Campaign 2010

Sep 15, 2005

Blasdel Candidacy Sparks Ohio Special Interest Fundraiser

DCCC Press

Sep 15, 2005

Blasdel Candidacy Sparks Ohio Special Interest Fundraiser

Congressional Candidate Chuck Blasdel Will be Holding a Fundraiser in Washington With the Embattled Ohio Delegation as he Kicks of his Campaign for Congress

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, ethically challenged Ohio Congressional candidate Chuck Blasdel will be holding a Washington, D.C. fundraiser featuring Ohio's ethically troubled congressional delegation. As Blasdel swoons for special interest cash, Ohioans say they've had enough of the pay-to-play mentality of Ohio politicians.

"At first glance, Chuck Blasdel's guest list looks more like the House Ethics Committee checklist than a set of invitations," said Bill Burton, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Blasdel has already accepted lobbyist funded trips and now he's accepting campaign cash from Bob Ney and other Tom DeLay cronies. When Chuck Blasdel stands with the special interests he cannot possibly stand up for the needs and values of the middle class families in Ohio."

Bad Ethics in Ohio / Bad Ethics in Washington

  • Republican leadership embroiled by scandal in Ohio. Governor Taft is under investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission for failure to disclose "50 to 60 golf outings and other events." The ethics investigation stemmed from "questions about the state's investment in rare coins" and "an ongoing scandal involving $300 million in investment losses [and] state and federal investigations into state financial policies." The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation invested funds in Noe's coin collection business and Noe was accused by Attorney General Jim Petro "of stealing about $6 million from the state for personal use." [Columbus Dispatch, 7/20/05; Akron Beacon Journal, 7/21/05; Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/27/05; AP, 7/21/05]
  • Republican leadership marred by ethical scandals in Washington.

    Tom DeLay was admonished a record three times by the House Ethics Committee. In addition to these ethics charges, DeLay's friends and close associates have been indicted, some even arrested. One associate, super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff was recently indicted, arrested and later released on bail, and just last week, a political action committee associated with DeLay, was indicted last week for illegally accepting corporate contributions. Once again, this week, more indictments came down from a Texas grand jury for two Tom DeLay associates who are accused of money laundering and violations of the Texas Election Code and criminal conspiracy to violate the Texas Election Code.

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