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Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Chillicothe mayor rallies in Washington

Chillicothe Mayor Joe Sulzer, a Vietnam veteran, rallied in front of the U.S. Capitol today with 40 other veterans who also are running for Congress to eradicate corruption and bring change.

Sulzer, who is seeking to unseat troubled Rep. Bob Ney, R-Heath, told a crowd of about 100 that he's concerned about the state of democracy in Washington.

"I am running against a congressman who stands for this corruption," Sulzer said.

Ney has been linked to disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in federal court to using free trips, meals and campaign contributions in an attempt to bribe Ney and others for official favors. Ney has said he did nothing illegal or improper.

Still, many candidates at the rally - all Democrats - spoke of ridding Washington of lawmakers with questionable connections to lobbyists, saying that they would take back one more hill - Capitol Hill. They said it's time the country was led by veterans who understand the meaning of sacrifice.

Former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., a Vietnam veteran who lost both legs in combat, told the group from his wheelchair that together, they represented more than 400 years of military service for the United States.

"All of you have been there, done that and gotten a few holes in your T-shirt," Cleland said. "That makes you a part of a very few Americans who have done the fighting and the dying for this country."

Sulzer, who was drafted at age 19 and served for one year in Vietnam in the late 1960s, said veterans understand the price that was paid for democracy.

"I am honored and proud that we have such a great group of veterans who are willing to once again answer the call of their country in service and restore this democracy that has fallen to the special interest groups," he said after the rally.

More on the rally from the Democratic National Committee blog here.

Sulzer, who arrived in Washington on Tuesday night, planned to spend Wednesday and Thursday meeting with congressional leaders and political action committees.

"Hopefully, we'll take some money back with us," Sulzer said. "Unfortunately, with these campaigns, that's what it comes down to, money."

Sulzer had planned to hold a fundraiser Thursday with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., but the event was postponed until March due to scheduling conflicts.

Still, the fact that the DCCC is planning an event with Sulzer is significant because it indicates that he already has the party's backing despite a three-way primary May 2 against Dover lawyer Zack Space and Bellaire technical writer Jeff Woollard.

Ney spokesman Brian Walsh: "It's interesting that he mentioned special interests because he is in Washington to raise money from special interests," Walsh said.


7 Comments:

at 4:09 AM, February 09, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is kind of nice that the DCCC is again taking sides in the Primary. They last time they decided to that in the primay their candidate lost big. And in 1994 they didn't come through in the end and Democrat Greg DiDonato (former Ohio Senate Minority Leader) lost to Ney by just a couple points. The same happened when Rob Burch challenged Ney. The DCCC helped get Ney elected and reelected with their typical empty promises to 18th district candidates. And one thing is for sure, the support that is going to matter comes from those that cast a vote. In 1994 D.C.'s pick to replace Doug Applegate got crushed in the primary because the other Democrat DiDonato had the support of most local parties and unions. The same D.C. debunkers that got DiDonato through through the primary and the ones aligned behind Zack Space's campaign. His support also includes Susan Gwinn, the powerful Athens County chair that is head of the Ohio Democratic Chairs Association. I look for the D.C. insiders to have wasted their time on this one.

 
at 8:21 AM, February 09, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon 4:09 a.m.:

You must be new to politics. Joe Sulzer is a Democrat and a combat veteran of our military . According to Washington Democrats, that means anything he says must be accepted as Gospel Truth and neither the news media nor any Republican are fit to shine the man's shoes, let alone ask him any questions. He must not be questioned about his contributors or his family members. In fact, when a Democrat veteran decides he wants to run for office, the election should be canceled and the Democrat veteran should be automatically appointed to that political office for life.

 
at 3:56 PM, February 09, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Still, many candidates at the rally - all Democrats - spoke of ridding Washington of lawmakers with questionable connections to lobbyists, saying that they would take back one more hill - Capitol Hill"

How you Dimwits like your boy Reid now?

I'm going to come back and laugh at you again when Jay Rockefeller and Leaky Leahy get slammed in the NSA leak investigation.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

 
at 6:17 PM, February 09, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

When are you going to show us FEC reports linking Democrats to Abramoff? I know it's a lot easier to just lie and say Dems have ties, but it seems when it comes down to proof, you're always silent.

 
at 6:46 PM, February 09, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

C'mon anon 6:17! Since when have you been so tied to facts and proof?

Snady Burglar having docs in his socks and not with a fox was a Dr. Suess book????

Puhleeeze Dimwit, give me a break.

You're so funny when you're a hypocrite...Please keep speaking up for Dims because you're a tremendous asset to Republicans!!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

 
at 10:12 AM, February 10, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Way to change the subject. Too bad about all those lobbyist funded trips Steve "Abramoff" Chabot took, and the bribes he took to write Gail Norton and campaign against a casino in Texas because it would hurt Abramoff's clients in Louisiana. Too bad Stevie actually took money from Abramoff and his clients. Chabot is up to his eyeballs in pay-to-play, and ought to resign. No congressman is above the law, and Stevie's taken too many bribes.

 
at 11:42 AM, February 10, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Puhleeeze Dimwit, give me a break."

And still, yo have no facts to back up your claims. Just emoticons and rhyming.

Are the psyc wards giving mental patients access to the Internet or something?

 
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