[calcowgirl]

http://www.protectyourvote.org/news/pressreleases/09_09_05.pdf

Reform Ohio Now Financed by Wealthy Out-Of-State Liberals in Their Bid to Change Ohio’s Constitution

Over 93% of Campaign War Chest Comes from Out of State

COLUMBUS--Wealthy out-of-state interest groups and individuals who have ties to radical ideals and interests are trying to buy the votes of Ohioans who must decide the fate of four statewide ballot issues that would dramatically change how Ohio holds its elections.

More than 93 percent of the nearly $1.2 million dollars collected comes from such out-of-state special interests, according to campaign finance filings of the supporters of the ballot issues, Reform Ohio Now (RON).

Of these contributions, The Rockefeller Family Fund, Alida R. Messinger and The Philanthropic Collaborative, all having close ties to the Rockefeller family, contributed $310,000. Alida Messinger, is the tenth largest individual donor to 527 organizations and has contributed $2.2 million to Americans Coming Together (ACT). ACT was involved with alleged voter registration fraud in Ohio in their attempt to defeat President Bush.

Another major contributor, the California based Therestofus.org purports to “be a non-partisan watchdog committed to exposing the role of big money in politics and telling citizens what they can do about it.” The finance report shows a $235,000 donation, but there is no indication of where that money came from.

(snip)

[defenderSD]

Legislative districts don't make any difference in the US Presidential race or US senate races, and those are the elections that really matter.

[conservative_2001]

Thanks for your input Arnold, but we Ohioans vote that you clean up your own state first, and let us worry about our's.

[J-Bro_in_Ohio]

Isn't it pretty obvious from this that whomever has the power to redistrict (gerrymander) is not going to want reform, and the minority party is going to be in favor reguardless of what party it is.
To gerrymander is to create a monopoly, and no monopoly is going to just crumble at request. It's obviously in the CURRENT best interests for the republican base to oppose Issue-4 in Ohio, just the same as it is for them to support Prop-77 in Ca.
This is not a sure power-grab for democrats. It will only equal the playing field. If the tables should turn on the republicans, the dems will gerrymander the hell out of the districts. Republicans have MANY well known politicians throughout Ohio, and with gerrymander any can easily be taken out.
We saw in the previous 2 Presidential elections that the state is divided fairly evenly. Gerrymandering in the dems favor will NOT be hard.
That's why, as crazy as it sounds, I really think base republicans are better off voting for balance and conserving the politicians they have in power.
If you read the actual amendments you'll see that in no way is this definitly going to hurt republicans.
To be conservative, is to oppose change that endangers the good things we have. I think passing these measures will keep conservative values safer in the long run.