AUDIO: State Legislators Denounce Rob Portman's Ties to Extremist Group

By Haley Morris on 03/01/2010 @ 03:44 PM

Prompted by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman's speech at a fundraiser for the controversial Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) this evening, Representative Mike Foley of Cleveland, Representative Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, Representative Steve Slesnick of Canton, and Representative Kenny Yuko of Richmond Heights today called on the former Bush budget director and U.S. Trade Representative to sever ties with the Cincinnati-based group infamous for its inflammatory rhetoric.

The official COAST website calls Ohio public officials "Nazis" in reference to state legislators' successful passage of important campaign financial disclosure laws that promote transparency and better inform the public about who is behind campaign spending. The state legislators announced today on a conference call that they are sending Portman a letter urging him to terminate his relationship with the organization and commit to upholding honest and respectful public discourse.

Audio excerpts are below:

Representative Steve Slesnick

Representative Kenny Yuko

Representative Mike Foley

Representative Ronald Gerberry - Clip 1

Representative Ronald Gerberry - Clip 2