Dems Smear Ohio Voters as 'Racists'

Strickland, Brown play race card as Obama supporters get desperate

(Columbus) - Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine called for an immediate public apology from Democratic leaders who continue to play the race card in their campaign appearances on behalf of presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Gov. Ted Strickland, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Treasurer Richard Cordray and at least two Democrat members of the Ohio House of Representatives have accused Ohio voters of racism in recent days in campaign appearances from Youngstown to Piketon.

"These accusations of racism have no place in our politics and certainly not from the governor of our state," said DeWine. "It's no wonder the governor can't attract jobs to Ohio when his latest sales pitch consists of 'Ohioans are racists.' The fact that two of the highest ranking Democrats in Ohio are slandering the people of this state in this way is shameful."

Within the last few days, Strickland and Brown both commented in separate campaign appearances that "the elephant in the room is race." According to the Youngstown Vindicator, two Democrat members of the Ohio House of Representatives added to the rhetoric in a news conference on Monday: "There are 1,000 reasons to vote for Obama and one reason why you won't - race."

"Democrats have dismissed the legitimate concerns of thousands of Ohio's undecided voters," said DeWine. "These voters have serious doubts about Sen. Obama's experience, his costly agenda and his drill nowhere, tax everything proposals. Ohioans deserve better than these insulting accusations, and if Gov. Strickland and Sen. Brown have any shred of dignity and any pride in this state they'll put a stop to these divisive tactics immediately."

Two Democrat legislators accused Ohio "swing voters" of being "racists":

Youngstown Vindicator: With the Republican presidential and vice presidential nominees in the Mahoning Valley Tuesday for a rally, two local Democratic state legislators said that they believe a main reason polls show a tight race is because of racist voters. "Race - that's the only reason people in the Valley won't vote for him," said state Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th, about Barack Obama, his party's presidential nominee. "There are 1,000 reasons to vote for Obama and one reason why you won't - race."

It is the independents, the "swing voters" and Democrats who are or will support Republican John McCain who are the "racists," Letson and state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said.

Gov. Ted Strickland accused Ohio voters of racism at a campaign stop in Piketon:

Chillicothe Gazette: Strickland said the giant "elephant in the room" was Obama's race, and Internet rumors meant to soil his reputation.

"There are good people who won't vote for Obama because he's a black man," Strickland said. "I don't want people to vote against their own interests because of an unwillingness to vote for a black man."

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown accused Ohio voters of racism at a campaign stop in Gahanna:

PolitickerOH.com: "The elephant in the room is race: we know that, " Brown said during a canvass rally for state House candidate Nancy Garland (D-New Albany). "Most Americans have never had the opportunity, never been able to cast a ballot for an African-American for high office. That's why this race, more than any other in presidential history, is about personal validation."

State Treasurer Richard Cordray suggested Ohioans were only looking at "skin color":

Chillicothe Gazette: Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray, who is running for state attorney general, also made a brief appearance at the stop and urged people to look beyond Obama's skin color and last name.

"Very few us here are Native Americans," Cordray said. "Most of us came from somewhere else, and we need to help people understand that."