Cornell McCleary, Former 610 - WTVN Radio Bad Boy

Ted Stickland has Black Politicos on leash

Strickland is a true Democrat and blacks are going to pay dearly for supporting him for Governor

Many people in Ohio are in deep do do.  Children, poor whites and blacks in general.  In Ohio, the general public has observed that under Republican government domination, the black politicos has increased in prominence (black mayors of key Ohio cities), influence(State Senator Ray Miller, State Representative Joyce Beatty and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman) and presence.  Now comes Gov. Ted Strickland, white, Democrat and politically disconnected from a majority of Ohioans, especially minorities.

To date, I have pretty much held off from publicly commenting on Strickland's actions until I was sure I had a good feel for the man and his plans.  I watched with amazement how the media continues to give Strickland public hug after hug no matter how boneheaded his actions are.  As usually, I read my Sunday Dispatch and there is a picture of my buddy Gov. Ted Strickland with the headline "For-Profit schools could lose millions: Students seeking two-year degrees would be affected."  I looked  and I looked for a response from one of our prominent black politicos regarding this issue and there was was nothing to be found in spite of the fact that no other single sector of the community is going to be more negatively impacted by Strickland's decision or should I say Strickland's priorities or lack thereof, than the minority community.

I would like this opportunity to make public a question in my mind for a long time.  Why is it that when issues of major concern particular to the black community, that the likes of black Democrats Michael Coleman, Joyce Beatty and  Ray Miller are silent and my black Republican ass is always up in arms and the majority of the black community are silent on the issues?

Coleman, Beatty and Miller are elected by the people to act on the peoples behalf. They are also elected by black and white people alike.  The white people vote for them because they believe that black people want them.  Black people vote for them because the white media declares them the chosen one's for black people.  Nobody voted or chose me for squat.  I'm just a political pain in the ass by calling.  I must confess that even I sometimes question the voice behind that calling but I never hesitate to act because the ations at issue reqires a public response.

Unfortunately for Strickland, that voice in my head has directed my attention towards him and his official actions.  For profit educational centers do a better job of outreach towards minorities than non profit educational institutions like Columbus State and Ohio State University.  The Governor's own research can confirm this.  Jobs and Skills training are critical to reducing the historical double digit unemployment rates in minority communities (The Governor might not know this because nobody bought it up) when the unemployment rates are a single digit  for the majority community.  Most minority students will in fact lose their educational option based on the Governor's planned actions because the non profit institutions do not offer the same educational options that are a parity to the for profit educational institutions.

I personally believe that Ted Strickland is a good and decent man but, uninformed and unimpressed with the black politicos around him or those that have access to him, therefore, the Governor is stepping on a political hot potato with his shoes off.

Politically, the black community is a strange bird.  It walks when it can fly and stands still when it should run - like a deer, staring into the headlights of an on-coming vehicle.  Then, for no apparent reason, it acts, decisively and with profound impact.  Why?  Unknown and unheard voices of destiny.

When the mighty have fallen what comes next is opportunity or chaos

From a political perspective, the Democrats can be viewed as children of a lesser God.

Happy New Year.  I guess I'll start the new year off being me.  Anyway you look at it, 2006 was a mother.  The world has turned a corner, good, bad or indifferent.  The average everyday citizen has been empowered to a level previously unknown in America's history.

The stars have aligned in a manner that only some power of a divine greatness good affect the affairs of man that the weak can conquer the strong and a chance for justice prevails while the once mighty scratch their heads in wonderment.  If there is a God of victory, be it one of chance or of destiny, then truly, the Democrat's God of victory has to be a lesser God.  Having said that, the victors should be cautious.

The Grand Old Party's (GOP) team  now, former statewide officeholders J. Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State, Betty Montgomery, State Auditor, Jim Petro, Attorney General and Jennatte Bradley, State Treasurer, by all measures a dream team, seemingly invincible, politically bloodies and maybe, politically mortally wounded.  A black male, a black female, a white female and a white male.  Hell, they had to be the chosen ones, but they were not.  What happened?  The GOP called on God and God moved, right out of the way and let the weak carry the day, who for the most part for the right things, against the strong who for the most part for themselves.

About seven years ago I had a vision of greatness and a message for the Ohio Republican Party.  Now, so that we are all on the same page, understand, this vision and message for the Republican Party was a formal vision and message.  Also, this formal vision and message for the Republican Party would be shared, embraced and acknowledged by someone no less than the President of the United States, George Bush, the screwup.  What was the vision?  Campaign America.  What was the message?  Country and community first, the Party second.  Give the people leadership not politics and the people will make the Republican Party the great party that it once was.  My official vision and message (Ohio Republican Party Statewide Minority Outreach Coordinator) became lost to the President, lost to the Ohio Congressional delegation and lost to the leadership of the Ohio Republican Party which spelled victory for the children of a lesser God.

The GOP''s former dream team had both the tools and the talent to be great and do great things but, individually and collectively they choose to be Republicans first in deeds, both omission and commission, and image, neither black nor white, male nor female.  Somebody should have told them besides me, that what one is, is a big part of what one has become, and what one has become is a source for pride for many as evidence of the true American experience.

For want of an explanation, I say that the Democrats are the children of a lesser God because its my experience with Democrats that they pretty much have an everything and everyone is OK attitude.  You don't have to do much to get on the good side of their almighty, be it Bruce or whoever.  But, personally, there are Democrats that I know and believe do stand for something and they, along with progressive Republicans like Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, are the future that I  also believe the people will accept and follow as our political leaders.

Minimum wage ballot issue is death blow to Blackwell's bid for governor

Ken Blackwell's office tells Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage campaign that they have collected enough names to qualify for the November ballot.

Ken Blackwell came through the Primary looking like a gladiator and a giant.  His opponent, Ted Strickland, with little statewide name recognition, no substantive message and little gumption for a head-to-head, toe-to-toe fight just watched as his opponent first, get stronger then, on his (Blackwell) own, start kicking his own butt.  Now comes the minimum wage issue, a problem for most Republicans and a nightmare specifically for Ken Blackwell.

No matter how bad things looked for the Republicans in November they still could not be written off because of their historical powerful political ground machine and awesome money raising abilities.  The Democrats to date have not put fourth a powerful message that would compel their Party's faithful to get off of their butts and go to the polls and vote.  The minimum wage issue is going to cross race and party lines, it is a moral issue that few will find reasons to not support it.  So far, both Blackwell and Strickland have avoided the poverty issue but now Strickland a Democrat won't have to but, Blackwell, if he touch this hot issue or if he does not, is in deep do do.

Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage, the coalition of labor unions and community groups that are driving this issue on moral grounds has laid down a political ambush for the so-called "Values Voters", strong supporters of Blackwell and also publicly claiming to be concerned about poverty issues and justice, issues that Blackwell as a candidate has ignored.  If Blackwell embraces these issues it will be impossible for the fact that Blackwell is an African-American to be ignored.  If Blackwell does not support the ballot issue or attempts to ignore it, because Blackwell is an African-American, the Democrats will destroy him with this issue especially in black communities.  Ted Strickland has no choice but to voice his support for the issue then, all he has to do is let the coalition advocating the ballot issue do their thing to maximize both his political and tactical gains as a result of the issue being on the ballot.

Statewide, county-wide and local, in harms way are all GOP candidates facing stiff competition and who have any significant size urban population in their respective districts or areas.  Historically, in close races, the urban voter are the swing voters.  To make matters worse for GOP candidates, Blackwell is at the top of the ticket and the GOP is already, for the most part, on record not supporting the minimum wage ballot issue.  When the missiles start to fly over this moral issue the GOP and Republicans in general are going to be made to look like insensitive jackasses and I don't mean Democrats.

I have been watching the governor's race objectively and tactically.  From my observations, Strickland just stayed in the ring out of Blackwell's way.  Blackwell, punch drunk from a formidable primary fight did not re-tool or reorganize his campaign to fight a non-fighter.  The Blackwell campaign is attempting (the Republican tradition) to throw mud at a candidate that they can't muddy.  The tax and spend liberal tag being launched at Strickland is not going to either stick or work considering the very publicly known tax and spend records of Ohio's last two Republican governors.  From my observations, other than being an unknown, Strickland's primary flaw is that he really does not have much interesting to say.  However, Blackwell's continued political and tactical mistakes makes it easy for Strickland to not have to say anything interesting.

After all is said and done, if the election was held today, Blackwell and many other Republicans would be facing defeat.  There is just enough time left in the election for some Republicans to walk away from the GOP's tradition of mud, blood and gore, to run as individuals who happen to be Republican, and give themselves a chance.  As for Blackwell, when he walked away from TEL he choose the Party over the people and the Party is not going to let him turn back or be any other way even if it means his defeat.

Ohio's race for Governor - Avoilding race issue, Ken Blackwell shifts race to Ted Strickland

Publicly, Blackwell shows more pride in being a Republican than being an African-American.

Ken Blackwell recently hired Alexandria Johnson-Boone as his Ohio African-American Outreach Coordinator.  For a black man who has held public office for so long and, a man who has been very effective at what he does, in hiring Johnson-Boone, Blackwell has publicly displayed a fatal flaw in his character that I believe can, and most likely will, cost him the Governor's race.  Blackwell has an identity problem.

Ken Blackwell, to Ted Strickland's advantage, has come face-to-face with a successful person of minority status worse nightmare.  One has to publicly acknowledge not only who they are and what they have become and, what they are (Black, Hispanic, Jewish etc.) but, with a balance perspective.

Blackwell's recent comments that appeared in the Columbus Dispatch Sunday, August 6, 2006 "How many voters see a black-white contest?" did not reflect a balance perspective and Blackwell may not be able to recover from this mistake.

In the article, Blackwell is quoted as stating "I will tell you, and I will underscore it: It would be a mistake for anybody to vote for me just because of the color of my skin.  It would be a mistake for anybody to vote against me just because of the color of my skin..."  Blackwell's comments will be viewed by many blacks and some whites who are moderates and who have not yet made up their minds regarding Blackwell, as a warning.  Why?

The facts are that this is still America and race does matter, good, bad or indifferent.  The racist institutions of America, in many ways, have retreated and surrended to many of strong character and the will of many good people of all races and political perspectives.

These people of good will, in considering the race or sex of a political candidate in part, is not a consideration of malice but an act for change.  In some instances, as in the case of Ohio's Governor's race, the consideration is of such significance that the consideration is not just that of the candidate but a defining moment of who and what we are as citizens of Ohio.  Should Blackwell get the nod because he is blacK?  The answer is no.  Should the fact that Blackwell, a black man, has done all the things that he has done include the consideration that he is a black man? Absolutely.  Without this consideration, in truth, what Blackwell has accomplished personally and politically does not shine very brightly at all.

Blackwell's presence on the ballot as a black man is a positive commentary for both America and Ohio.  Blackwell's political and personal accomplishments as a black man is a source of pride for both blacks and whites.  Blackwell's successes in life are not just a result of his personal character and abilities but, also a reflection of the great strides that America in general has made in regards to race, especially in the screwed up Republican Party.

Blackwell, by any objective standards is an awesome person.  His political and professional career clearly reflects genius.  However, it is time that Ken Blackwell publicly acknowledge the truth, he is a black man and many of the opportunities that he has had in his life that propelled him to greatness and the current public stature that he enjoys were generated in part because he is a black man.

It is not a bad thing to reach out to others who are like you or like-minded to lead them to a greater place for the greater good.  It is not a bad thing to say I am, I did and because of you, I could.  Thank you.

Governor debates are on -Ohio's powerful white print media turned off

The Columbus Dispatch, The Plain Dealer and the Dayton Daily News are given a lesson in moral responsibility by Ken Blackwell and Ted Strickland.

Recently, the two major party candidates for governor have agreed on dates and places for four debates.  They also agreed to reject a debate proposed by three of Ohio's largest white owned newspapers because they (the white-owned print medias) refused to include the Call & Post, a minority-owned newspaper circulating in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.  Both Blackwell and Strickland were both politically mature enough and responsible enough to recognize that if they went along with the white media's proposal that it would have created a political outrage in the black community.  The arrogance of the editorial boards of the white media's in this instance shows both their respective ignorance and political immaturity.

The sponsorship of the debates are as much a business decision as well as providing a public service.  And, it can be safely concluded that each of the white print media co-sponsors would be contributing significant financial and other resources to secure their respective participation and positions as co-sponsors, resources that most, if not all, of minority-owned businesses don't have.  The problem is, in this particular situation, we are not talking about a private business private joint-venture development project.  We are talking about a public event that can and will help decide who the next governor of the state of Ohio is going to be and it is absolutely unacceptable in such a situation that it be even remotely suggested, that when it comes to sponsorship of public debates, that rich white organizations need only reply.  Not only should the three white major print media's have welcomed the participation of the Call & Post Newspaper, if these medias were being socially and politically responsible, that should have sought out the participation and support of every known minority-owned media in the state of Ohio to truly show Ohioans their respective greatness and true public interest.

Both Ken Blackwell and Ted Strickland in this instance have both gained the respect of minorities throughout the state of Ohio.  The question that remains is does the Dispatch, The Plain Dealer and The Dayton Daily News have the guts to admit that they were wrong and immediately, comprehensively, correct the problem?

Charles R. Morrison may have changed the political course of America

15th Congressional District candidacy conflict is either going to sink or save the Republicans in Ohio and will have national impact.

Charles R. Morrison a former Republican outcast again, decided to take on Republican Deborah Pryce who is also being challenged by Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy.  Morrison's challenge of Pryce as an independent now has Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and the Ohio Republican Party in a public no-win political position.  Blackwell, if he handles this situation the wrong way will assure Ted Strickland victory in November as the next Governor of Ohio.

Recently, the Franklin County Board of Elections voted along party line to allow or prevent Morrison from running as an independent against Pryce.  The Republicans are claiming Morrison, someone the Party has never supported, is a Republican and should not be allowed to challenge Pryce.  Blackwell will decide Morrison's fate as well as his own.  Morrison is a conservative supporter of Blackwell and Pryce is the Republican Party's nominee.  Blackwell has to break the tie vote of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Blackwell has already stepped in do on several issues especially his reversal on the Tax and Expenditure Limitation amendment.  If Blackwell rules against Morrison even Blackwell's strongest supporters will have a hard time standing by him (Blackwell).  In a word, people will no longer raise the question who is Ken Blackwell?  The answer will be clear, Ken Blackwell will be viewed just another politician and, no different than the current public officials running the state backwards.

Ted Strickland and Ohio's Democrats not ready for prime time media

Democrats lack of media savvy is going to cost them the November election big time

The Columbus Dispatch's political editor and reporter Joe Hallett has been covering the Democrats like stink on do do.  His (Hallett) published observations and selected quotes from Ted Strickland and other Democrats clearly indicate that they (Democrats) don't get it.

Halette did two interesting stories: "Endorsements from four Democrats - Top black officials embrace Strickland" and "Obama, Biden in town to help fire up Democrats".  The latter article is about the Ohio Democrat's annual dinner.  The honored guest were 2008 presidential candidate Delaware Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Illinois Senator Barack Obama.  About 2,500 people showed up for the event to see the honored guest.  Ted Strickland takes the stage and says "The turnout tonight says that the people of Ohio are ready for change..."  Given the obvious, what a dumb ass statement.

The other article was about the black politicos ending their boycott of Strickland and them having a series of press conferences announcing their respective endorsements of Ted Strickland.  The endorsers were Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones.  During the Coleman endorsement event in Columbus, Lee Fisher, Ted Strickland's running mate called the black Democrat endorsement of white Democrats a "Historical Moment", another dumb ass public statement.

Sen. Barack Obama publicly warned the Democrats that they can't win Ohio without positing a positive agenda.  It is June 2006 and no real viable public or community agenda has been proposed by the Democratic except that they (the Democrats) are not Republicans.

I am a firm believer that the people gain the most when there is stiff competition for public offices.  Given what the Strickland and the Democrats have publicly shown so far, the Republicans are going to beat the dog crap out of them (the Democrats) in November, with one hand tied behind their backs (Republicans) and their own foot (Republicans) kicking their own butts.

New Police Powers Suck

Gov. Bob Taft sticks it to citizens again - punishes Ohioans for not liking him

Recently Taft signed into law a bill where Ohioans who drive under the influence of illegal drugs, or even with traces of drugs in their blood, face jail time and stiff fines.  The law takes effect in 90 days.  Republican State Senator Steve Austria was the chief sponsor of the bill.  The Highway Patrol helped write the law.  Any driver who appears to be impaired can be arrested and forced to take a urine or blood test on penalty of losing his or her driving privileges.  The problem, admitted to by the Highway Patrol, it will be more difficult to enforce the new law versus alcohol laws because there's no narcotics equivalent of the common roadside Breathalyzer test.

The new law spells out blood-level concentrations of common drugs above which it is illegal to drive and, outlaws driving with certain levels of metabolites: the end product that remains in the body after a drug has been metabolized.

You are driving home late at night.  Tired, from a hard day at work.  You weave between lanes like most people do when there is not much traffic on the road.  The Highway Patrol pulls you over.  They do not smell alcohol on your breath but, you have a slight attitude because you are tired.  The Patrol officer because he can and, he does not have a field narcotics test, arrest you and takes you to the nearest hospital, forces you to take a blood test that finds nothing and releases you with stern warning, "Next time smile a little more."  The Highway Patrol are usually nice guys.  Now imagine this scenario with your friendly local cops?>

GOP hate TEL

Ohio Republican Legislators opposition to tax amendment reveals whore-like tendency's

Some Ohio Republicans are exploring ways to remove the proposed Tax and Expenditure Limitation amendment (TEL) from the Ballot.  The problem is that the amendment is already certified for the November 7 election.

The proposed TEL amendment would limit the annual growth of both state and local government spending but critics say the amendment is too far-reaching.  No Shit.

What the amendment actually does is allow "We The People" to decide if we want state and local government agencies to be more responsible with our hard earned money and, just because they have it, don't just spend it because they can.  Since when did being financially conservative become a bad idea for conservatives?

State legislators and local government advocacy organizations are lining up against the issue.  Many are hoping that Ken Blackwell who wrote the check on this issue don't have the guts to cash it on the amendment and back off or just sit back and let it die if fellow Republicans can find a BS way of getting the amendment off the November ballot.

I guess we will have to sit back and wait and see if Ken becomes Karen and that money talks. I'm not going to say "You go girl" yet.