VIDEOS - BOCCIERI (2) WILL BOCCIERI BE DIFFERENCE MAKER IN 7TH & 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE OUTCOMES? A SURPRISE "STAR ATTRACTION" AT OPENING OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CANTON HEADQUARTERS!

UPDATE  07192012 AT 06:00 AM

Great coverage of last nights affair at President Obama's headquarters, Martin. The SCPR did an excellent job on coverage of the night. You certainly upstaged Mr. Wang and the Repository's very shallow coverage of a very important night.

Loved your take on John Boccieri's upstaging Mayor Healy, which he certainly did. Not intentionally, but it was Boccieri's night to shine, and shine he did. The crowd loved him, and he responded with a very moving and invigorating campaign speech for re-electing the President. I'm sure Mr. Obama would have been proud. Boccieri got the crowd fired up, and ready to go. I don't think Mayor Healy minded at all.

I thought the turnout was great, and everyone did a fantastic job. Kudos to Barb Lewis, who always works her butt off, and to the many field workers, many of whom returned from 08, and were just as eager to help re-elect the President as they were to get him elected in the first place. It was great to hear how these young workers are dedicated to this cause. They have not lost their enthusiasm for, or their faith in, their President. I haven't either.

FOUR MORE YEARS!!

ORIGINAL BLOG

It appears to the SCPR that the featured speaker at the Stark Democrats' opening the Canton office of the Barack Obama reelection campaign was Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II.

But when former 16th District Congressman John Boccieri appeared at the fringe of the crowd, one could sense the attention of people pivoting away from Healy and fixing on perhaps the most popular Democrat in all of Stark County.

Healy did his best to maintain the attention on himself.  But it seemed to The Report that the effort was futile and those assembled were antsy to hear from the former congressman.

Normally, one would think Healy would be incensed about being upstaged.  But not in this instance.  Because one of the beneficiaries of Boccieri's popularity among Democrats and many independents in Stark County could be Healy's sister Joyce Healy-Abrams who is running for Congress in the newly formed (required by decentenial redistricting) 7th congressional district.

When Boccieri was acknowledged and approached center stage, he did so to a wildly cheering (many standing and giving him a "standing ovation") crowd.  He immediately began a chant picked up on by the Obama loyalists of "Four More Years."

In his fiery speech, Boccieri reminded those gathered:

• of the 2008 victory which put Barack Obama in office and also made Democrat Boccieri congressman in the 16th congressional district, about 60 years had passed since a Democrat had represented the Canton area,
• that the president stands with the people whereas Republican Mitt Romney stands for persons who are corporations,
• that the Republicans left Obama with the debt (from a Clinton administration surplus) from two unfunded wars, two huge tax cuts, a Medicare prescription plan that was not paid for and that the president put the breaks on that kind of spending,
• that the president saved the American automotive industry which was a victory for working class people,
• that Republican Romney won't release extended years of tax returns and wanted to know:  "What is he hiding?"
• of Romney's using foreign financial institutions to invest his money in,
• that they needed to support the president by electing Democrats Sherrod Brown (U.S. Senate), Healy-Abrams and Betty Sutton (the 16th) to the Congress, and
• closed in telling a story of why he supported the Affordable Care Act.

Here is the video of Boccieri's speech.



After the speech the Stark County Political Report did a one-on-one interview with Boccieri in which he outlined what he planned to do in terms of campaigning in the Stark County area for President Obama (he identified himself as an Obama surrogate) and area Democrats running for Congress.

He appears to be genuinely optimistic that the Democrats can pull a surprise and replace incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Gibbs defeat the man who bested him in 2010 in the 16th; namely, Jim Renacci.

If so, the prospect could become a nightmare for state Rep. Christina Hagan (Republican - Marlboro) and Stark County Republican Party Chairman Jeff Matthews (whose wife works for Renacci).

Why?

Both thought it was wonderful that Stark County got split up into three congressional districts by their gerrymandering Republican friends in Columbus last fall.

Well, if the area ends up getting represented by three Democrats, how will they like it then?

And, of course, Heidi Matthews will be out of a job again as she was when Ralph Regula retired and the-then state Senator Kirk Schuring could not hold the seat for the GOP in 2008.

Here is the video of the Boccieri interview.

JOHN BOCCIERI: ON THE ROAD BACK TO WASHINGTON?

One of outgoing Congressman John Boccieri's best political friends is Governor Ted Strickland.  Strickland has be sort of mentor to Boccieri and may serve (by way of his own political history) as a guide as to how Boccieri can find his way back to Congress.

In 1992 Strickland defeated incumbent Republican Congressman Bob McEwen in the newly formed 6th Congressional District (a merger of the 6th and 10th district because of census driven redistricting).  In 1994, Strickland was defeated by Republican Frank Cremeans whom he defeated in 1996 to regain his district.  Thereafter, Strickland was pretty much an automatic in the 6th.

If he runs to regain a seat in Congress, Boccieri may have the reverse of Strickland's situation.  It is unlikely that the 16th as we know it will exist insofar as Stark County is concerned.  It is less likely that both Boccieri and Renacci will actually live in the same district (whatever the number assigned to it is).  However, as the politically knowledgeable know, it is not a requirement that you live in a district in order to run for a congressional seat.

The SCPR would not be completely surprised to see Boccieri to relocate out of Alliance.  It appears that the main reason that he moved into the district in the first place was to blunt criticism about not living in the district by then opponent Kirk Schuring.  It should not have been surprising that Boccieri moved into the eastern fringe of the 16th congressional district.  After all, his lifelong base has been Mahoning County (the Youngstown area).

However, there is no chance at all for Boccieri to become the congressman for Mahoning County as that is locked down by sitting Democratic congressman and Boccieri friend Tim Ryan.  So maybe Boccieri will stay put in Alliance.

Should Democrat Boccieri choose to run for Congress again, will there be a rematch with Republican Renacci?  Probably not, because of the redistricting.  But it could be and if such turns out to be the case, then an attempted political resurrection of John Boccieri could have an added element of drama to it.

The SCPR has little doubt that Boccieri will be running for Congress somewhere in Ohio in 2012.  This past week the Boccieri's communications director Rebecca Kershaw was busy sending out press releases on Boccieri's vote supporting the Obama/Republican compromise on the Bush tax cuts and the continuance of unemployment benefits for the long term unemployed.

So while Strickland - in sort of a way - is a structural model for a Boccieri pathway back to the United States House of  Representatives, whether or not the soon-to-be ex-congressman can make it back in 2012 is tied to Barack Obama and his success in convincing the American voters that he has achieved over four years what he did not achieve in two years (likely causing the defeat of the likes of Boccieri), and therefore should be re-elected.

Despite noises to the contrary on various issues during his term in office ("Cap and Trade," and the healthcare bill), Boccieri has proved to be an Obama loyalist.  In the long run this probably was a wise decision by Boccieri.  While the loyalty and merely being a Democrat officeholder likely cost him his seat in 2010, he remains one of the bright stars of the Democrats' political aspirations and should Obama pull off a political renaissance, Boccieri should realize political dividends for his loyalty.

In the meantime, will the Obama administration find a White House political appointment for Boccieri as a way station from which to plan his political comeback?

One has to believe that such will be the case.

In the final analysis, look for John Boccieri to be spending the next year and one-half (until the 2012 Democratic primary election) positioning himself for a return to Congress.

(VIDEO) CNN POLITICAL CONSULTANT PAUL BEGALA CONFIDENT ON BOCCIERI'S CHANCES. WELL-FOUNDED?

 

Last Saturday, a CNN political consultant and Democratic political strategist was in town to pump John Boccieri for Congress.

This sitting U.S. congressman is in the fight of his political life.

His predecessor, Republican Ralph Regula, had a similar experience early in his longtime congressional career.  Democrat Virgil Musser of Massillon nearly beat Regula early in the Regula congressional career.

If Boccieri can withstand Wadsworth businessman and former Mayor Jim Renacci's 2010 challenge, perhaps, he will go on to a long and distinguished career like Regula.

It appears that local Democrats think they can win the Boccieri/Renacci match up with a gigantic "get out the vote" (GOTV) effort.  So in that endeavor, the Dems brought the "rabble-rousing" Paul Begala into Canton last week to the Golden Lodge union hall on Harrison to do just that:  "excite" the Democratic base to get sure Democratic voters off their duffs and to the polls.

Begala is known to be a Democratic firebrand, who, along with another rabid Democrat James Carville help engineer Bill Clinton's defeat of George Herbert Walker Bush in 1992.  The two had a hand in putting together a campaign based in large part on the expression "it's the economy stupid!"

Begala is known for his "over the top" style of political oratory and has been - in that vein - the subject of  Saturday Night Live presentations.

In an ironic twist, the object of Begala's help (Boccieri) is being attacked by opponent Renacci for having done nothing in two years to stem the loss of 400,000 Ohio jobs.

Undoubtedly, thought was given in the high Democratic strategy councils to bring President Obama to Stark.  But given Renacci's linking of Boccieri to Obama ("Obamacare" - Boccieri voted once against the president, but for him on final passage) and to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the strategists thought better of that and opted to go with Democratic base "exciters" coming in to whip up enthusiasm with the many urban voters who would vote Boccieri if they get to the polls.

The grand finale for Boccieri on the GOTV is the appearance of former president Bill Clinton at Tozzi's (formerly Four Winds) which sits next to the Stark Democratic Party headquarters in Canton.  Clinton will make his appearance at noon today.

Not far away at Stark Republican headquarters, challenger Renacci will have John Boehner (the likely new Speaker of the House after Tuesday's election) speaking for him at 1:00 p.m.

Here is a video of Begala comment to the Stark County Political Report about Boccieri's chances.

CICCHINELLI/MAIER POLITICAL FEUD COMES BACK TO HAUNT MAIER?

In October, 2008 when Governor Strickland came to Canal Fulton to campaign for Johnnie A. Maier Jr's handpicked candidate Celeste DeHoff for the Ohio House (50th), he said for all to hear with Maier beaming from ear-to-ear that Maier had delivered for him in 2005 by being the very first county party chairman to endorse his candidacy to be the Democratic nominee for governor.



Of course, any friend of Ted Strickland is a friend of Johnnie A. Maier, Jr.  On June 12, 2007 Boccieri announced at Bitzer Park located in North Canton (with the defunct Hoover plant as a backdrop prop) that he was running for Congress in the 16th Congressional District.

Strickland told the assembled crowd that he "loved John Boccieri" as a brother.

There couldn't be a closer political trio in all of Ohio than Strickland, Boccieri and Maier.

Boccieri, a major in the United States Air Force Reserve, who has piloted a C-130 in and out of Iraq many times, is known to have ferried Strickland across Ohio in his campaign stops.

As it turns out, both Strickland and Boccieri are in big political trouble in their quests to remain in office.  Strickland more so than Boccieri.  But both could easily lose.

Maier must be absolutely beside himself.  Would the sun come up for Maier on November 3, 2010 if either or both Boccieri and Strickland lose?

John Boccieri has apparently decided that his margin of victory in Stark County will determine whether or not he returns to the U.S. Congress.  It has been a full court press for him in Stark lately and the last week of the campaign may be exclusively Stark. 

Boccieri surprised all the political pundits when he rolled up an impressive victory in Stark over long time Stark political figure Kirk Schuring.

Boccieri will not win in Medina and Wayne Counties this time around.  Both are solidly Republican counties.  And, Jim Renacci is from Medina County where he served as mayor of Wadsworth.

Just look at the numbers from the presidential election of 2008 in which Obama only won Stark County among the counties that comprise the 16th Congressional District.

Boccieri's major hope in Ashland, Medina and Wayne is that Libertarian Jeffrey Blevins drains off enough Republican votes that Boccieri will be within hailing distance of Renacci.

Then he has to win by enough in Stark to just get by Renacci in the overall vote county.  The SCPR believes he must win Stark by 10% to eke out the narrowest of victory.

Of course, former Stark County chairman Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. wants to help Boccieri in the worst way.  And if he can help Strickland in Stark too (a much harder sell), all the better.  After all he has been good to Strickland and the Strickland administration has rewarded him with appointments for some of Maier's nearests and dearests.

Accordingly, the SCPR believes the idea to do a McKinley/Massillon football game tailgate party featuring former president Bill Clinton had to be Maier's brainchild.  Could be the co-creation of Maier and his "joined at the hip friend" and chief deputy in the Massillon clerk of courts office, Shane Jackson.  His mother, former Stark County Commissioner Gayle Jackson got a Strickland appointment to the Ohio Lottery Commission.

As an aside, Maier is known to be ga-ga over Clinton, too.  Maier came back to Stark County "higher than a kite" after attending a Clinton inaugural.

What Maier et al had not counted on was that arch political enemy Massillon Mayor Frank Cicchinelli would decide to be non-political and to say "no" to the tailgate party and is blessed that Massillon Superintendent of Schools Lisa Carmichael sees it the same way (reference:  Massillon says no to Clinton, Boehner rallies before game, Matthew Rink, The Repostory and The Massillon Independent, October 25, 2010)

Renacci should be credited with a crafty political move of his own.  As soon has he heard about "the best laid plan" of the mousy Democrats, he went out and enlisted the support of central Ohio Congressman John Boehner who is likely to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in the new term of Congress.

The Republican counter tailgate party made it easy for Carmichael.  She was not about to allow the hallowed traditional regular season ending game to play second fiddle to the politicians.

While Maier is "a dyed in the wool" Tiger fan and most likely, under different circumstances might agree with the notion of keeping the politicians out of the mix.  But these are special circumstances and The Report has to believe that the stakes are so high for this consummate politician, that it was a political gambit worth trying.

Mayor Cicchinelli has been at political war with Maier and his followers (e.g. Kathy Catazaro-Perry (who likely will run against Cicchinelli in the May, 2011 Democratic primary), Judge Eddie Elum and others) for years.

Earlier this year Catazaro-Perry had a fundraiser for Strickland at her posh Massillon home, but guess who was not invited.  You've got it:  Massillon Mayor Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr.!

One of the possibilities that Rink writes about is that Clinton and Strickland may participate in the flip of the coin to determine who gets the ball first in the McKinley/Massillon football blood feud.

So let The Report get this straight.  Bill Clinton who is being sent to districts where President Obama is not all that popular to campaign for the likes of Strickland and Boccieri appears on the 50 yard line with Strickland before 18,000 Cantonians and Massillonians and it is not political?

OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR BLASTS RENACCI FOR STAND ON CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT - PREDICTS BOCCIERI & BOSLEY WINS

The SCPR caught up with Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern when he appeared the Akron Press Club on September 9th.

The 9th was the day after an Afro-American union leader from Canton (Robert Thompson of AFSCME - American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees) appeared at Town Hall meeting which Republican 16th District congressional candidate was holding at the North Canton Civic Center and confronted Renacci about his views on civil rights enforcement.

The SCPR believes that some Congressman John Boccieri's supporters had pre-arranged with Thompson and others to show up at the Town Hall meeting knowing that Boccieri was going to show up unannounced at the Renacci event and ask questions designed to put Renacci in a bad light and Boccieri in a good light.

Renacci took the bait and, The Report believes, misspoke in saying that civil rights enforcement should be handled the local level.

In doing so, Renacci may have hurt himself with "on the fence voters" who remember the days when civil rights were pretty much a state and local government matter.   As we all recall, in the South this was not a good thing for minorities.  It took Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s to get the federal government to intervene and deal with state and local government inadequacies to provide basic civil rights in such areas as education, the right to sit at the front of public buses and the right to vote.

While nobody believes that Renacci wants to move back to a time when discrimination against minorities abounded in local government settings especially in the South; in sounding out a return to local government enforcement of civil rights, he appears to be a tad naive as to what that might mean in certain U.S. localities.

So it would be Renacci's apparent naiveness that would be disturbing to some 16th District voters and may affect some votes.  As far as the SCPR knows, Renacci has never retracted his "local enforcement of civil rights" comments.

In a close race, which the Boccieri/Renacci contest certainly will turn out to be, a few votes here and a few votes there could make the difference in the outcome of  the election.  The SCPR believes this race could be decided by a handful of votes.

An effort that Democrats are making is to "get out the vote" (GOTV).  A statement like Renacci's could provide an incentive for urban voters whom are, for the most part,  located in Stark County (Canton, Alliance and Massillon) to vote in greater numbers than they normally would in an off-year election.  In fact, President Obama is out on the political hustings trying to persuade those voters to reverse the trend of their not voting in off-year elections. Those voters are not likely to be Renacci voters.

It appears that Congressman Boccieri has decided on a Stark County strategy to eke out a victory in this year's election.  As the election draws to a close in eight days, his campaign appearances are heavily, if not exclusively, Stark County.

Starting today, he is making stops at senior centers in various Stark County locales and has former President Bill Clinton doing a tailgating event at the Massillon-McKinley football extravaganza in Massillon on Saturday.  On Saturday, Stark County unions hosted a Boccieri event at the Golden Lodge on Harrison Avenue in Canton at which Clinton campaign advisor (1992 and 1996) and CNN political consultant Paul Begala appeared.


BACK TO THE NORTH CANTON CIVIC CENTER REMARKS

Of course, the Democrats jumped all over Renacci about his comments in North Canton.  Included in the Democrat onslaught (predictably so) was Chris Redfern in his capacity as chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party as seen in the video accompanying this blog which The Report recorded on September 9th.

Additionally, Redfern weighs in on the Bosley/Snitchler race for the Ohio House:

(VIDEO) SCPR PROJECTS BOCCIERI OVER RENACCI "BY A NOSE" BECAUSE OF LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE JEFFREY BLEVINS

The Stark County Political Report projects that first-term congressman John Boccieri will defeat Republican Jim Renacci "by a nose" on November 2nd.

However, if Libertarian Jeffrey Blevins were not in the race, Renacci would ride the Republican tidal wave into Congress.

The Renacci forces are so worried about "the Blevins factor" that Renacci refused to participate in the October 12, 2010 16th Congressional District Debate sponsored by the Canton Jaycees and The Palace Theater.

Well, what is the worry?

That Blevins will convince independents and Republicans that he is a man to vote for those who are dissatisfied about the way things are going in the country under both Democratic and Republican leadership.

And they are probably correct.

Blevins of Wadsworth (interesting, Renacci is from Wadsworth) is a former Republican turned Libertarian.

Implicit in Blevins' presentations is the recognition that he cannot win on November 2nd, but over time 16th District Libertarians will build up the capacity to challenge the Democrats and Republicans for this seat.

If the Libertarians can be identified as the reason Boccieri wins (assuming he does win), then they can and will build upon being significant to turn significance into being competitive with a real chance of winning.

There are very few Libertarians in the 16th, however, there are more and more voters who are disgusted with the Republicans and Democrats, and are looking for an alternative.  Most such voters are on the conservative side of the political spectrum and would likely find Libertarian candidates attractive.

The Report believes that there will be enough of alternative thinking voters to cause Republican Jim Renacci to lose by an eyelash.

Another factor that will weigh in favor of a Boccieri victory is the opportunity that the Boccieri campaign "to get out the vote" for wards that exist in Canton, Alliance and Massillon where there is very little question on who the voters will vote for - if Boccieri campaigners can get them to the polls.

We hear much from the cable talking heads about "the enthusiasm gap" between Democrats and Republicans these days.  The Report believes that if Boccieri works his "automatic" wards, he will end up with some breathing room to win this contest.  If he does not or if he fails to generate excitement among his "sure to vote John Boccieri" part of the electorate, then his win will be scant indeed; perhaps, within the automatic "recount" margin - if not in the single digits.

In his 2008 race, the SCPR predicted a Boccieri win by 10 percentage points way early in the race and turned out to be pretty much on the money.

The Report believes that Renacci did the politically correct thing for his electoral fortunes by refusing to appear with Libertarian Blevins on October 12th.  The mystery is:  why did it take his advisers to figure this out?  Blevins came across as a highly credible alternative in the Wooster debate (September 30th).  Could that blunder have caused Renacci the election?

Here is a video of Boccieri and Blevins doing their opening statements at The Palace Theater on October 12th.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI/RENACCI DEBATE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT INCREASING NATIONAL DEBT - ON THE ISSUE SERIES

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In the following video Boccieri and Renacci "debate" on how to spur economic development without adding to the budget deficit which is now about $13.5 trillion.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI/RENACCI - EDUCATION & JOBS - "ON THE ISSUES DEBATE"

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor into voters' choices as to which one will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

Today's issue is how education is on the connection between education and jobs.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI/RENACCI DEBATE - #1 ECONOMIC POLICY CHANGE - ON THE ISSUES SERIES

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In the following video Boccieri and Renacci "debate" on what the #1 economic policy change each would make top help America recover from the economic downturn.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI ON ROLE OF GOVERNMENT - BOCCIERI & RENACCI: SCPR "ON THE ISSUES"

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In this footage Congressman Boccieri speaks about what he thinks is the proper role of government in lives of everyday Americans.

POLITICAL FLYERS OF YESTERYEAR & BOCCIERI VERSUS RENACCI

 

The political flyer collage above bring back memories of campaigns past.  American political history is rich in combative, nasty, positive and high-minded political flyers.

This year in Stark County an Ohio Democratic Party flyer put out in support of 50th District state representative challenger Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley, depicts incumbent Ohio Representative Todd Snitchler (Republican - Lake) as being a rat has drawn a complaint to the Ohio Elections Commission (September 24th) filed by out-of-district Snitchler supporter Elizabeth Griffing.

Overlooked in the Bosley/Snitchler hubbub are the flyers being put out by the Boccieri/Renacci campaigns in their 16th Congressional District fight.  

First, the SCPR presents a flyer by Republican Jim Renacci who is challenging Democrat incumbent John Boccieri trying to capitalize on national polls showing more Americans dislike Obamacare than like it.

Second, a Boccieri ad touting the Boccieri energy plan while dissing Renacci and somehow tying him to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The stakes are high in the Boccieri/Renacci race, perhaps, control of the the United States House of Representatives.

Look for the flyers to get even nastier.

SEE VIDEO - PELOSI & OBAMA (AKA "JOHN BOCCIERI") VERSUS RENACCI IN WOOSTER (WAYNE COUNTY) DEBATE?

Fifteen times (according to Congressman John Boccieri), his opponent referred to the first term congressman as either being Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the United States House of Representatives) or President Barack Obama in a debate sponsored by the Wooster Chamber of Commerce last night at Wooster High School's Performing Arts Center.

But, like it or not (from Boccieri's perspective), that is Jim Renacci's campaign against the Democrat from Alliance.  Ancillary to the Pelosi/Obama theme, Renacci, from Wadsworth, focused on less government, less taxes and a strong military as reasons why voters should choose him on November 2nd.

Renacci got a tad nasty when in his final summary (Boccieri had already had his turn) he called Boccieri a lying congressman who will lie again if re-elected.

To the SCPR, the Renacci maneuver ("you're a liar congressman") belonged in the "cheap shot" category and clearly an ad hominem attack.  His supporters cheered wildly (a violation of debate rules that all three candidates had agreed to).  However, Boccieri forces got their revenge by shouting "no" to the Renacci "liar" outburst.

While Renacci had "in essence" said as much earlier in the debate accusing Boccieri of:

• promising to vote against Cap 'N Trade, but then voting for it.
• voting against Healthcare when it did not matter, but voting for the bill when the need for his vote was critical to its passage.
• promising constituent services, but then not delivering them.

Boccieri, on the other hand, went on the offensive by touting his ability "to bring home the bacon" to 16th District constituents.  He cited and cited and cited again his successful effort to bring home millions to the District with a special emphasis on Wayne County, the site of last night's debate.  Moreover, he dwelt on government and private sector partnerships as the realistic way to achieve an economic rebound in America.

Libertarian Jeff Blevins of Wadsworth keyed in on what one would expect of a Libertarian:  "keep the government out of nearly everything."

The SCPR's assessment of the debate.

Boccieri had the better of it on a rational plane.  Renacci had the better of it for those who like emotional, attack-style politics.

Both candidates used Washington Democrat and Republican politico-generated "talking points" galore.

Boccieri was much more positive and generative/supportive of programs and policies to get America out of its economic and financial mess.

Renacci obviously is, in campaign approach,  trying to tap into the fears of people.

Which is the winning recipe?

It is hard to say.

The SCPR has a sense that Boccieri (who is likely behind in polls) is making headway with his affirmative campaign.

If the election were held today, The Report thinks Renacci wins by a percentage point or two.

Here is a video of the final statement made by each candidate last night.  Yes, the "liar" episode and the cheers and boos are in it.

FIREFIGHTERS UNION ENDORSES: CREIGHTON FOR COMMISSIONER, BEARD FOR 5TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS & BOCCIERI FOR CONGRESS

The Canton Professional Firefighters Association (CPPFA - AFL-CIO) has announced via press release to area media including the SCPR that it is endorsing Janet Creighton (Republican) for Stark County commissioner, Democrat Kristine Beard for 5th District Court of appeals and John Boccieri (Democrat) for 16th District Congressman.

BOCCIERI CAMPAIGN (SEE VIDEO): "CAP 'N TRADE" IS A REPUBLICAN IDEA?

According to Congressman John Boccieri, Cap 'N Trade is a Republican idea.

Last night (August 30, 2010) at an event put on by OperationFree.net, 16th District Congressman John Boccieri unveiled his campaign strategy (undoubtedly, a strategy conceived by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - DCCC) to turn the Cap 'N Tax and National Energy Tax labels put on Cap 'N Trade legislation (formally known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act) by Republicans (including Boccieri's opponent Jim Renacci)  against the Republicans.

Apparently, Boccieri wants the 16th District public (Stark, Wayne Ashland and Medina (parts of) counties to think that the Republicans are the  real "flip-floppers" on the issue and not himself.  Readers of the Stark County Political Report will recall that The Report blogged that Boccieri was going around the 16th suggesting that he was likely to vote against Cap 'N Trade but in the end voted for it.

Moreover, it seems obvious that he also wants to come out of discussion on Cap 'N Trade as being bipartisan.

And he did his Republican idea thing last night in a room of the Stark County District Library, located in the heart of Canton, dedicated to the 16th District's most well known Republican; namely, William McKinley (i.e. "the McKinley Room) who was president of the United States from March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901.

First, OperationFree?  Who are they?  Here is a video put out by the organization describing themselves:



Second,  a Boccieri Strategy?

Yes.

What is it?

Cap 'N Trade is a Republican idea going back to the days of Ronald Reagan.

Really?

Indeed.  Perhaps going back to the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

Yes, according to a piece put out by a reporter from National Public Radio's WBUR, to wit:

And more recently (2007 and 2008), the Republican version of Cap 'N Trade was put in legislative form in America's Climate and Security Act.

The list of Republican sponsors is impressive, to wit:

Boccieri's tack:  The Republicans are now in the political silly season. The implication being that Republicans are attacking their own idea for political advantage.

Will the Boccieri/DCCC strategy work?

Only time will tell and, of course, Boccieri's persuasion skills.  Look for him to be responding to 16th District voters who stop by his booth at the Stark County Fair (today through Labor Day) to hear the "it's a Republican idea" I'm supporting spiel.

Also, there are the debates.  No doubt Boccieri will be throwing this at his opponent Jim Renacci.  Will Renacci be able to debunk the notion that Republicans are turning on themselves?

Here is a video of Boccieri making his case for the strategy that in voting for Cap 'N Trade he is being "bipartisan" in supporting what was originally a Republican idea.

VIDEO: RENACCI HUNTING FOR VOTES AT A TEA PARTY RALLY IN NAVARRE? AIN'T THAT SMART POLITICS FOR A REPUBLICAN?

On June 27th Boccieri 16th Congressional District challenger Jim Renacci was in Navarre looking for votes.

So, isn't that is what he was supposed to be doing?

Yes and no.

Yes, he should be looking for votes.  But not at a Tea Party rally.

How many Tea Partiers are going to vote for Democrat Congressman John Boccieri.

Tea Partiers can say until they are "blue in the face" (God forbid, blue? aren't those Democratic Party colors?) that they are not, but many, if not most, political observers see the Tea Party movement as a being a extreme wing of the Republican Party.

It is obvious to The Report that if Renacci is to win in November, it will be because there is a rebirth of the 1994 Republican Revolution when they picked up 54 seats during the Clinton administration mid-term elections.

For there is nothing special about Jim Renacci as far as the SCPR can see.  At the Navarre event, he was the epitome of Republican Party talking points.  And what you hear of Renacci since Navarre is more of the same.

He complains that Congressman Boccieri votes about 94% of the time with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama.  And The Report believes those numbers are right on the mark.

But did Renacci make a statement at Navarre that he would be independent of the Republican caucus in the U.S. House?  Of course, not.  The Report expects that he will, if elected, be every bit the equal of Boccieri's 94%.  Maybe even higher.

Because of the disfavor that President Obama is experiencing with the American electorate, John Boccieri will have a very difficult time being re-elected.

Boccieri's main problem (over matters he can control) is how utterly "immature" his $1-million-a-year staff is.  They cannot seem to do effective constituent service, and they want to punish media types who will not drink their Kool-Aid.

This Boccieri/Renacci race is an example of the worst of politics.

Boccieri appears to be working hand-in-glove with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to unfairly (in the opinion of a number of political observers) tab Renacci as favoring a 23% tax increase with his support of The Fair Tax (a National sales tax).

Also, Renacci claims Boccieri is distorting Renacci's past Ohio income tax dispute with the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT).

All you have to do is watch the Renacci tape taken of his Navarre Tea Party speech to get a good picture of Renacci's distortions of the Boccieri record.

So whichever one is elected will only serve to give the 16th District voters another reason to be disenchanted with the quality of the guys and gals who run for the United States Congress.

Several national polling organization polls as of mid-August have Renacci with a slight lead.  However, the polling is within the margin of error and either candidate could win.  There is a long, long way to go in this race.

Look for the race to degrade further.  There will likely be multiple Federal Election Commission complaints filed between the two sides.  A little over a week ago Boccieri filed a complaint alleging violations by the Renacci camp on corporate sponsorship (in-kind contributions) of  what the Boccieri folks allege started out as a fundraising event.

On Thursday, Renacci filed a defamation suit against Boccieri ally, the SEIU over the union's characterization of Renacci's national sales tax position and his income tax dealings with ODT.

And there is still over two months until the election.  Hmm.

Here is the Renacci video from Navarre.

DOES CONGRESSMAN BOCCIERI HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CONSTITUENT SERVICES?

NOTE:  The Bocceri/Renacci campaign heated up big time yesterday with the filing of a defamation lawsuit by Renacci against one of Boccieri's prime 16th District union supporters.

 An interesting side note is that Richard S. Milligan, a member and past president of the Canton City Schools Board of Education, is one of the lawyers listed as filing the complaint on behalf of Renacci.

TODAY'S BLOG

The Stark County Political Report is starting to get the idea that freshman Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - 16th) is not at his best as a U.S. representative when it comes to constituent services.

His predecessor Republican Ralph Regula was excellent when it came to serving the day-to-day needs of Stark, Ashland, Wayne and Medina Countians.

Another former area congressman who was outstanding on constituent services was Republican Congressman William H. Ayers (the 14th Congressional District - a Democratic district with a big labor union presence) who served from 1950 through 1970.  When yours truly was a student at The University of Akron, Ayers was roundly criticized for his lack of gravitas when it came to substantive national issues, but he was given high, high marks for his constituent services.

What brings this topic up is and interesting happening at the regular Stark County commissioners meeting on this Wednesday past.

During the "public speaks" portion of the meeting, a Green Card Stark County resident who is an Australian asked for the floor and was granted a hearing by commissioners.

Her complaint?

She could not get the help of area public officials in her quest to solve a housing problem she has been experiencing for a number of years.  One of the public officials she singled out was?

You've got it!  Congressman John Boccieri.

The Report was not surprised - based on personal experience with Boccieri as congressman - to hear about this lady's claim that Boccieri would not help her.  And maybe he has an explanation as to why she would be saying the things she said at the commissioners' meeting on Wednesday.  See the video below to capture her frustration.

Normally, the SCPR would contact the congressman's office to inquire further about the matter.  However, Boccieri and his office personnel have demonstrated to yours truly that they will not engage hard or uncomfortable questions and want to spoon feed area media with press releases and the like in order to propagate the Boccieri spin.

Moreover, The Report has heard a considerable number of complaints about Boccieri being loathe to engage the folks that make up the 16th District.

If Boccieri has a problem answering the questions and serving the needs of  "eligible to vote" 16th District residents, what chance does the Green Card holding - ineligible to vote - lady from Australia have to get his ear and assistance.

Answer:  between "slim" and "none" and "slim" just left town.

John Boccieri has an unexciting Republican opponent in Jim Renacci this November.

His 2008 opponent Kirk Schuring was a world ahead of Jim Renacci.  But the timing of Renacci running is such (with the popularity of Democrat president Barack Obama at all time low as November comes into focus) that the less qualified Renacci may eke out a close victory.

Boccieri cannot control what the voting public thinks of Barack Obama.  But he can promptly, effectively and efficiently serve his constituents.

Undoubtedly, if he loses, Boccieri will want to blame the tide against Democrats because of some of the unpopular programs and policies of the president.

But the real reason for a loss may be his unwillingness to face up to tough questions and to deal with constituents who don't hit his fancy.

Back in 2008 the SCPR predicted that Boccieri would win by about 10 percentage points.  And that is about where he finished.

Just a few months ago it looked like to the SCPR that Boccieri would defeat Renacci by about 4 to 5 percentage points.

However, as each day passes, it is looking like this race could be neck and neck by November 2nd.

In the end, the critical difference could be Boccieri's inability to be the match of Ralph Regula and William H. Ayers for constituent services.

Here is the video referred to above.

WILL THE REAL JOHN BOCCIERI STAND UP? A WARRIOR OR A MAN WHO PLAYS IT SAFE AND WANTS GUARANTEES?

It appears that Congressman John Boccieri is taking a page out of the book of his good friend William J. Healy, II.  When he is dealing with tough issues, he does not put himself out there with the public or tough minded journalists to take "hardball" questions.  Rather he cozies up with the softball players who staff The Repository's editorial board.

The word is out there so much so among Stark County politicians/officeholders that The Rep editors can be had that they "volunteer" to appear before the Stark County's only countywide newspaper's editors.

So now Boccieri wants "guarantees,"  if he is to face the public on his health care vote, to wit: 

[if] “they can guarantee we can get 3,000 people in a room who are going to interact and not be intimidated by the loudest voice in the room. ... I’m not afraid to meet with folks face to face, but I just want to make sure I’m having a dialogue and discussion with my constituents.” (See Boccieri discusses health care vote, The Repository, Robert Wang, April 09, 2010)

 The SCPR does not buy Boccieri's protest that he is willing to take hard questions.  When he first started out with "Congressman on Your Corner,"  The Report was impressed.  He did appear to be willing to put himself "in the line of fire" as he has done many, many times in flying a C-130 in and out of Baghdad Airport as an Air Force Reserve pilot.

But then his political handlers got a hold of him and he no longer appears willing to take on the political tough stuff.  The SCPR believes that his political caution took over when The Report showed how he feigned (via video from an Alliance "Congressman on Your Corner" event) being against Cap and Trade, while The Report is convinced he favored it "secretly" all along.  For the record, the SCPR liked his stance on Cap and Trade.  Just not his "sleight of hand" political manner.  Boccieri should not be gaming the voters as he appears to The Report to be doing.

Ditto for health care.

This time he actually voted to "kill the bill" (the Stupak amendment) months ago.  But then on March 19th he voted for the bill without guess what?  Yes, the Stupak amendment.  He only got the assurance of an Obama executive order.  Something significantly less than Supak.

Again, for the record, the SCPR likes where he ended up in voting yes for the bill.  Just not his "sleight of hand" political manner.  The Report repeats, "Boccier should not be gaming the voters as he appears to The Report to be doing.

So in interviewing with the the softball players who staff The Rep's editorial board, he plays it safe.

Boccieri is clearly a courageous person as amply demonstrated in his military service.  You might even call him a warrior.

But as a politician, he appears more and more that he is showing precious little of his military-esque grit.

If he would, his chances for re-election would be greatly enhanced. 

Boccieri's contradictory way of being could be his political undoing. 

Will John Boccieri ever learn to play to his strength as a person in every aspect of life - including politics?

BOCCIERI OFFICE EXPENSE: ABOUT $1 MILLION A YEAR, IS HE WORTH IT?

Which way will it swing for Congressman John Boccieri (Dem - Alliance).  Has he proven his worth to a majority of 16th congressional district voters or not?

Last year he cost 16th district voters and, indeed, all Americans about $1 million:

While it is seven plus months away from "accountability day" for Boccieri, the SCPR believes that Boccieri will survive the November, 2010 elections and remain in the United States Congress as the 16th's representative.

The Report does not believe that his reelection should cause Boccieri to think that the majority thinks he has been "worth every penny."  Rather, he should think, they value him enough, given the alternative, to give him another term.

Boccieri probably played it just right in being coy as to what his "true" position was on any given "big" issue.

Two big issues stand out as accountability factors in Boccieri's reelection try:  Cap and Trade and Health Care Reform.

His poorest performance was on Cap and Trade.

He had nearly everyone in the 16th believing that he would vote no on Cap and Trade.  In his "Congressman on Your Corner" cameo's throughout the 16th, he saturated his presentations with a negative on the environmental legislation.  But in the end he voted the Pelosi position and then got mad when it was pointed out by the SCPR that a little bit of ear-marking had gone on to get his vote.

Probably as an additional payoff, when it came to a series of votes on Health Care reform, the SCPR believes that Peolosi gave Boccieri a pass to vote no on the legislation in its earliest stage apparently because the Stupak amendment (prohibiting federal financing of abortions) was not part of the package.

In the end, this was an effective maneuver for Boccieri in the 16th.  This vote gave him some bona fides with the more moderate Republican types in the 16th. 

Why is this good for Boccieri?

Because the SCPR believes more and more that Matt Miller will be the Republican nominee coming out of the Republican primary in May.

None of the for extreme elements of the Republican right will be voting for Boccieri (a Democrat) under any cirumstances.  But the more moderate elements are a different matter.

And that, in a nutshell, appears to the The Report to be the core of Boccieri campaign overall strategy, to wit:

Paint the Republican survivor of the primary as being right-wing, and get to victory in November on the more flexible part of the 16th district electorate.

It seems to The Report that all the Republican candidates for the 16th district congressional nod are leaning to the right.  Former Wadsworth mayor Jim Rennaci (and car dealer) is supposed to be the "most" moderate among a group that includes Miller, Doyle Smith and the extreme right Paul Schiffer.  But at a recent "debate" at Plain Township Glenoak High School (if you can call it a debate), Renacci, Miller and - to a lesser degree - Smith were playing to Schiffer-esque right extremism.

The only one that will have this to come back to haunt him in a general election contest with Boccieri, is Renacci.

Why is that?

Because going into the primary, Renacci - as stated above - was thought by most area political observers to be a Republican moderate.

Voters already know that Miller is solidly right wing.  So he does not get hurt among core-right voters in a general election, even if he swings - during the primary - towards the Schiffer position.

Smith isn't a factor because his political identity is so low that he has no chance whatsoever to survive the Republican primary as the winner.  So, even though Smith gave every indication at Glenoak that he was the most moderate of the group - more moderate than Renacci - if such is perceived by the rank-in-file Republican primary voter, it places him at the bottom of the foursome in terms of outcome.  Even Schiffer will likely best him.

Renacci, if he can appear to be right-wing enough, may survive the Republican primary, but his primary positions will be worked big-time against him by the Boccieri forces in the November general election.

The SCPR believes that Renacci, as Republican nominee, will be sufficiently damaged by his primary race right-drift within 16th district Republicanism, that Boccieri will peel off enough moderate Republican votes and maintain enough of the district's independents in the general election to get a new term in the U.S. House. But the race will be won by a margin of one or two percentage points, if that.

If Miller is the Republican nominee, then Boccieri's win margin increases by two fold.

Miller will be an effective challenger, but his achilles heel will be his perceived pronounced right wingedness.   Accordingly, he will - on the result side of the general election - leave political pundits impressed by his electoral performance, but he remains the perennial 16th district political bridesmaid.

It is in a Boccieri/Miller match up that Boccieri benefit from having looked like a liberal at times and like a conservative at times.  Confused voters will likely perceive him to be the more thoughtful and flexible candidate and therefore the most acceptable.

In a Bocceri/Renacci race, the confusion hurts Boccieri and that is why the race could come down to the wire as a razor-thin margin for Boccieri.

Moreover, a Boccieri/Renacci match up will boil down to the Boccierians trying to paint Renacci (based on his Republican primary performance) as more right-wing than he had been previously billed and therefore unacceptable to the great middle of the 16th district's voter profile.

If Boccieri wins this race, then 16th district voters can expect to see Boccieri to be holding office for the foreseeable future.  He will be challenged biennially, but not seriously a la most of the Regula and Frank Bow times in Congress.

In an interesting twist, the SCPR believes that had Kirk Schuring been the Republican nominee this time around, he would have been very likely to defeat Boccieri in a re-match.

In politics, timing is everything!

CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI SHOULD VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE!

Apparently, the extreme right wing of the political spectrum (the SCPR won't say the Republican Party because The Report does not believe that most Republicans support the tactics of the 9-12/teaparty groups) has gotten the word that Congressman John Boccieri is about to support the President's health care initiative in a congressional vote this coming Sunday.

The Report got e-mailed the above flyer (in an unedited format) a day or two ago.  Yours truly has never had much use for the 9-12/teabagger movement and the flyer tells one and all why these organizations are not credible politically active organizations.

So let me get this right?

If Boccieri votes yes on health care reform, he's a traitor?

But if he votes no, he is a patriot?

Most Stark Countians and voters in the 16th congressional district eschew these kinds of tactics.  And so should Congressman Boccieri.

The SCPR views the rhetoric, the tactics and the strategy of these groups to be the equivalent of the John Birch Society of yore.  As an aside, reports have surfaced in the general media about the possible resurgence of the John Birch Society.  If so, the Society will no longer be out there in the fringe alone, it has company with the 9-12/teabagger movements.

Opposition/pressure from these extremists on Boccieri, should tell the congressman all he needs to know about how he should vote.

The SCPR challenges Boccieri to vote yes on the proposed legislation.

On what basis?

First, it is the right thing to do.  Health care insurance companies need to be reined in.  Well known for their arbitrary, excessive-premium-hiking ways to price "undesirables" off its insurance rolls and to deny, deny and deny even more on pre-existing conditions on the absolutely critical need of a human being for healthcare insurance.  They are completely out-of-control and need to be managed by the people of this great nation.

Second, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) figures published yesterday show that passing the current health care initiative will be a federal deficit reducer.

Third, as a Democrat, if Boccieri and enough of his Democratic colleagues vote to scuttle the President's initiative, then he has participated in creating a slippery slope which will likely make him, his colleagues, and the Democratic majority as well as the President "lame ducks" who cannot formulate and pass legislative measures that they think will help the country.

Those are the reasons why the Stark County Political Report urges Congressman John Boccieri to vote YES on health care reform!

BOCCIERI NOT A "PORKER" IN FY 2009. WILL THAT BE THE CASE FOR 2010?

 

For fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009) was not a porker spending your money and my money on wasteful government projects.

Hmm?

Encouraging, no?

Could be.

But remember he was elected in November, 2008 and therefore could not have been a porker.

So why do a blog on this topic.

Just to remind the Congressman that he is being watched.  Soon the 2010 Pig Book will be out and the SCPR will be doing a search the day it comes out to report on what the Congressman is doing with our money.