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.

CHARTER SCHOOL MAGNATE & ANTI-OBAMA-HEALTHCARE GROUP AS WELL AS STARK CO REPUBLICAN HEAVY HITTER W.R. TIMKEN, JR ARE MAIN SPONSORS OF OHIO YOUNG REPUBLICAN CONVENTIION TO BE HOSTED BY STARK YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB THIS WEEKEND

The SCPR has known for some time that the Stark County Young Republican Club (which has an annual membership of 50) would be hosting the Ohio Young Republicans at their annual convention this summer.  

Of course, it cost money to host something like the convention of the Ohio Young Republicans.  Within the past few days the SCPR has obtained campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political action committees (PACs) for the post primary period which ended for reporting purposes on June 4, 2010.

As The Report scanned through the Stark County Young Republican Club's (SCYRs) report, it became abundantly clear that something was up with the SCYRs.  For the organization started the reporting period with $454.31, raised $8,210.00 and, after paying a few bills, ended up with $8,027.55.

So what might be up?

Eureka!

Ah yes, there was an infusion of money to offset the costs of hosting the convention.

In fact, Monique Cox-Moore, a Stark County Young Republican Club official; has confirmed to The Report that the contributions are for the expense of hosting the convention.  A highlight about Ms. Cox-Moore is that she is National Young Republican Committee
Republican of the Year 2009-2010 for 20 and under 40 age group - young professional.

Did the convention funding bring out some interesting contributors?

Indeed, it did.

Here is the list that the SCPR believes constitute the prime underwriters of the convention:

Of course, anyone in politics knows who is the prime man at White Hat Management, LLC.  It is none other than David Brennan who has gotten many millions of Ohio (taxpayer) money for his charter schools.

Brennan has relied on Republican office holders who hold court in Columbus to see to it that taxpayer money flows freely to the charter school movement.

Brennan is a huge financier (contributing lots and lots and lots and lots of money) of Republican causes and politicians in Ohio.

Even if a specific Republican politician has not received a direct contribution from Brennan or White Hat Management LLC,  such does not mean that the politician has not indirectly gotten Brennan money.  It only means that the Brennan money has worked its way to the politician through one of the Republican organizations or activities that Brennan or his company funds.

A second prime contributor is the U.S. Citizens Association.  This organization gave the Stark Young Republicans $3,000.00.  A self-descriptor of the type of causes U.S. Citizens supports is embodied in the following:

The U.S. Citizens Association, an Ohio-based conservative organization, with over 23,000 members, has filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Akron, Ohio, to repeal the healthcare bill signed into law in March [2010].

Another prime contributor is W.R. Timken, Jr., who is chairman of the board of the Timken Company which funnels political contributions to political candidates through the Timken Company Good Government Fund (TCGGF).  Apparently, Republicans have a leg up on "good government" as the overwhelming majority of recipients are Republicans.  Here is a sampling of a recent filing by Timken and the TCGGF which lists only Republicans as candidates receiving contributions:

Well known Cantonians and Stark Countians who also contributed include:

• Scott Hawes (Plain Township trustee - $35), 
• H. Doyle Smith (candidate in May for 16th congressional seat - $50), 
• Janet Creighton (commissioner candidate [Creighton 2010] v. Steve Meeks - $150),  
• Alan Harold (auditor candidate v. Kim Perez - $50), 
• Sheila Farmer (judge/5th District Court of Appeals - $150), 
• Julie Edwards (judge/5th District Court of Appeals - $100), Charles Brown (judge/Stark County Court of Common Pleas - $130), 
• Dixie Park (judge/Stark Probate Court - $100) 
• Regula for Congress ($100) and Mark Butterworth (Canton councilman - $75).

The SCPR received this interesting communique from Cox-Moore:

Fyi-Josh Mandel [Republican candidate for Ohio treasurer] will walk in ward 8 in canton at 10:30-11:30 Saturday (sic) June 26 with all of our local candidates:

Janet Weir Creighton
Jamie Walters
Todd Snitchler,
Alan Harold

Please feel free to contact me for any additional information.‬‪ ‬‪ ‬‪

Thank you,‬‪

Monique Cox-Moore‬‪

 Interesting?

Yes, at least to Democrat Todd Bosley's campaign for the 50th Ohio House district.

Why so?

Todd Snitchler (Ohio House - 50th) will be participating in a door-to-door in Canton's 8th Ward (which happens to be the most Republican friendly ward in Canton), but, more importantly for the Bosley campaign, has Snitchler campaigning outside the 50th.  Apparently, to help Mandel?  And Bosley?

Mandel will be addressing the convention at a Saturday luncheon session. 

A partial Mandel biography from the Ohio House of Representatives website:

Josh Mandel is a Marine veteran who served two tours in the Iraq War and currently serves as State Representative from the 17th Ohio House District. He was first elected State Representative in 2006, knocking on 19,679 doors and wearing out three pairs of shoes. In 2008 he was re-elected to a second term. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee.

A curiosity to the SCPR is why the YRs would have 27th Ohio Senate candidate Frank LaRose as their Keynote speaker?

Another strange twist is that the press is not welcome at this event.

Initially, the SCPR received this apparent invite from Cox-Moore, after having inquired about press access to the convention, to wit:

We welcome you to cover any and all events during the convention. For a complete schedule of events, times, and locations please visit our website here ... . ‬‪The convention is open to the public and there is still time to register, visit our website here for registration info:  ... .

But, it seems, that once Republican pols got their heads together, they decided to withdraw the invite.

Witness this later e-mail from Cox-Moore to the SCPR:

Apparently, the "stay-away" is designed to keep the "analytical" press away a la the Stark County Political Report.  Undoubtedly, the YRs will find a way to include the "public relations" press a la The Repository.

Hmm?