Secretary Brunner receives JFK Profile in Courage Award today

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award today for her courageous work to ensure free, fair open and honest elections in Ohio.

From the Dispatch:  

The secretary of state will accept a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston for pushing Ohio away from touch-screen voting machines toward optically scanned paper ballots.

The award, named for Kennedy's 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book highlighting political acts of courage, previously has been bestowed on such noted political figures as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"Our democracy depends on voter trust," foundation president Caroline Kennedy said in a news release, adding that Brunner's efforts to earn that trust is one of the "true profiles in courage."

Secretary Brunner was also interviewed on CNN this morning:

Vote for Kilroy and Boccieri in the Progressive Patriots Contest

Two of our great Congressional candidates have been selected for this round of the Progressive Patriots contest. The winner will receive a $5000 contribution to their campaign. Let’s make sure an Ohioan wins this contest. Go and vote now and then tell your friends and family to vote for Mary Jo Kilroy and John Boccieri.  

Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)

The daughter of a pipe-fitter, Mary Jo paid her own way through college working as a waitress, a blood technician at a hospital and doing clerical work. She scraped and saved and did without to make ends meet. Mary Jo knows what it's like to be short at the end of the month and do without health insurance.

As a Franklin County Commissioner and community advocate on health care, Mary Jo worked to provide the initial grant and continued funding for Access Health Columbus, a medical assistance organization that provides medical care and prescription medicine for low-income and uninsured residents of Franklin County. Mary Jo fought for and succeeded to fund the Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers, The Breathing Association's free clinic, the AIDS Task Force and the Diabetes Association. Her dedication to Central Ohio earned her the Public Official of the Year award from the Central Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Those real life experiences shaped who she is and why she cares so passionately about the need to break down barriers and see that working people get a fair shake. She knows families are being squeezed by soaring gas prices and falling property values.  Health care costs are out of control.  Bad trade deals have sent jobs overseas and cut the muscle out of our manufacturing sector.  Meanwhile, we are bogged down in the longest war in American history and our veterans are not honored or taken care of when they come home. With your help, Mary Jo will fight to change the priorities in Washington and get America back on track.

Visit Mary Jo online at http://www.kilroyforcongress.com/

John Boccieri (OH-16)

First elected to public office in 2000, John served three terms as a State Representative where his peers elected him assistant minority whip and one term as a State Senator.  In the legislature, John has been a strong advocate for Ohio's veterans, working families and the jobs and industries that have built the state.  John worked to lower property taxes for working families and sponsored a bill to help grandparents raising their grandchildren with housing grants.  John has fought for Ohio’s steel industry jobs, helped give seniors access to donated prescription drugs, co-sponsored legislation to safeguard pension funds from corporate greed, and has been an avid supporter of conservation efforts in Ohio.

John has also championed and passed numerous bills to support Ohio’s veterans and military families.  Most recently, John sponsored the "Military Injury Relief Fund" bill, a tax check-off program that gives Ohioans an opportunity to help our injured soldier's transition back into civilian life and assist with their medical expenses.

When John launched his campaign for Congress in June 2007, he made a vow to Ohioans.  He promised to be a voice for change in Washington – a fighting force for working families, veterans, living wage jobs, and free and fair trade.  And John vowed to always bring honesty and integrity to his work.

It's time, John said, to renew the American spirit.  It's time to bring back hope in the promise of America, and reverse the poor decisions in Washington which are jeopardizing this promise for Ohioans today.

You can visit John online at http://www.johnforcongress.com/

Don't forget to vote for John and Mary Jo today! Click here to vote.

McCain vs Voinovich or McGrumpy vs. McWeepy

Even Ohio Senator George Voinovich believes McCain is a bad candidate. Voinovich has stated that "McCain has a major shortcoming in his lack of management experience."

From the AP:

And Voinovich hasn't been much use to the McCain campaign recently.

Contrast the two senators' comments during the April 8 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

Here's McCain: "Today it is possible to talk with real hope and optimism about the future of Iraq and the outcome of our efforts there."

Here's Voinovich, talking about the war's cost: "We're kind of bankrupting this country. We're eating our seed corn."

Then the kicker: "In terms of this administration, we've got lots of problems around the world."

Ouch. Not exactly what the expected Republican nominee wants to hear from a GOP colleague about the Republican president he's trying to succeed.

Or how about this policy difference: In February, McCain pledged on national television that he would not raise taxes as president.

In March, without mentioning McCain by name, Voinovich said anyone who tells Americans their federal taxes aren't going up "isn't being truthful."

Then there's damning by faint praise. When Voinovich endorsed McCain on Feb. 7, after Mitt Romney dropped out of the race, it was with this less than glowing assessment: "You are never going to get a perfect candidate."

Just three days earlier, Voinovich told The Cincinnati Enquirer that McCain has a major shortcoming in his lack of management experience.

Governor, Statewide Democrats Call on Attorney General Dann to Resign

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Treasurer Richard Cordray, House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern called for Attorney General Marc Dann's resignation last night.

The text of a letter sent to Attorney General Marc Dann last night, Sunday, May 4, 2008, follows:

Sunday May 4, 2008

 Attorney General Marc Dann
State of Ohio
Rhodes State Office Tower
30 East Broad Street

Columbus, OH  43215

Dear Attorney General Dann,

We write to you tonight to ask that you resign your position as Attorney General of the State of Ohio.  

We believe that your actions have irreparably harmed your ability to effectively serve the people of our great state.

The work of the Office of the Attorney General matters more, and is far more important, than any one person. In many, many cases it is all that stands between the people and the powerful.  Sadly, we no longer have even the most remote hope that you can continue to effectively serve as Attorney General and that is why we are asking for your resignation.

We also want to make you aware that if you do not choose to resign, Democratic members of the Ohio House of Representatives will immediately introduce a resolution seeking your impeachment. We sincerely hope that this action will not be necessary and that you will act in the best interest of the people of Ohio by tendering your resignation Monday morning.

Sincerely,

-30-

McCain: Mission accomplished in 3003

Everyone remembers the moment back on May 1, 2003. Five years ago, George Bush stood under the “Mission Accomplished” banner on the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared an end to the war. Time bring the troops home, right?

Since then, more than 3,800 U.S. soldiers have died and over $475 billion taxpayers’ dollars have been spent.

97 percent of the 4,000 U.S. military deaths in Iraq came after Bush announced the end of “major combat” in Iraq on May 1, 2003.

But John McCain has admitted that he would be fine with keeping our troops in Iraq for another 100 years - and then stated again in another interview that the number may reach 1000 or a million years! Watch for yourself:

Well if John McCain is committed to keeping our troops in Iraq for 1000 years - maybe he can make a commitment to the folks here at home. How about 1000 years of affordable health care? Listen to what this Iraq War veteran and new mother has to say about John McCain's 1000 year war. From www.votevets.org.