Will Democrats blow it in Ohio? (Yet another Democratic scandal)

The Swamp ^

[No Dems 2004]

An exquisitely sleazy scandal in the Ohio Attorney General's office could ripple through the November election with potentially disastrous consequences for the Democrats' national ticket.

The tawdry unfolding story involves Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann and a pair of close associates who share an apartment in Columbus.

The three men all are married and also have residences in Youngstown, which is three-plus hours from Columbus.

There are several tentacles to the saga, but the core of it involves alleged sexual misbehavior on the part of Dann's chief of administrative services, Anthony Gutierrez.

At least two female employees in the AG's office claim that Gutierrez pressured them to date him, with one of the women saying that after a night of bar-hopping with him she woke up partially undressed on his bed in the Columbus apartment.

-- Snip

The beauty of this, from a Republican perspective anyway, is the accessible, tabloid nature of the scandal.

There are no post-dated stock options, no Enron-style "special purpose entities", no offshore tax shelters.

Just a boss hitting on underlings, binge drinking, leering, a car crash or two and an obstinate pol whose office seems intent on minimizing or covering up what happened.

The whole escapade has reinforced the notion that Dann, who was elected to a four-year-term in 2006, may be out of his depth as a statewide officeholder.

But this is bigger than Dann.

Ohio, under the best of circumstances, is a tough state for a Democratic presidential candidate. Ask Al Gore or John Kerry.

It may be even tougher if the nominee is Barack Obama, given his difficulty so far winning over white working class voters, of which Ohio has many.

[No Dems 2004]

Not too long ago, the Dems were telling us that only Republicans had scandals. It's not looking so true anymore (like it ever was).

[sanjacjake]

Buckeyes are powerful stuff...gets the gonads on a
tear in springtime....will probably spread to Michigan..
2 States for McCain???????????? JK

[goldstategop]

The saving grace about Marc Dann is he's pro-gun. Which is disappointing since the behavior of his subordinates reflects on his office. He's no Spitzer but the Dems this year are even more ethically challenged than the GOP was in 2006. They are after all, the party in power.

"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 Palelologus

[Obadiah]

Okay, someone a lot more capable than I should put together the fast growing list of Democrat scandals in the last few months.

Eliot Spitzer
William “Cold Cash” Jefferson, and his brother
And about two dozen other such recent incidents

[MovementConservative]

These whole sex things are getting ridiculous. It doesn’t sound like any of these women weren’t willing participants. If they are alleging there was repercussions for not partying with this chief of staff, that would be one thing, but I hear no such in this article. Don’t go out partying then claim victimhood later.

[sanchmo]

Obama & Hillary are both already in a vulnerable position in Ohio. The core of their campaigns there was anti-NAFTA... but both had advisors tells Canada not to worry because it was all presidential-year rhetoric, and now Obama goes on to say that people are anti-trade only because they’re bitter (implying that it’s more of an emotional position than a rational policy).

Obama’s “bitter” comment is policy-relevant in PA and middle america because of the implications that people who buy guns are bitter and potential crazies; that the religious are people who need a crutch, and that good government can replace religion as that crutch. Of course, Hillary can’t attack it from that angle cause she believes the same thing, but if McC is smart he can exploit that angle when the time is right.

Obama won’t be very popular in Michigan & Florida either.

And Hillary has a higher national unpopularity rating than toe-nail fungus.

All in all, it’s looking a lot more positive for the GOP than anyone expected 6 months ago.

[musicman]

"Okay, someone a lot more capable than I should put together the fast growing list of Democrat scandals in the last few months."

"Eliot Spitzer"

"William “Cold Cash” Jefferson, and his brother"

"And about two dozen other such recent incidents"

[Lancey Howard]

Democrat culture of corruption BUMP!

[nicola_tesla]

That’s a bit of a double standard, no ?

[No Dems 2004]

“Okay, someone a lot more capable than I should put together the fast growing list of Democrat scandals in the last few months.

Eliot Spitzer
William “Cold Cash” Jefferson, and his brother
And about two dozen other such recent incidents”

Don’t forget Detroit’s beloved mayor, either . . .

[CutePuppy]

[belated] Welcome to FR! Nicola Tesla is an occasional topic here and “his” threads are usually long and wonderful, so it’s great to have “his spirit” finally visit us “in person”.

[True Republican Patriot]

Go Hussein! Your a loser and the perfecr Demorat candidate for POS(yep, POS), even J Fing Kerry would be viable for POTUS, but for POS, ou take the cake..

[jmaroneps37]

You must “have” something BEFORE you can “blow” it - no?

[Old Mountain man]

All’s fair in sex and politics, right? Or is it? Hmmm . . .

[nicola_tesla]

Thanks ! He’s one of my favorite scientists !

[ROCKLOBSTER]

(Yet another Democratic scandal)

So, you're implying they voted on it?

[muawiyah]

THis is a two-fer. For the Republicans a Democrat sex scandal is just meat for the coming election campaign. For the Democrats this is heterosexual sex ~ a definite no-no with those ol'boys.

Dems could lose it all this time.

[zebrahead]

Early polling is better than expected for McCain in Ohio:

Survey USA (4/17/08) - McCain 47% Obama 45%
Public Policy Polling (3/19/08) - McCain 49% Obama 41%
Quinnipiac (2/14/08) - McCain 42% Obama 40%
Rasmussen (4/10/08) - McCain 47% Obama 40%