Plain Dealer column: Add water, stir in creative leadership and demand greatness
Phillip Morris wrote a column for the Plain Dealer noting Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel's lack of "bedrock principles:
But now, as I watch him catapulted into national prominence, I'm starting to question the bedrock principles of Ohio's current treasurer. What does he really believe in? What does he really stand for? Have his views really deviated much further to the right than those he appeared to hold in his more formative political years, or is he allowing national strategists or those hungry for the next GOP stalwart to frame him?
Plain Dealer: Video cameras barred from Rep. Jim Renacci's Sept. 1 town hall meeting: Video
On September 2, 2011, the Cleaver Plain Dealer reported:
Despite a nationwide controversy that erupted last week after Cincinnati GOP Rep. Steve Chabot refused to allow video cameras at a town hall meeting, organizers of a public meeting Thursday night with Wadsworth GOP Rep. Jim Renacci followed suit by barring a Democratic organization's cameraman from recording the event. The newly established American Bridge 21st Century Super PAC has recorded speeches by public officials and political candidates around the nation, including events held by GOP U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls, and Urbana area GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Republican Study Committee.
POLITICO: Rick Perry's book a treasure trove for foes
"Ty Matsdorf, communications director for the Democratic research group American Bridge, said the book shows Perry “laying out what any sane or rational candidate wouldn’t even dream of saying.” “This is what he put down and there’s no backing away from it,” Matsdorf said. “I don’t think a national candidate would, in their worst nightmare, ever think about having this stuff out there.”"
Salt Lake Tribune: Huntsman pitches wholesale tax overhaul
"Democrats also pointed to the former Utah governor’s family-owned Huntsman Corp., which now has a majority of employees overseas. Of the company’s 12,000 employees, BusinessWeek recently reported, only 2,174 are in the United States while some 1,100 are in China. "Desperately flailing to gain any type of traction in the race, Jon Huntsman is out today pushing ‘Made In America.’ But with him, it is ‘Made in China’ that has made him millions," says Ty Matsdorf, a spokesman for the liberal group, American Bridge 21st Century. "This appears to be just one more desperate attempt to breathe some much needed life into a floundering campaign."
PolitiFact Ohio: GOP Senate candidate Kevin Coughlin says there's not much evidence to support human role in global warming – False
Politifact Ohio examined Ohio Senate candidate Kevin Coughlin's recent comments on climate change and found them false.
While a few skeptics out there disagree, there’s clear scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that humans contribute to it. Disagreement on the subject is scant enough that we rule Coughlin’s statement is False.
AP: Huntsman offers tax, trade plan to create jobs
On August 31, 2011, the Associate Press reported:
"The location of the announcement and emphasis on American manufacturing prompted critics to challenge Huntsman's record at the Huntsman family business. Huntsman Corp., a chemical company, employs far more workers overseas than in the United States.Huntsman's campaign conceded that fact, but said the jobs plan would improve the business climate in this nation and help Huntsman Corp. and other businesses hire more American workers.
That did little to quiet Democratic criticism.
"It's ironic that Huntsman is pushing 'Made in America' so hard when 'Made in China' has made him millions," said Ty Matsdorf, spokesman for American Bridge, a political group allied with Democrats. "Desperately flailing to gain any type of traction in the race, apparently he will try anything to breathe some much needed life into a floundering campaign."
Detroit News: Engler: Durant should let Hoekstra be GOP's candidate to challenge Stabenow
The Detroit News reports on infighting amongst Michigan Republicans on the senate race:
Former Michigan Gov. John Engler said Wednesday he believes Detroit charter school founder Clark Durant should stay out of the U.S. Senate race, leaving the road clear for former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra to win the GOP nomination and challenge two-term Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Bloomberg: Perry’s Texas Friends Find Donations Dovetail With Contracts
"When Texas billionaire Harold Simmons wanted to build a radioactive waste dump, one data point that would loom large in the permitting process wasn’t required on the application: He is a major donor to Governor Rick Perry. [...] Simmons, who has donated more than $1.2 million to Perry’s campaigns, was granted the permit over the objections of some TCEQ staffers concerned the site threatened the Ogallala Aquifer, a water source for much of the plains. [...] The permit process for the site, run by Simmons’s company Waste Control Specialists LLC, a subsidiary of the publicly traded Valhi Inc. (VHI), is one example of how Perry’s donors’ close ties to the governor can influence government grants, appointments and permits. [...] “As Americans look past his swagger, they’ll see he represents more of the same lobbyist-run politics as usual that they despise,” said Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge 21st Century, a Washington-based Democratic opposition research group.
Rep. Allen West Criticizes Bachmann For Wanting To Drill In The Everglades
On August 30, 2011, the Palm Beach Post reported that "U.S. Rep. Allen West told a town hall audience today that Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann made 'an incredible faux pas' when she said she is open to allowing drilling for oil and natural gas in the Everglades if it can be done safely." West also said he'd "straigten her out" on the issue.
POLITICO: Neumann: Gay lifestyle "unacceptable"
Dave Catanese covers Mark Neumann's comments on homosexuality:
Freshly minted Wisconsin Senate candidate Mark Neumann is being confronted again with anti-gay comments he made 15 years ago and later amended.