Posted on 10/17/2006 7:25:25 AM PDT by Dane
COLUMBUS - It was the first gubernatorial debate in Ohio history, possibly the United States, in which one candidate accused the other of being applauded by the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).
J. Kenneth Blackwell, the Republican candidate for governor who is trailing by double digits in most polls with three weeks until the election, went on the offensive in the fourth and final debate Monday night against Democrat Ted Strickland.
And like the rain that fell on the Channel 10 television studios and the spin tents pitched outside, Blackwell never let up during the one-hour debate nor in the aftermath during a rousing question-and-answer session.
To recap, Blackwell said Strickland did not vote for a resolution condemning sex between adults and children as a U.S. congressman.
That vote led NAMBLA, an organization that promotes sex between adults and consenting minors, to applaud Strickland, Blackwell said. Blackwell also said Strickland knew, employed and traveled with a man convicted of exposing himself to young children in Washington and Athens counties.
``It goes right at his judgment,'' Blackwell said.
The accusations were raised at the same time Republican candidates around the country are attempting to distance themselves from the scandal enveloping U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who resigned after acknowledging he sent sexually graphic text messages to former House pages. Strickland appeared before reporters after the debate to elaborate on his responses to Blackwell's accusations.
The Democrat reiterated he never knowingly employed anyone in his campaign or congressional office that did not share his same values. But he does acknowledge a former employee was convicted of exposing himself.
As for the resolution, Strickland said he did not vote for or against the idea, but instead was recorded as present.
He said he supported a number of the ideas in the resolution, but could not vote yes because it contained a sentence he did not agree with.
That sentence, Strickland said, stated that sexually exploited children are unable to develop healthy affectionate relationships in later life, have sexual dysfunctions and have a tendency to become sexual abusers as adults.
Strickland said he did not believe that as a human being or psychologist, and he also believes God would not condemn a young victim to never having a chance to lead a normal adult life.
`I'm not angry tonight. I try to have some degree of understanding,'' Strickland said.
Blackwell would not disclose whether he planned to use the issues in television advertising in the final days of the campaign, and Strickland would not hazard a guess on the matter.
Strickland said Blackwell was desperate, but he did not believe he would be able to gain momentum by raising these types of allegations.
Strickland said he believes Blackwell's extreme positions are leading moderate Republicans and independent voters to his campaign.
During much of the debate, the candidates went over issues and positions raised in the first three encounters.
Like those earlier debates, Monday's was not aired statewide except on the Ohio News Network, a cable station.
Strickland reiterated his promise to ``Turnaround Ohio'' by using the state's natural resources -- corn, soybeans and coal -- to create jobs through breakthroughs in energy renewal programs.
He also said he promised to bring disparate groups together to address Ohio's unconstitutional school-funding program.
Calling himself the agent of change while labeling Strickland the status-quo candidate, Blackwell said he would jump-start Ohio's economy by cutting taxes by $1.2 billion in his first 100 days and redirect $1.4 billion to school classrooms while he developed a constitutional amendment to make the school-funding system constitutional.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
But one sentence is a reason to vote against a bill?
Use your common sense, and BTW why didn't Mr. Strickland try to strike that sentence out if he disagreed with it so much. That was his job as Congressman isn't it?
Ohio is not Massachusetts. I can't believe people will accept this pervert panderer. Hopefully the NAMBLA base in Ohio does not exceed 2%.
UTTER WHACKJOBBERY !!!
The hallmark of EVERY socialist is the psychology and reality of the victim.
To them, victims exist, victims need help and only the gummint can help the victim.
Please Ohio .... do the right thing.
It doesn't appear to have been a bill, just some stupid resolution-- like one declaring National Turnip Week.
His response to it-- that he doesn't believe that God would condemn the victims of exploitation-- is positively brilliant, though, for a state with plenty of Catholics like Ohio.
*************
Straw man argument. The sentence he claims to object to says nothing about God.
Hmmm ~ a Strickland supporter I see?
Didn't Strickland say he's a psychologist? And don't they figure anything they can tack on a DSM diagnosis to is something that's curable?
Hmmm...I don't think they have codes for pedophiles and gays, do they?
Strickland, in his own words, has left "a shallow footprint in Washington". He has, in his career in Congress neither written nor sponsored any significant legislation.
Do we believe that the sentence was in the bill, and is exactly as Strickland SAYS it is? I would be surprised if they explicitly said "unable", rather than saying it COULD lead to those things.
So I doubt he is telling the complete truth. But I don't have access to the bill.
The sentence didn't belong in the bill. But, I agree with you, he could have stepped up and demanded its retraction.
Whereas the Supreme Court has recognized that `sexually exploited children are unable to develop healthy affectionate relationships in later life, have sexual dysfunctions, and have a tendency to become sexual abusers as adults' (New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 758, n.9 (1982));
That is entirely correct, the Supreme court DID recognize that. It isn't saying that ALL abused children have those problems, but it is an accurate quote from the Supreme Court case.
That is an absurd reason not to vote for a bill. Remember this resolution was trying to set up an argument against a study which said children were NOT harmed by adult sex, and in fact might benefit from it -- so it was important to cite specific references which refuted the claims of the study.
BTW, that would make a GREAT TV commercial for Blackwell. He could have someone who was abused as a child who was willing to talk about the therapy they went through, show the quote with the person (a lady would be best) saying that she had problems with sexual intimacy that required years of therapy.
They could then say "when a study suggested that such abuse was GOOD for children, Strickland REFUSED TO VOTE TO CONDEMN the study. When asked why, he said:
Then they could have Strickland from the debate saying "As a psychologist I don't believe that".
It would be an accurate commercial, truthful, and damning. Especially with the renewed interest now that the NAME of the child predator he hired has been revealed, which also means we now know that after finding out he had a convicted child predator on his staff, he TOOK THE GUY WITH HIM TO EUROPE for a celebration.
They could mention that as well. Sure doesn't look like Strickland cares that much about child predators if they aren't republicans.
Strickland -- For the Children!
The Dems LOVE NAMBLA nd they want Gay Boy Scout LEADERS!!! Gay men in charge of Young boys!!!
Isn't Strickland some kind of preacher??
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