change and the need for a sensible energy policy. (see www.robinson2008.com )

So why would the Sierra Club endorse Franklin County's other Democratic congressional candidate, Mary Jo Kilroy, as "an environmental champion," but not Robinson?

Melanie Braitwaite, political chairwoman for the Central Ohio Sierra Club, said screening panels at the local and state level DID recommend endorsing Robinson but the national Sierra Club overturned those decisions. "It's pending at national," she explained. "They determined he (Robinson) wasn't viable enough -- in other words, he didn't have quite enough money."

In fact, Robinson is running from behind in the dollar race, with $80,254 in contributions through June 30 as compared to $1.4 million raised largely from banks, insurance companies and realtors by the district incumbent, Republican Pat Tiberi.

So how can Robinson raise money from progressives to oust a well-heeled incumbent like Tiberi unless he gets endorsements from progressive organizations like the Sierra Club. (The club, in fact, leads off its endorsements by urging members "to consider volunteering for or making campaign contributions to these excellent candidates.")

So I asked Braithwaite, if the criteria for an endorsement is "Show Me the Money" rather than a strong environmental record, why wouldn't the Sierra Club just endorse Tiberi?

"Tiberi is viable," she replied, "but he's awful on the environment."

Guess you can't have everything.

This isn't the first time Tiberi has benefitted from a clueless environmental group.

Last year, for example, LICOPAC.ORG reported:
.............................

"Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-12th) got a pat on the back today from an environmental group, when maybe it should have been a smack across the side of the head.

"Dave Hobson, Deborah Pryce and Pat Tiberi GET IT" says the display ad on A9 of today's Dispatch, a big campaign plug sponsored by Environmental Defense (formerly the Environmental Defense Fund) and Ohio's Tomorrow, a business-oriented group lobbying for global-friendly reductions in carbon emissions.

"Representative Hobson, Pryce and Tiberi deserve our thanks for their common sense vote recognizing the real threat of climate change," says the ad text. "Now it's time for a practical solution that will strengthen America's energy security, boost our economy and fight climate change. Let's cap carbon pollution, and let America's entrepreneurs solve this global challenge."

According to the ad, the three Columbus-area Republicans stood up for the climate by voting NO on an amendment offered by Texas Republican Joe Barton to the Interior Department appropriation resolution last month. Barton's amendment would have REMOVED this earth-friendly language (Section 501) from the legislation so, by voting NO to Barton, Hobson, Pryce and Tiberi were agreeing that:

"It is the sense of the Congress that there should be enacted a comprehensive and effective national program of mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases that slow, stop, and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that (1) will not significantly harm the United States economy; and (2) will encourage comparable action by other nations that are major trading partners and key contributors to global emissions."

Thus the ad, complete with a picture of the planet in a frying pan, portrayed the three GOP incumbents as warriors against warming at a time when such environmental credentials are important to winning votes and staying in office.

Just one problem here.

Once the Barton amendment was defeated, 153-274, Pryce and Hobson went on to vote in favor of the Interior Department appropriation, including the section 501 Congressional commitment to combat global warming. Tiberi, however, voted NO on the main bill, as he has on practically every funding resolution (except defense).

The measure, approved 272-155 anyway by the House, grants $27.6 billion over the next year to fund not only for the Interior Department but the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Forest Service and the Indian Health Service.

Tiberi, on his web site, said his vote reflected his opposition to excessive spending by the Democratic Congress. He didn't mention Section 501, the carbon clean-up commitment.

"Today Democrats passed yet another spending bill that exceeded the President's Budget and sends spending soaring over current levels," he stated. "We're already $8 billion above the President's spending levels and there's no end in sight."

So to summarize, Congressman Tiberi voted in favor of a Congressional commitment to take action against global warming, but then voted against the parent budget resolution which carried this commitment as well as against funding for such vital environmental agencies such as Interior, EPA and the U.S. Forest Service.

Apparently, Environmental Defense and Ohio's Tomorrow didn't hang around for the final vote on the bill.

Atta-A-Boy, Pat"
................................

So, to bring this story up to date, evidentally at least two major national environmental groups are happy to retain Pat Tiberi who among other things also opposed a requirement that utilities produce 15 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other renewables (August 07), opposed stronger environmental controls on mining (late 2007) and voted to support President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act. (Nov. 2007).

I tried to get the club's national perspective today but was told all their legislative staff were in Denver at the convention and could not be reached.

If you think the Sierra Club has its head up its ... , you might want to contact melbraithwaite@aol.com or the club's national legislative office at 202-547-1141.

Or if you're a Tiberi supporter, send a nice check to the Sierra Club today. They've earned it.

ZACK SPACE'S ENERGY CRISIS

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:09:01 EDT

Freshman Congressman Zack Space thought for a while today that his campaign for re-election might literally crash and burn in a Fairfield County farm field.

As Space told the story during a Newark fundraiser this evening, he was flying with his committee chairman, Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson, from Zanesville to Lancaster in Peterson's Beechcraft Bonanza when the single-engine aircraft suddenly lost all electric power.

Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was in Ohio to support Space in his bid for a second term as congressman for Ohio's sprawling 18th District, which covers 16 eastern Ohio counties. The Dover Democrat is a member of the agriculture committee, so the two lawmakers were spending the day visiting farms across the district.

Space admits to a life-long phobia about flying, and so he admits the malfunction gave him plenty to think about other than politics. "I began wondering if I could survive jumping out of the plane into some body of water," he said at the fundraiser.

Peterson, however, seemed less concern. The problem with the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was a bad alternator, which had gone out several times before, Peterson said. Despite the power outage, the Minnesotan landed the plane without incident in Lancaster.

"We were never in any danger," Peterson said.

The two congressmen last night told supporters that energy is the number one issue now facing Congress.

And as Space now knows, when you're out of power, you're in for a white-knuckle landing.

No, They're NOT All the Same

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:26:37 EDT

If you're like me, you've been to a family reunion this summer where -- after the chicken and potato salad have been attacked, and the kids dispatched to the playground -- the talk inevitably turns to presidential politics.

Up until this year, at least in my extended family, this usually meant spirited disagreement when the Red Herd finds out there's a Blue Bull amongst them (that would be me).

But this year, the discussion was more disturbing -- and depressing.

"Who do you like for President?," asked one of the old Red Bulls, a guy who I know for a fact thinks Bush is too liberal.

"Definitely, Obama," I replied, girding for battle.

"Oh, yeah, I guess," replied Red Bull. "But it doesn't make any difference, does it? They're all crooked."

And we went back to watching the Olympics on televison.

Later, talking with a cousin who I suspect is cautiously non-political, the same question was asked.

"Obama," I said. "I like the way he's getting the young people involved."

Oh, yeah, I guess," she replied. "But it doesn't really make any difference who's elected, does it. They're all the same."

Now this "they're-all-the-same" approach may be a good way to avoid offense at a family reunion, but it does reflect an increasingly common attitude which is a cancer on our democracy.

So with my sweet cousin, I decided to keep the conversation going.

"No, actually, it does make a difference," I said. "What would have happened if Lincoln hadn't been elected...or FDR? Don't you think the history of this country would have been a lot different, for the worse?"

At the Open House last night celebrating the opening of the new offices of the Licking County Democratic Party, Congressman Zack Space, D-Dover, was also taking about the upcoming election from the historical perspective.

"This is going to be the most important election since 1932, and one can make the argument that there's been no more important election cycle since the Civil War," he told the volunteers and candidates who crowded into their new Church St. command center.

The news this morning, by the way, is that Space's predecessor, former Republican Congressman Bob Ney, will be released from federal custody on Saturday after being incarcerated for corruption in connection with the Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Space has spent the last two years in Congress and in Ohio working hard to improve the economy of his sprawling Southeastern Ohio district. Ney was convicted after getting swept up in the Washington pay-to-play game with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. So are Space and Ney equally corrupt because they're both politicians?

And did it make any difference that 18th District voters, seeing how they had been duped, decided to shuck off their traditional allegiance to the Grand Old Party in 2006 and vote instead for a conservative but progressive Democrat like Space?

No, they're not all corrupt and they're not all the same, and we shouldn't let people -- even those we love, at family reunions -- get away with such a cynical dismissal of the whole political process. This is not a time to remain silent about your candidate or your hope for a better future.

PLAYGROUND POLITICS

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:15:13 EDT

Stir up John McCain's well-documented temper with the GOP's well-tested "Rovian" campaign tactics and you've got the receipe for one of the nastiest Presidential campaigns in recent history.

So far, it's NOT been Right vs. Left, or Age vs. Youth, or even White vs. Black, as expected.

Instead, McCain's advertising spitballs against Barack Obama seem to be all about the anger and frustration the reigning playground bully might feel when the girls all flock around the new boy with the big grin and the funny name.

And when you get one kid taunting another on the playground, it usually boils down to jealousy, as described by Hummingbird, our resident poet, thusly:

McCain, 'The Two'

McCain's jealousy is palpable; //

He wants to be 'The Venerable' //

He can't stand the sting //

That his pious right wing //

Might vote for 'The Unflappable.'

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

--A Political Pepper Spray(TM) by Hummingbird

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

Context Note for poem "McCain, 'The Two'"

Everything about Obama makes the McCain Campaign writhe in jealousy. Even the size of audiences, who are obviously hoping for change in Washington 's face and demeanor, give McCain reason to disparage Obama. It would be laughable if there were not 17 years or so of Republican "dittoheads" out there. Stay alert , folks--the FRAMING has begun!

==================================================

For another perspective on this schoolyard spat, check out Maureen Dowd's Tuesday column in the NY Times, at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/opinion/06dowd.html?ref=todayspaper

GO BUCKS....an update

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:21:44 EDT

It turns out this writer was completely wrong this past week in criticizing Rep. Jay Hottinger and other unnamed state legislators, past and present, for tapping into their campaign funds for football tickets and other personal entertainment purchases. (see GO BUCKS...., 7/30/08, below)

On Saturday, the Dispatch editorial board, the "Supreme Court" when it comes to political ethics, handed down its ruling on this subject, ignoring pretty much the WBNS expose published on their own pages the previous Monday (7/28/08). The newspaper's decision reads as follows:

"Common Cause/Ohio plans to file complaints with the Ohio Elections Commission against officials who've used campaign funds for items such as country club memberships, out-of-state travel and tickets to sporting events.

"But elected officials' work often involves meeting with people at the places where they gather, including country clubs, out-of-state conventions and sporting events. Using campaign funds to attend such functions for political purposes is legitimate."

Remember this "ruling" by the Big D before you make any further contributions to political candidates this season. Can your guy or gal be trusted not to divert your $25 or $50 bucks to OSU game tickets or country club dues instead of using it as intended, to get themselves elected and hopefully do some good for the state and country?

Of course, the editorial goes on to say that campaign contributions shouldn't be used for "personal benefit," whatever that means. Bad examples given are non-work related computer "gadgets," home utility bills, home remodeling jobs, personal car payments. Presumably none of these examples involve "meeting with people at the places where they gather," unless you count the clerks at Best Buy or the payment windows at AEP, Columbia Gas and the local banks.

Under the new Dispatch ethics guideline, it would seem, it's permissible for our state legislators to use campaign contributions to pay golf fees at local country clubs or mingle with the voters at strip clubs and dog fights. And hey, how about tapping your contributors to take in the Olympics this week in China?

The editorial headline Is "Reins with some slack."

Seems we've had too much slack in the reins lately, given the mortgage mess, the energy speculators, the obscene profits by Big Oil and the demise of safety and environmental regulation. Isn't it time for somebody to crack the whip?

Zack Space and middle of the road politics

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:34:30 EDT

Can Congressman Zack Space, by staying in the middle of the road, avoid being run over in the highly-partisan national energy debate?

Or does he risk becoming road kill?

Space, D-Dover, has sought to defuse the issue of Alaskan and off-shore drilling by criticizing both parties in Congress for failure to act on skyrocketing oil prices. At the Licking County JFK Breakfast last Saturday, he said he favors a comprehensive study of all options, including drilling but also including conservation measures, development of alternative fuels and energy sources and tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Today, the Dispatch caught up with that story, quoting Space as saying,

"I am frustrated by the lack of debate, by the lack of candid discussion, by the inability of leadership in both parties to cut through all the political nonsense, roll up their sleeves and get down to work and come up with a solution that makes America stronger."

Meanwhile, of course, Republicans continue to howl in chorus to drill, drill, drill, despite the potential environmental cost, even though every expert in the field agrees that that wouldn't produce any increase in oil supplies for decades, and even then wouldn't have much impact of world oil prices.

Seeking to return Space's 18th District to Republican control, challenger Fred Dailey of Mt. Vernon is furiously waving the oily rag, accusing Space of "liberal lip-service...with his support of so-called energy legislation that does nothing to lower gas prices or help America become energy independent."

http://www.daileyforcongress.com/newsDetails.cfm?i=25

The Dispatch interprets the congressman's even-handedness as an attempt by Space and some other Democrats "to distance themselves from their leaders" on the drilling issue.

Isn't it just possible, however, that Space, as a first-termer, just brings a fresh perspective to Congress' partisanship-as-usual way of doing business? Shouldn't the guy get some credit for calling out party leaders on both sides of the aisle for grossly simplifying the very complicated set of energy problems facing America?

Our resident poet, Hummingbird, has faulted Zack in the past for supporting legislation that weakens protection for wild mustangs. But on this issue, she thinks the congressman is smart to stay clear of the herd:

GALLOPING TO THE FINISH

There is a young politician //

stumping his Buckeye Partition. //

His name is Zack Space -- //

He's top of the race. //

Despite GOP derision. //

-- A Political Pepper Spray (TM) by Hummingbird

GO BUCKS -- WITH FREE GAME TICKETS

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:51:36 EDT

Ohio State's first game is still a month away, but already football tickets are a campaign issue.

Again.

WBNS-TV reporters, in an article in Monday's Dispatch, said the public interest group Common Cause "might file formal complaints with the Ohio Elections Commission against officeholders who have used (campaign) contributions to pay for things such as country-club memberships, out-of-state trips and tickets to sporting events."

The word "might" is the tip-off that even Common Cause knows it's trying to crack a very old chestnut here.

The Akron Beacon Journal in the early '90s probably took the most exhaustive look in recent history at this kind of mischief by members of the Ohio General Assembly.

"A Beacon Journal sampling of recent reports filed by legislators shows
substantial expenditures on such unlikely campaign items as season tickets to Ohio State football games, lawn-care service, apartment rents, automobile
tires, art glass, membership in the National Rifle Association and Christmas
party booze. "(9/23/90)

"In addition, because Ohio's campaign laws are so lax, lawmakers are allowed to pay themselves thousands of dollars from their campaign treasuries-- saying only that the payments are reimbursements for unspecified expenses."

If this week's WBNS/Dispatch article advances the issue, it's only because one of our own in Licking County, State Rep. Jay Hottinger, seems to have achieved a new level of arrogance in justifying the practice.

TIBERI'S FLIP FLOP ON HOUSING BILL

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:42:26 EDT

(From the Robinson for Congress campaign)

July 24, 2008

ROBINSON CALLS OUT TIBERI ON FLIP FLOP VOTE AND OUT-OF-TOUCH RECORD

Columbus, Ohio: "Pat Tiberi needs to stop flip-flopping on the housing crisis," 12th District Congressional Candidate David Robinson said today.

"While I'm glad to see Tiberi finally support a strong federal intervention in the crisis, it's not clear why the congressman had to wait months for permission to do so from the White House," said Robinson. "Ohio's home foreclosure rate ranks ninth highest in the nation, and this market failure has subjected families across the state and in the 12th district to great frustration and despair."

The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act. (HR 3221) passed the U.S. House 272-152 on Tuesday, moving the measure to the Senate.

Tiberi voted YES this week, although he voted NO on many of the same provisions two months ago, just when the housing crisis was building to a boil.

The congressman's change of heart came only after President Bush this week made a sharp policy U-turn on the rescue bill, signaling approval, even though he has previously opposed the legislation and threatened a veto.

House Democrats have been working for a year on the mortgage reform plan but up until this week couldn't get Bush and House Republicans on board.

Two short months ago, for example, Tiberi voted:

· NO on the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008 which would have provided $15 billion to states and municipalities for the purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed homes.
· NO on an earlier version of HR 3221 which, among other things, would have authored the Federal Housing Administration to help refinance as much as $300 billion of subprime loans.

In fact, Tiberi's major contribution to the housing debate was a proposed amendment in April to HR 5720, the Housing Assistance Act of 2008, which would have allowed homeowners facing foreclosure to withdraw without penalty up to $50,000 from their IRA account.

"This commonsense measure," Tiberi said in a press release last April, "would help homeowners help themselves when they find themselves in mortgage trouble."
Common sense, however, should have clued Tiberi that few if any homeowners facing foreclosure have $50,000 tucked away in an IRA account.

"Tiberi's amendment was an echo of Marie Antoinette's famous 'let them eat cake' retort to starving Parisians," said Robinson, "and demonstrated that the congressman after eight years in Congress is sadly out of touch with the problems of average Ohioans.".

What Congress does need to do, said Robinson, is:

· Stop demonizing struggling homeowners and provide money to help them refinance subprime loans inflicted on them by predatory and irresponsible lenders.
· Support special mortgage provisions for military personnel returning from service abroad.
· Increase financial counseling for families at risk of foreclosure.
· Provide funding for state and local governments for the rehabilitation and resale of abandoned and foreclosed homes.
· Strengthen regulation of the mortgage industry and increase disclosure requirements so borrowers will be fully aware of the terms of their loan.

www.robinson2008.com

SPACE UNHAPPY WITH CONGRESS ON ENERGY

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:46:36 EDT

Congress needs to stop playing politics with energy, U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, told Licking County Democrats this morning.

And in saying all energy options should be on the table, Space didn't spare members of his own party from criticism.

"I'm not proud that my party has engaged just as much as have Republicans in political rhetoric on these issues," he said. "The politicians need to be fair and square and honest with the energy problem, and far too many have not been."

Space has introduced legislation to help working families offset gasoline costs through tax credits, and has voted to support legislation requiring oil companies to start exploiting the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore oil leases they have already been granted by the federal government.

In a column on his congressional web site this month, he also endorses various oil conservation measures in the short term and the development of "advanced energy sources" in the long term.

http://space.house.gov/?sectionid=24&parentid=8§iontree=8,24&itemid=465

In his re-election bid, the 18th District congressman has come under heavy attack from Republicans and conservative groups for not supporting approval of new offshore drilling leases and for opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

But Space said today that he thinks Congress should put all energy options, including new drilling in Alaska and offshore, "on the table" for study. Drafters of any new national energy plan, however, must also consider the other options, such as stronger energy conservation programs, the development of alternative fuels or tapping into the Strategic Oil Reserve.

OBAMA

Space, who as a superdelegate remained uncommitted during the Democratic primaries, also said he now strongly supports Barack Obama for the nomination in August.

"Barack is the nominee," he said. "If you're a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you need to come over to Barack's side.

"This guy has the ability to change the perception the rest of the world has of this nation," he continued.

America's leadership role in the world has been badly eroded during President Bush's tenure in office, he said.

"Two years ago, I thought it would take decades to restore it. But now I think Barack will restore it the first day he takes office."

"Not only do I feel better about him after talking to him. I feel better about myself."

David Robinson ranked #1 on ACTBLUE

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:06:04 EDT

(From the Robinson for Congress campaign)

COLUMBUS, OH: July 25

David Robinson, Candidate for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, handily climbed to the top spotlight on ActBlue's "Hot Candidates of the Week" list. ActBlue is the premiere on-line clearinghouse for Democratic action and fundraising.

"This result clearly demonstrates the driven nature of our campaign," said Robinson. "Our supporters are motivated and fired up for action, anxious to send a Representative to Congress who will represent their best interests…not the interests of a special interest money-trail."

Robinson campaign supporters began an on-line fundraising initiative on June 21st. By Friday, more than 200 on-line donations pushed the campaign to the top, with 13 support sites set up on the Robinson ActBlue page. Various groups pledged support, from Republicans for Robinson, to Bexley for Robinson, to his high school alma mater, "Golden Bears for Robinson."

"This race has been flying under the radar for some time now," said Robinson. "But we've known all long -- this is the year to take back the 12th, and we will."

More on Robinson can be found at www.Robinson2008.com

OUR TIMID TIMES

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:22:57 EDT

Bob Herbert is the best columnist nobody ever gets to read, outside of the Times.

This, from a Saturday column on the Gore "Apollo" plan" to attack the nation's energy problem:

"The correct response to Mr. Gore’s proposal would be a rush to figure out ways to make it happen. Don’t hold your breath.
When exactly was it that the U.S. became a can’t-do society? It wasn’t at the very beginning when 13 ragamuffin colonies went to war against the world’s mightiest empire. It wasn’t during World War II when Japan and Nazi Germany had to be fought simultaneously. It wasn’t in the postwar period that gave us the Marshall Plan and a robust G.I. Bill and the interstate highway system and the space program and the civil rights movement and the women’s movement and the greatest society the world had ever known.
When was it?
Now we can’t even lift New Orleans off its knees."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/opinion/19herbert.html?ex=1217390400&en=97c9f31583f9497f&ei=5070

OBAMA MEETING IN NEWARK

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:45:44 EDT

As Barack Obama was conferring with military commanders in Iraq yesterday, his local campaign team was asking equally earnest questions of some two-dozen supporters in Newark.

What are your views, asked campaign volunteer Mark Johns, on energy independence, health care, the economy, the Iraq war and need for government ethics reform? Responses were to be wedged into a two-hour session last night at the Newark Public Library.

"There are a thousand topics we can talk about," Johns said, "but unfortunately the library closes at 9."

This month, according to the event invitation, "Sen. Obama's campaign is asking that people from all across American hold Platform Meetings to talk about what issues are most important to them and what should be at the heart of the Democratic platform for change."

Because of time constraints, the agenda last night was limited, following a quick show of hands, to the energy crisis and the economy.

It must be said that nothing remarkably new came out of the discussion. The consensus of the group appeared to be that all these issues are heavily intertwined, that energy issues, for example, cannot be isolated from environmental ones or the state of the economy.

Participants agreed the nation's economic turmoil results from a lack of government regulation, from greedy corporations and overpaid CEOs, from Bush's ill-conceived tax cuts and the resulting abandonment of the balanced budget. We're experiencing a period of "neo-Hooverism," said one speaker.

While these viewpoints were hardly surprising, the fact that a Presidential candidate is asking everyday citizens to contribute more than campaign cash is a new wrinkle in American politics, at least at the national level. People seem to like this "national town meeting" idea, and hope that it will become a permanent feature of the Obama presidency, assuming he's elected.

Of course, the election is now the first priority. Those attending last night included many volunteers already active in local Democratic politics, as well as a number of independents and even a few disenchanted Republicans.

Of course, local organizers stressed that local volunteers will be critical to Obama's success in November.

"Ohio is the tip of the spear," said Johns, who organized the first grassroots Obama group in Newark back in February. "And in Ohio, it's central Ohio that's the key. And it's not Franklin County (that will decide it), it's the counties surrounding Franklin County."

Johns, as well as staff field organizer Brian Clark and volunteer Chris Keck, are team leaders here under the direction of regional staff director Lauren Durham. The Obama team can be reached through the Licking County Democratic Headquarters (349-8273).

David Robinson Needs You to ActBlue!

David — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:48:15 EDT

We Need You to ActBlue for David Robinson!

Dear Robinson for Congress Supporter,

This week we are undertaking a significant on-line intiative that we need your help with! We are asking each of you to go to the ActBlue fundraising page for David Robinson and make a contribution between now and this Friday.

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18783

If enough supporters contribute to the campaign through ActBlue over the next 5 days, we will be placed in the list of the “Top 5 Hot Candidates of the Week” that appears on the ActBlue website front page. Making it to this list will place our campaign in the national spotlight and will expose us to funders throughout the U.S. You can help put Robinson for Congress in the national spotlight by donating once, or better yet, multiple times between today and Friday.

We have only 5 days to accomplish this goal. Please consider giving a contribution each day - the more contributions we receive, the higher our ranking will be. A $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00 donation will put us one step closer to our goal! http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18783

Together, through our collective energy, we can send a New Voice to Congress. So get BLUE and ACT today!

For more information on David Robinson and his campaign platform, please visit www.robinson2008.com

NUMBERS GAMES

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:11:17 EDT

Politics is a numbers game, but which numbers really count these days?

In Ohio's 12th District, 4-term Republican incumbent Pat Tiberi is easily winning the money race, having raised nearly $1.4 million in campaign contributions so far this year, including $246,000 in the second quarter alone.

By comparison, in reports to the Federal Elections Commission, Democratic challenger David Robinson has raised $80,254 this election cycle, which includes $52,371 in the second quarter. (Disclosure: that includes $200 from LICOPAC).

No surprise there. As the Dispatch reports today,

"Quarterly congressional campaign finance reports due yesterday provide a reminder of why it is usually an uphill battle to beat an incumbent lawmaker: They raise tons of campaign cash."

Robinson himself has told volunteers he expects to be heavily outspent by Tiberi, who draws major support from utilities, insurance companies, banks and financial institutions and national Republican PACs. His hopes lie in outworking Tiberi at the grassroots -- and on cashing in the 12th District numbers in terms of 12th District voter demographics.

According to a Robinson fact sheet:

---George Bush beat John Kerry in the district by only 2.8 percent back in 2004.
---Democratic Governor Ted Strickland won the 12th with a 58.4 percent margin in 2006.
---Republicans registered only 18 percent of primary registered voters in the district in March, as compared to 30 percent Democratic and 52 percent independent.
---Robinson won his primary race in March, gaining 51 percent in a 3-way race, despite the fact that he was not the party-endorsed candidate.

Despite his modest bank account, Robinson spent early and heavily on the tools of the trade -- campaign buttons and stickers and signs and a high quality video and web site (www.robinson2008.com ) operation. And there are now signs he's putting more emphasis on fund raising, although it may be too late to impress the dollar-fixated Democratic sugar daddies in Washington and Columbus (ie, DCCC, DNC, ODP).

In part, Robinson is hoping that the Obama tide raises all Democratic boats, even the small ones.

"I'm not a career politician, so we're creating our campaign from scratch," Robinson said back in April. "We are confident that we will have the resources to put our ideas and plans before every voter for the general election."

Meanwhile, in the 18th District, Republican challenger Fred Dailey must be praying for a McCain tide because his small craft needs a boost as well in its bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Zack Space.

Space, despite swearing off all gifts from lobbyists, raised $322,147 during the second quarter, easily outdistancing Dailey, a former state agriculture director, who brought in $116,000 over the same period.

According to the Dispatch, this gives Space a 10-1 dollar advantage over Dailey for the entire 2007-2008 election cycle.

It wasn't too long ago that national Republicans announced they intended to make Space their number one target in 2008, on the belief that his victory two years ago in a normally Republican district was a fluke, resulting only from the lobbying scandal which engulfed former Republican incumbent Bob Ney.

Only in this case, the "target" decided to fire back, and now seems headed for an easy re-election win.

New Americans Forum Next Wednesday

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:28:14 EDT

July 3, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEW AMERICANS TELL THEIR STORIES

The voices - and experiences - of Columbus' new ethnic residents will be heard on Wednesday, July 9, during the New Americans Forum to acquaint officeholders and candidates with the concerns of recent immigrants.

The event, at 6:30 p.m. at the IBEW Local 683 Union Hall, 23 W. 2nd Ave., will bring together members of Columbus' Hispanic and Somali communities with some two-dozen candidates for federal, state and local office.

Since the 1400's, immigrants have come to America to find their dreams or to escape treachery, war and starvation. They have not always been greeted warmly or well.

Columbus, for the most part, has been a welcoming community. Still, many newcomers experience lengthy bureaucratic delays in qualifying for citizenship. They also have to navigate their way through unfamiliar institutions, such as the schools, the courts and local permit and licensing agencies.

And in an election year, new Americans - like all citizens - can get confused by constantly changing voting requirements and procedures.

At the same time, politicians today face many opposing opinions as to how to address immigration and immigrants in the post 9/11 era.

The new Americans are courted by politicians "but there's not much awareness there," said one Somali community leader. "And after the election, they don't come back."

The New Americans Forum is being sponsored by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations to encourage dialogue between officeholders, candidates and new ethnic residents. Following panel discussions, a representative of the Ohio Secretary of State's office will clarify voting procedures and information will be shared about the Ohio Democratic Party's Neighborhood Leader Program.

The Coalition is a coordinating group for more than 20 Democratic and independent clubs and PACs in Franklin, Licking, Delaware and Perry counties.

For more information, contact:
Judy Kress, 614-268-2823, or
David Lore, 740-967-5227
Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations
http://coalitiondemscentralohio.org

War Funding Keeps Surging

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:54:00 EDT

I was one of a number of Ohio peace activists who linked up with Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown earlier today via conference call to talk about the war funding bill now approaching a Senate vote.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Iraq (or Iran), the senator didn't have much encouraging news to share.

Brown said he will vote against the $165 billion supplemental funding bill for Iraq and Afghanistan which will soon be on the Senate floor. This is no surprise, since Brown cast a similar vote against a $70 billion supplemental war-funding bill last December.

Once again, however, the war funding bill is expected to pass without significant concessions by the White House.

Brown's position on war funding has hardened since last June when he vowed in e-mail to Ohio Quakers to "continue to fight to fully fund our troops.."

And, in fact, in May 2007 Brown voted in favor of an earlier $120 billion war supplemental bill brought to the Congress by the Bush administration.

Now, however, "I don't trust anything he (Bush) says when he's talking about Iraq," Brown said. In view of the administration's failure earlier in the war to provide adequate body and vehicle armor, Brown said legislators can't be sure the President would recall U.S. troops even if future funding was denied.

Brown said in voting against continued war funding, he is taking a risk that congressional opposition could weaken U.S. forces abroad.

"It's a real hard call," he said. "In an election year, a lot of Democrats flinch from it. (Note: Brown was elected to a 6-year term in 2006 and isn't up for re-election until 2012.)

"But politics aside, it's a hard legitimate question," he said. "Do you cut funding when you have soldiers in the field? It's more than politics."

In his response to Ohio Quakers last June, Brown said, "I voted against the Iraq war and I generally support the principles of the (withdrawal) legislation. I will continue to fight to fully fund our troops, to ensure accountability and oversight, for economic and political changes that benefit all Iraqi citizens and to redeploy our troops as soon as possible."

Brown said he opposes any attempt by the Bush administration to ink a long-term security agreement with Iraqi officials that ties the hands of the next administration. The U.S. reportedly wants to preserve more than 50 U.S. bases in Iraq under such an agreement, and give U.S. soldiers and contractors immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

Administration officials say they don't need to get congressional approval for such an agreement. Brown said he's not sure Congress could block such a move, although the next President could overturn any Iraqi pact not approved by Congress.

Likewise, if the outgoing administration launched a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear facilities before leaving office in January, its congressional critics might not be able to do much more than complain.

"If there's an attack on Iran, and they (Iran) haven't attacked us,....there will be all sorts of reaction," said Brown. "That would be met with skepticism and rage by a lot of us..."

The bottom line, he said, is that the debate on the war has now shifted from Congress to the Presidential campaigns.

"The party will take the lead from Barack, he said. "In the end, what he says is pretty much what we follow. And we'll just have to fight about it after the election."

It was announced by Cleveland Peace Action during the conference call that an Iran Coordinating Group will meet this Saturday in Cleveland as part of the National Assembly to end the Iraq War and Occupation. For more information, go to www.natassembly.org or call 216-736-4704.

SOUND BITES

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:50:33 EDT

Ohioans, being at the "heart of it all," have learned in recent years to despise robo-calls, but there is an upside to even this most noxious weed in the political garden. Providing you have an answering machine which records your messages.

During 2004, I was able to capture pitches from Bill Clinton, John Kerry and John Glenn. Earlier this year, during the Ohio primary season, my recorder bagged greetings from Hillary Clinton and Governor Strickland.

(Nothing yet from Obama, although an enthusiastic young volunteer called last week from Phoenix, hoping for cash. Didn't record that.)

Now, I really haven't figured out what to do with these sound bites from the stars, but it's nice having them as sort of an oral history of recent campaigns. Don't you wish they had robo-calls and recorders (oh, and telephones) when Lincoln was running for president? Nobody today even knows what the voice that gave us the Gettysburg Address even sounded like!

Of course, back in those days not everybody would have been as thrilled to get a jingle from Honest Abe.

This, for example, was Henry David Thoreau's journal entry for June 18, 1854. Thoreau, who probably wouldn't have had phone service out there at Walden Pond even if he could, had no use for .....:

"Politicians! I have looked into the eyes of two or three of them, but I saw nothing there to satisfy me. They will vote for my man to-morrow if I will vote for theirs to-day. They will whirl round and round, not only horizontally like weathercocks, but vertically also."

http://hdt.typepad.com/henrys_blog/

David Robinson Responds to Clinton Endorsement of Obama

David — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:50:03 EDT

Robinson's Comments: "Now that the presidential nominating process has come to a close, I think it would be good if we paused and reflected for just a moment about the significance of what has just happened and how this sends a message not only to every American, young and old, but to the whole world, that the American Dream is alive and very well.

We have seen through this contest, which could easily have gone either way, that in America no matter your gender or your race, that with talent and hard-work there are no limits to what you may seek and achieve.

And this campaign, Robinson for Congress, is fortunate enough to be a part of this historical moment, to be a part of this hunger for change, or as Obama’s campaign says, Change We Can Believe In. And I do believe in it, because I believe in the ability of Americans—through ingenuity, hard-work, finding of common cause, and with good leadership—to do the most extraordinary things and to solve our problems in the most unexpected of ways.

But as you know, our current leadership in the White House, and all those in Congress who have supported them consistently through the years—as our opponent has—our leadership has failed us, has failed our nation. In less than eight years we have gone from Peace and Prosperity to an inconclusive war in Afghanistan, and an unprovoked, endless war in Iraq, and an economy marked by an embattled middle class and a poverty of opportunity for too many.

So what we face now is a contest for leadership, both at the presidential level and here in the 12th District. And as you know, John McCain is running for a third Bush term, but if that’s not bad enough, my opponent is running for a fifth Tiberi term! And we're not going to let that happen..."

-- David Robinson

For additional information about David and his campaign platform, please visit www.robinson2008.com

Dave Robinson needs your support

Gray Hunter, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:20:31 EDT

It's often said that all politics are local, but in a presidential election year, it just doesn't seem to work out that way.

Typically, national campaigns suck up all available resources like a black hole.

Several times each week, I have to explain over the phone to some earnest volunteer for the DCCC, DSCC, DNC, etc., that any loose change in my pocket that the oil companies missed has to go to local candidates for Congress, the state legislature, the county commission or local judiciary.

No doubt, sitting in Washington, they find this notion quaint but not particularly helpful in the coast-to-coast game of dialing-for-dollars.

Which brings me to David Robinson, Democratic candidate in the 12th Congressional District, who is hosting a modest fundraiser this Thursday night in Powell, Ohio.

Robinson is seeking to depose 4-term Republican Pat Tiberi who enters this year's re-election race with huge advantage in terms of funding and name recognition.

(As of March 31, Tiberi reported $757,719 cash-on-hand as compared to $7,611 cash-on-hand for Robinson who -- at that time -- was just getting organized.)

And it's unlikely that Robinson will get much help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) unless he can show significant local support by the end of this month.

Robinson is one of the most interesting new faces in local politics in years. A Columbus businessman, he brings degrees in fields as varied as accounting, psychology and theology to issues such as global warming which he engages as a volunteer speaker in Al Gore's campaign. Since his win in the March primary, Robinson has been working the grassroots 24-7 and has become a frequent visitor to Licking County, which shares the 12th with eastern Franklin County and parts of Delaware County.

You can learn the basics at www.robinson2008.com but you really have to meet Dave Robinson to experience the energy and enthusiasm of the man.

The only prospect as depressing as a Third Bush Term under John McCain would be a Fifth Tiberi Term dedicated to more slavish boosterism for the Bush-McCain-GOP platform of prolonging the war in Iraq, cutting taxes for the rich and jerking back the safety net for everybody else.

I encourage you to attend this week's Robinson event or take the opportunity to support his campaign in the weeks ahead. Remember, without more progressive Democrats in Congress, it may not really make that much difference who takes the presidential oath of office next January.

Wedgewood Fundraiser

David Robinson
Candidate for
Ohio's 12th U.S. Congressional District
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wedgewood Golf and Country Club
9600 Wedgewood Blvd.
Powell, Ohio

Cash bar, Light Hors D'Oeuvres
$25 Suggested Donation at the Door
R.S.V.P. to Rob Doersam at: rdoersam@robinson2008.com
- or - 614-294-2900
If unable to attend, donations can be made at www.robinson2008.com
or at Robinson for Congress, PO Box 8246, Columbus, OH 43201.

Robinson for Congress Kick-off Fundraiser

David — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:27:21 EDT

Launch a New Energy for Ohio and a New Voice in Congress with Us!

David Robinson for Congress Campaign Fundraiser
Wedgewood Golf and Country Club - Powell, Ohio

June 5, 2008
5:30-8:00 p.m.
Suggested donation - $25

Join David Robinson and other Robinson for Congress supporters to kickoff the summer season and rally into the the general election. The Robinson for Congress campaign is forging ahead and it is time for ALL supporters -- ALL those desiring change, ALL those fighting for our district, and ALL who believe it can happen -- to come together.

Join us. Join David Robinson for Congress. Join us in sending needed change to Congress!

RSVP to: kickoff@robinson2008.com
Donations accepted at the door, evening of the event

Wedgewood Golf & Country Club
9600 Wedgewood Blvd. Powell, OH 43065
(614) 793-9600

For more about David Robinson and his policy platforms, please visit www.robinson2008.com