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Candidate in 17th District gets high-profile support (RINO Republican Wants Traficant's Seat)
Akron Beacon Journal ^ | August 14, 2002 | Stephen Dyer

Posted on 08/16/2002 11:06:07 AM PDT by PJ-Comix

One of Summit County's three U.S. House districts hit the national stage Tuesday as the most powerful appointed leader in the Republican congressional delegation came to the 17th District.

The appearance by House Chief Deputy Majority Whip Roy Blunt on behalf of state Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin, R-Aurora, signaled that the race that has long been talked about as a nationally significant one actually is just that.

``This is a great opportunity for us to add a seat in our column and add an incredibly successful legislator,'' said Blunt of Missouri.

What does it mean to have such a power broker come to the 17th District? If Womer Benjamin is elected, it means a lot, Blunt said.

``If you take a district the majority hasn't had before, it gets more attention'' from Congress, Blunt said. ``Nobody would be more effective with a Republican Congress and Republican president. No one will be in a better situation to deliver for this district.''

Blunt's own political action committee (Rely on Your Beliefs Fund; ROYB for short) doesn't think that Womer Benjamin is a slam dunk to win, though.

In an Aug. 1 memo, the fund's finance director, Keri Ann Hayes, listed Womer Benjamin as a ``B'' list candidate. The list is meant to direct contributions to targeted congressional races.

Since she's on the B list, it means Womer Benjamin is very competitive, but the ``outcome is less certain.''

``A'' list candidates would be ``highly'' likely to succeed. Only one Ohioan made that list: 3rd District candidate Mike Turner, who is running to represent the Dayton area.

The 17th District, which includes parts of Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage and Summit counties, is the only other Ohio race targeted by Blunt's PAC.

The newly drawn district needs the discretionary money Blunt promised after the last few years of federal prisoner James A. Traficant Jr.'s tenure as a lawmaker.

The wigged felon brought home about half as much as his fellow northeast Ohio Democrats between 1996 and 1999, according to a 2000 study. He was booted by Congress last month after his federal bribery conviction, but plans to continue his independent campaign from a Pennsylvania prison.

State Sen. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and independent Warren Davis also are running.

It was no accident that Womer Benjamin met with Blunt at the McKinley National Memorial -- the same place Ryan announced his candidacy in Niles. McKinley was a Republican, but holds a memorial in the Democratic district.

Ryan said he is undaunted by the power arrayed against him in his first major race.

``I want to be shooting the foul shots at the end of the game,'' he said.

He has the backing of the House's No. 2 Democrat: U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Ryan said his connection with Pelosi, if the Democrats win the House, could bring investment from Silicon Valley to the 17th District.

Pelosi's PAC has given more money to congressional races nationwide than any other so-called ``power PAC.''

Womer Benjamin said she could handle the pressure of having to run her first congressional campaign in the national spotlight.

``I've been under pressure before,'' said the 48-year-old attorney. ``This highlights what a great opportunity it is for the 17th District.''

Carl Forti, of the Republican National Congressional Committee, said ``it's a race we're watching very closely.''

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Jenny Backus said Womer Benjamin needs to distance herself from congressional Republicans, not bring them to Niles.

Ryan, for one, can't wait for the spotlight. He even joked about the resemblance of Blunt's name with Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount.

``I don't know why (Womer Benjamin's) bringing in a former football player from the Steelers,'' he said.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: jimtraficant
Give it up, Ms Benjamin. Between a RINO Republican and an INDEPENDENT voice who says the RIGHT things most of the time, I'll take the latter. BTW, this race is VERY WINNABLE for Traficant. Note that there will be a total of FOUR candidates in this race so the vote will be divided. Also note that day by day, the corruption of the judicial system that railroaded Traficant is coming to light. The most recent example is the fact that Judge Wells RECUSED herself from another case for conflict of interest reasons that were IDENTICAL to those in the Traficant case.
1 posted on 08/16/2002 11:06:07 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: William Creel
She's Pro-Gun, Pro-Business, and I also believe she is Pro-Life

Well then she beats Traficant, who is anti-business and pro-abortion. I don't know what Traficant's rating was from the NRA but she is three for three compared to Traficant's poor voting record.

3 posted on 08/16/2002 11:31:47 AM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
Well then she beats Traficant, who is anti-business and pro-abortion

She beats Traficant by virtue of Traficant being a crooked, incompetent boob who hasn't done a single thing for his district in all of the years he was in Congress.

4 posted on 08/16/2002 11:39:00 AM PDT by gdani
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
Benjamin has NO CHANCE to win in the 17th District which really makes it a choice between the Demmycrat nominee and Traficant. For me, that choice is a no-brainer.

p.s. As for her being a RINO, I thought I saw something posted to that effect earlier. If Benjamin isn't a RINO, my apologies. However, since her chances of winning in 17th District are about Nil, the choice should be obvious.

5 posted on 08/16/2002 11:46:20 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
This is a Dem district, for sure. But if Traficant gets on the ballot he and the Dem can potentially split the Dem vote, thereby resulting in a GOP victory. The RNCC is watching this race for a reason.
6 posted on 08/16/2002 11:48:45 AM PDT by Coop
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To: Coop
But if Traficant gets on the ballot he and the Dem can potentially split the Dem vote, thereby resulting in a GOP victory.

Which then reverts BACK to the Demmycrats once Traficant isn't on the ballot. Sorry, I prefer Traficant. Plus Benjamin would be lost in the crowd. Say what you want about Traficant---Folks do PAY ATTENTION to him.

p.s. And he may be OUT of jail sooner than you think if you have been following the recent threads here about Judge Wells.

7 posted on 08/16/2002 11:52:38 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
I started looking for Traficant's NRA rating, but couldn't find it.

Do you by chance know what it is?
8 posted on 08/16/2002 11:54:06 AM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
Do you by chance know what it is?

No but I think he is a gun owner.

9 posted on 08/16/2002 11:56:02 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: PJ-Comix
That doesn't mean a lot.

Sarah Brady purchased a gun last year as a Christmas present for her son.

Traficant has the reputation of saying one thing and voting the other. I would like to see his voting record.
11 posted on 08/16/2002 11:58:00 AM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: 11th Earl of Mar
Well then she beats Traficant, who is anti-business and pro-abortion

Traficant has 100% pro-life rating from 107th Congress and he has given Dornan-esque pro-life speeches on the House floor.

12 posted on 08/16/2002 12:14:03 PM PDT by pbranham
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To: William Creel
There is a 2nd Indepdent Labor Dem running too. So, it's basically 3 Dems and 1 Repub running for this district. It'll be hightly split.

Good. That means a BETTER chance for TRAFICANT. Voting him back into office is like giving a collective FINGER to Congress. I like that idea.

13 posted on 08/16/2002 12:16:27 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: pbranham; 11th Earl of Mar
That wouldn't surprise me at all. I was one of about 100 people to hear a speech by Jim Traficant on August 10, 2002. Yes, I know he was in prison at that time but it was a taped address to our group exclusively. The man is sincere and he realizes how far it has gone with the corruption. Anyone that wants to debate that is blind. Toricelli is sitting pretty in the Senate and they have locked up all the evidence. Why? because it would show his guilt and they can't have that because he holds the key to Demorat power in the Senate. The Republicans are silent because of Good Ol' Boy network agreements.

Ravenstar
14 posted on 08/16/2002 12:49:03 PM PDT by Ravenstar
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To: William Creel; Coop
OH-17 Candidates:
State Sen. Tim Ryan (D)
State Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin (R)
Tim McNeil (L)
Warren Davis (I, a union Democrat actually)
Jim Traficant (I)
15 posted on 08/16/2002 1:03:22 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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To: Ravenstar; pbranham
I think you are correct regarding Traficant's prolife voting record.

I made my mistake the ACU rating guide. After each vote, they state "We opposed it" and Congressman Traficant voted "positive."

I took this to mean that he voted FOR the pro-abortion legislation, which was incorrect.

My mistake. [I still haven't changed my mind about him though. It only makes him less harmful than I believed]
16 posted on 08/16/2002 1:03:46 PM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: All
Traficant is openly pro-abortion. He is pro-gun and against class warfare, but squarely on the pro-abort side with the exception of partial birth...which is hardly a tough issue only the hardest loony tune bark at the moon baby butchering advocates support protect that kind of butchery.
17 posted on 08/16/2002 2:08:32 PM PDT by ecwman
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