Posted on 08/25/2002 3:53:57 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Poor Tim Ryan, he just can't seem to shake loose the Traficant monkey that has been on his back since he entered the race for Congress.
During the May primary election, Ryan, a Democratic state senator from Niles, was often asked about his relationship with James A. Traficant Jr., the former congressman-turned-federal prisoner. That's because he had worked as a congressional aide to Traficant from the summer of 1995 to 1997 and had talked about him in glowing terms.
Indeed, on April 22, in a meeting with Vindicator editors and writers, Ryan had this to say about the man who had served as the 17th District congressman since 1985, was convicted in April of this year on 10 federal criminal charges, and was sentenced to prison on July 30: "Being 21 years old and having the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., I saw an extremely charismatic figure who was entertaining. He seemed passionate about helping move this country forward. From what I could see, it was all true."
As for Traficant's criminal activities — federal prosecutors proved that he had used his public position for personal gain, including taking salary kickbacks from close aides — Ryan said the experience was "terrible" and has been "horrific for the Valley."
"It perpetuates the reputation of the Valley," he told The Vindicator. "But it's over. He's going to be in prison."
But as Ryan found out last week, it isn't over. The Traficant monkey is still on his back.
High gear
On Tuesday, on the front page of the Local section (B section), there was a story headlined, "Ryan steps up election campaign." It talked about the Democratic nominee for the reconfigured 17th District seat shifting his election campaign into high gear after taking it somewhat easy since his victory in the May primary.
Unfortunately for Ryan, his contention that "We're starting to step it up," was lost in the buzz emanating from a page one story in Monday's Vindicator headlined, "Attorney says ex-lawmaker refuses to work in the kitchen."
"James A. Traficant Jr. has been placed in lock-down mode after refusing to work in the kitchen at his federal prison, says a lawyer who visited the ex-congressman," the story stated. It quoted Atty. Don L. Hanni Jr., who visited Traficant at the Federal Correctional Institution at Allenwood in White Deer, Pa., as saying that the expelled congressman believed the kitchen job, which pays about $60 a month, should have gone to one of the inmates on a waiting list who has no family and no money in his commissary account.
Hanni said that Traficant asked prison officials to assign him to a recreation facility, which pays about $5 a month.
And here's how the former chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, who was once a political rival of the former congressman and sheriff of Mahoning County, characterized what Traficant had done in prison: "[He's] still looking out for the working guy."
Although he was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives and although he is serving an eight-year sentence in the federal pen, Traficant will be on the November ballot as an independent candidate for the 17th District seat. In other words, he's competing with Ryan and Republican nominee Ann Womer Benjamin.
But the Traficant saga — that's what it has become in the hands of a veteran politico — doesn't end with his refusal to work. In lock-down, the Poland Democrat was placed in a two-bunk cell with two other inmates and has to sleep on a mat on the floor.
He has hair
Talk about the stuff of political campaigns. Hanni had two other tidbits that may well become part of Traficant's election bid: The federal inmate isn't bald (despite the fact that he has worn a hairpiece for as long as most voters can remember) and he isn't wilting.
Here's what Hanni recalled Traficant telling him: "They can take away my freedom but they can't take away my spirit."
Did Traficant intentionally create a situation whereby he would be placed in lock-down and, therefore, have a story to tell a visitor? No doubt about it.
Poor Timmy Ryan, overshadowed by a convicted felon.
There is only one way for him to get the Traficant monkey off his back: He should call a press conference and repudiate the former congressman with these words, "Mr. Traficant have you no shame? Do us, the honest people of the Mahoning Valley, a favor and get out of the race. I regret ever having worked for you."
I strongly disagree; what really counts is action and votes. Billy Boy Clinton was great at talking conservative on issues as head of the Democratic Leadership Counsel and as a presidential candidate. His actions as far as pursuing an agenda were clearly liberal.
Although I generally wouldn't paint Traficant a liberal, I wouldn't paint him a conservative either, based on his voting record.
But, FWIW, I think he paid the price for saying the things he did on the floor of the house and pissing off the DEMOn leadership with his grandstanding speaches, despite voting with them most of the time.
BINGO! What counts is the OVERALL THRUST of Traficant's impact. To point out individual disagreements with this or that vote is nitpicking. I could make Bush look like a liberal by isolating a few votes. For that matter I could make almost anyone in public office look like a liberal (or a conservative) by highlighting a few votes here and there. However, if ever there were someone who makes the liberals incredibly UNCOMFORTABLE, it is Jim Traficant. Hey, what Republican is so outspoken about the corruption of the Clinton gang, the IRS, or the BATF as Traficant?
He will when his case is overturned on appeal. And if ever there were a case screaming out to be overturned because of judicial abuses during the trial, it is this one. Remember, Judge Wells' husband had major business dealings with the chief prosecution witness of the Traficant case which made it imperative that Judge Wells should have recused herself. Who say? Well, Judge Wells herself since she recused herself in a subsequent case citing EXACTLY this reason because of that very same prosecution witness (John Cafaro).
Condit lost the primary and most states have a sore loser law, which means lose your primary you can't run in November as an independent. Traficant did not run in the primary because he has gone independent. Hence avoiding slugging it out with Congressman Sawyer of Akron who lost the primary to polirical neophyte Ryan from the Youngstown area (due to redistricitng Youngswtown and Akron where put in the same district..
So incumebnt Dems. Sawyer and Condit are running for nothing in November while Traficant is. Say what you will about him, but he's no dummy.
Some Democrats conceded that Clinton did break the law, yet held the position that he should remain in office in spite of criminality. "Both parties agree, to some degree, that the president broke the law. We disagree on the punishment. Now, some say the Constitution does not allow censure. I say the Constitution does not prohibit censure," said Rep. Jim Traficant, Jr. (D-OH), who went on to liken impeachment to an execution.
"Does this offense warrant the death penalty? And make no mistake, impeachment is tantamount to the political element of capital punishment," said Traficant. His remarks drew applause from Democrats.
I think Torricelli wears a Chipmunk wig as opposed to Traficant's classier Squirrel wig.
Now, with that said, the matter of the Republican Senatorial Causus voting unanimously (I happen to have two "R" designated Senators from Idaho) to give the sumabeach a pass by agreeing to a 'no trial' trial as demanded by the Democrats was a total surprise.......sthe Republican party has forever, it seems, stood for law and order. Some of the Republicans actually stood tall and did the right thing during the Nixon debaucle.....and yet they give the Perverted President a complete pass!!!
I don't trust them any more than the Democrats anymore.....they put the seal of approval on his actions....now we have teenagers playing the "Clinton defense" in a court of law; we have teenagers believing that oral sex isn't sex; we have common people in jail for lying to a court of law while the elitist sumabeach collects millions in speaking fees!!!!
You, sir, are a part of the problem, IMO. However, you are entitled to such opinion. Neither of us will change or get the other to see what we are getting at; therefore, to keep from a flame war or a banning because of adverse comments regarding the Republicans, I shall refrain from further debate on this and give you the last word.
Have a nice day... Dee
I am pretty disgusted with the Pubbies too. I just don't believe that the Congressman from Youngstown, Ohio is anyone to admire--regardless of any *words* he might have spoken against Clinton and Reno.
I seem to recall that in September 1998, Senator LIEberman spoke some harsh words against Clinton too.
Regards.
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