Progressive Democrat Issue 39: TARGET THE CORRUPT REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN: MORE Ohio Corruption

The Republican party of Ohio continues to be the most amazingly corrupt state party I have personally ever heard of. And I mean EVER! I have previously covered the corruption of Ohio Republicans, from Congressman Mike Oxley to Governor Taft to other smaller fish elsewhere on this blog. But things have progressed further. The Governor now faces criminal charges and the Attorney General is in trouble.

Here is a Daily Kos diary on the problems of Governor Taft, drawing from the Columbus Dispatch:

Gov. Bob Taft is expected to be charged this afternoon in Franklin County Municipal Court with four criminal misdemeanors for failing to disclose golf outings and possibly other favors…

Taft's problems surfaced in connection with Thomas W. Noe, a prominent Republican campaign contributor who managed failed rare-coin investments for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Taft appointed Noe to the Ohio Board of Regents and Ohio Turnpike Commission. Noe resigned from both jobs in the wake of the coin scandal.
Noe, a Maumee coin dealer, has been accused of stealing nearly $4 million from the $50 million investment for personal use, and his lawyers have acknowledged a shortfall of up to $13 million.

Multiple state and federal agencies are investigating, and three special grand juries have been seated. Noe, who denies any wrongdoing, has not been charged.
Things really began unraveling on May 23 when Charles contacted the governor's office seeking records. He had found allegations, during the course of his investigation, that members of the governor's staff received lodging, accommodations and other items from Noe.

Taft subsequently sent a letter to the Ethics Commission on June 14, acknowledging that he failed to list multiple list golf outings and other events on his financial disclosure forms over several years.

This is all part of the current Republican practice of taking pretty blatant bribes (there, I said it!) from lobbyists and then pretty much support whatever those lobbyists want. Tom DeLay (TX), Randy Cunningham (CA) and the Blunts (MO) are further examples of this kind of disgusting Republican corruption.

Now here is the amazing thing: Governor Taft pleaded NoLo, as we used to say in Los Angeles (“no contest” to the rest of you) meaning that he in essence admits guilt without legally admitting guilt. Here is a Daily Kos article on his guilt:

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Taft is found guilty

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft publicly apologized and pleaded no contest today to four misdemeanor ethic charges in Franklin County Common Pleas Court for failing to disclose more than two dozen golf outings and other gifts he received.
Taft, whose wife, Hope, accompanied him to court, was found guilty, fined $4,000 and ordered to write an email apology to state employees, and to send an email to the news media apologizing to the people of Ohio.

Taft told the court that he was disappointed in himself for failing to meet the high ethical standards that he expects all state employees to meet. Taft is the first Ohio governor to be convicted of a crime while in office.

Slap on the wrist for what is, in essence, nasty corruption. Let’s make this clear: Republican Governor Taft of Ohio is guilty of corruption and the Republican party still supports him. This is a continuing pattern of apologizing for corruption by the Republican Party.

But Taft isn’t the only Ohio Republican to be corrupt. Let’s make THIS clear: corruption is rampant throughout the Republican Party, particularly in Ohio. Now, the attorney general of a state is supposed to be the top law enforcement official for that state. The Republican attorney general of Ohio is himself corrupt. His problems stem from the same “coingate” scandal that is dogging Governor Taft. Here is a Daily Kos diary covering attorney general Jim Petro’s latest problems.

The gist is that Petro has been refusing to disclose to the public documents relating to a workers comp. fund and the “coingate” scandal. When Petro first argued that the documents were protected by the "trade secret" privilege, a court denied his defense and demanded he turn over the documents. He then, in contempt of court (an attorney general in contempt of court!!), he failed to turn over the documents. When once again ordered by the courts to produce the documents, he produced EDITED versions of those documents, in essence violating the court order. This is roughly where the case stands.

Again, let’s make this clear: the Republicans are violating court orders, hiding facts from the public and, in essence, deeply engaged in corruption.

These examples of Republican corruption are finally getting some press. But if we don’t keep pushing the media and Congress to pay attention to this corruption, it will be quickly forgotten. PLEASE, write your local media and the Ohio media complaining about Republican corruption. Aren’t we all embarrassed by this corruption? Isn’t this un-American?

Also, if you like, write your Congresscritter demanding an investigation of this corruption.