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One candidate in a Crowded Republican Primary is Standing Out for All the Wrong Reasons
Townhall.com ^ | June 6, 2021 | Drew Johnson

Posted on 06/06/2021 5:54:04 AM PDT by Kaslin

A dozen candidates are set to compete in August’s Republican primary to fill Ohio’s vacant 15th Congressional District seat. But one candidate in the crowded field has caught the eye of government watchdogs and principled conservative insiders for all the wrong reasons: Ohio State Representative Jeff LaRe.

Some of LaRe’s largest campaign donors were indicted in a massive Buckeye State corruption scandal. Further, LaRe is allied with a shady team of “Never Trump,” pro-Biden Republicans who worked to undermine Republican values in Ohio and across the nation.

Still, that didn’t prevent LaRe’s candidacy from receiving a shocking boost earlier this week when he was endorsed by former U.S. Rep Steve Stivers. It was Stivers who created the vacancy when he resigned from Congress in April to become the president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

The former Congressman claims LaRe’s “experience as a law enforcement agent” sets him apart.

But what really sets LaRe apart is his lack of political credibility and the unprincipled characters that comprise his inner circle.

Last summer, five people were arrested on federal racketeering and bribery charges related to “a significant conspiracy” to help direct a billion-dollar taxpayer bailout to prevent aging Ohio nuclear facilities from closing. The group allegedly received about $60 million as part of the scheme.

The indicted individuals are some of the key players in LaRe’s political career.

One of the ringleaders of the conspiracy is former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. While serving as Speaker, Householder was vital to LaRe’s appointment to a vacant state house seat in 2019. Jeff Longstreth, an adviser to Householder, was also indicted.

The other three men arrested -- Matt Borges, Juan Cespedes and Neil Clark -- are lobbyists who have been major donors to LaRe’s political campaigns. In fact, Cespedes was LaRe’s top individual donor during the 2020 campaign cycle, donating $13,000 to LaRe’s state house campaign. Borges was also among LaRe’s 10 largest donors.

When Matt Borges wasn’t busy masterminding one of the largest political bribery operations in U.S. history and handing cash to LaRe, the former Ohio Republican Party Chairman was creating a super PAC aimed at electing Joe Biden.

Borges’ Right Side PAC poured money into encouraging Republicans in key swing states, including Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina, to vote for Biden and other Democratic candidates.

It worked.

Not only did Biden become President, but Borges helped the Democrats take control of the Senate. Some election analysts believe “Never Trump” Republican efforts like Borges’ super PAC provided Democrats with their winning margins in ultra-tight U.S. Senate races in Michigan and Arizona.

For his efforts to support Democratic candidates, the Ohio Republican Party central committee formally censured Borges.

Additionally, Matt Carle and Ben Kaiser, two Ohio-based political operatives alleged to be working with LaRe’s campaign, previously led anti-Republican, “Never Trump” organizations. Carle served as executive director of New Day for America, a super PAC that spent $2.5 million attacking Trump. Leaked emails obtained by the New York Post indicated that Kaiser, along with Borges, were part of a secret effort to boost GOP support for Biden during the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

Clearly, the red flags surrounding LaRe’s candidacy are visible from space.

LaRe is friends with – and has pocketed thousands of dollars in campaign cash from – the very people who masterminded a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme aimed at snatching more than $1 billion from taxpayers. Additionally, even though he is running as a Republican, LaRe is closely allied with people who supported Joe Biden and helped the Democrats take control of the Senate.

Because of the close partisan split in the House of Representatives, the novelty of the number of candidates vying for the seat, and the unique timing of the special election, the battle for Ohio’s 15th District is expected to draw considerable national interest.

With the eyes of the nation upon the district, the last thing Republicans can afford is to allow a precious House seat to fall into the hands of someone with little political experience, questionable principles and close ties to criminals who exploited their government ties to try to make a quick buck off the backs of taxpayers.

In a field of a dozen candidates, there are 11 better choices than Jeff LaRe.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: conservatism; jefflare; jefflongstreth; juancespedes; larryhouseholder; mattborges; neilclark; nevertrump; nevertrumpers; ohio; primaryelection; stevestivers; whataretheirfrnicks

1 posted on 06/06/2021 5:54:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Chamber of Commerce = major Establishment Red Flag


2 posted on 06/06/2021 5:57:08 AM PDT by aynrandfreak (Being a Democrat means never having to say you're sorry)
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To: Kaslin

We have to stop electing Assistant Democrats.

Quitting to join the Chamber of Commerce confirms that Stivers is a Bush League Republican, anyone who gets his endorsement should be rejected.


3 posted on 06/06/2021 5:58:38 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Kaslin

This is how you deal with never-trumpers. You don’t play nice, you call them out on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvDRduPsQA


4 posted on 06/06/2021 6:02:41 AM PDT by Brookhaven
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To: Kaslin

Very important to identify and cull the RINOs from the primary herds. The lowlifes must not be allowed to confuse decent people and then do more harm.


5 posted on 06/06/2021 6:12:41 AM PDT by allendale
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To: Kaslin
Further, LaRe is allied with a shady team of “Never Trump,” pro-Biden Republicans who worked to undermine Republican values in Ohio and across the nation.

Looks like Ohio would be a good place for Trump to have his next rally.

I like the idea of primarying these idiots to nip them and their nefarious ambitions in the bud.

6 posted on 06/06/2021 6:13:40 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (Rigged Elections have Consequences)
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To: aynrandfreak

How cozy is he with Romney-Ryan is my test.


7 posted on 06/06/2021 6:15:18 AM PDT by cnsmom
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To: Kaslin

11 other choices?

Is the GOPe assuring their candidate wins by flooding the slate with other options to split the anti-RINO vote?

Or does the anti-RINO vote not have its act together enough to be strategic in its alternatives?


8 posted on 06/06/2021 6:25:31 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

Flooding the primary is how they keep Bush League Republicans like Flimsey Grahamnesty in office.
It’s the favorite tactic of Assistant Democrats.


9 posted on 06/06/2021 6:31:36 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Kaslin

He seems to be corrupt enough to fit right in with the Biden Syndicate.


10 posted on 06/06/2021 6:37:35 AM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
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To: Kaslin

This is good information. I’m not in the 15th, but I sure hope those Ohioans who are will read this article.


11 posted on 06/06/2021 6:54:25 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan (Eleutheromaniac)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
...one candidate in the crowded field has caught the eye of government watchdogs and principled conservative insiders for all the wrong reasons: Ohio State Representative Jeff LaRe. Some of LaRe’s largest campaign donors were indicted in a massive Buckeye State corruption scandal. Further, LaRe is allied with a shady team of “Never Trump,” pro-Biden Republicans who worked to undermine Republican values in Ohio and across the nation. Still, that didn’t prevent LaRe’s candidacy from receiving a shocking boost earlier this week when he was endorsed by former U.S. Rep Steve Stivers. It was Stivers who created the vacancy when he resigned from Congress in April... Last summer, five people were arrested on federal racketeering and bribery charges related to “a significant conspiracy” to help direct a billion-dollar taxpayer bailout to prevent aging Ohio nuclear facilities from closing. The group allegedly received about $60 million as part of the scheme. The indicted individuals are some of the key players in LaRe’s political career... former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder... Matt Borges, Juan Cespedes and Neil Clark -- are lobbyists who have been major donors to LaRe’s political campaigns... Matt Carle and Ben Kaiser, two Ohio-based political operatives alleged to be working with LaRe’s campaign, previously led anti-Republican, “Never Trump” organizations.

12 posted on 06/06/2021 7:13:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Kaslin

Chamber of GLOBALISTS it should be called...


13 posted on 06/06/2021 7:15:40 AM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (I'm the one trying to save American Democracy...Donald Trump 6/5/21 at the NCGOP convention)
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To: Kaslin
In a field of a dozen candidates, there are 11 better choices than Jeff LaRe.

But the author couldn't be bothered to name even one of them.

14 posted on 06/06/2021 8:03:07 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Lurkinanloomin; Kaslin; Liz; LS

True, very true. In a Flooded Primary, the one RINO, Chamber of Commerce, “establishment” Romney-McCain-Ryan-Borges (in this case) candidate only needs one or two local newspaper endorsements to become “the leading republican centrist candidate” running valiantly against the “extremist fringe “ racist other 10 right-wing zealots.

This is an unusually well-written rebuttal to the usual smooth establishment press release.


15 posted on 06/06/2021 9:33:46 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (Method, motive, and opportunity: No morals, shear madness and hatred by those who cheat.)
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To: Kaslin

16 posted on 06/06/2021 1:30:38 PM PDT by simpson96
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To: ADemocratNoMore; Akron Al; arbee4bush; agrace; ATOMIC_PUNK; Badeye; big bad easter bunny; ...

OHIO PING!
Please let me know if you want on or off the Ohio Ping list.

Ohio Special Election Opens Door to New Squad Member
06/04/2021 9:37:37 AM PDT · by Tolerance Sucks Rocks · 12 replies
The Washington Free Beacon ^ | June 3, 2021 | Collin Anderson


17 posted on 06/07/2021 7:37:38 AM PDT by Lowell1775
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To: Kaslin
A dozen candidates are set to compete in August’s Republican primary to fill Ohio’s vacant 15th Congressional District seat.

This is how the establishment gets at least one of their guys into these offices. They split the vote so badly, that the guy with money backing will come out in the runoff.

Trump should endorse prior to primaries. Ohio is Trump country.

18 posted on 06/07/2021 11:14:01 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory. )
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To: xzins
Trump has endorsed Mike Carey
19 posted on 06/10/2021 11:31:08 AM PDT by NeoCaveman (Oil, it's organic and all natural)
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To: NeoCaveman

👍👍👍

Thanks


20 posted on 06/10/2021 12:31:17 PM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory. )
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