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Friday, September 15, 2006

Hartmann takes on Streisand. Yes, Streisand.


Every morning these days, we wake up wondering just how much more weird Ohio politics can become.

Then, on Thursday night, we found the answer. Infinitely weird.

Barbra Streisand is now an issue in the race for Ohio secretary of state.

The Family First PAC held a big fundraising dinner at the Montgomery Inn Banquet Center Thurday night; about 200 of the faithful showed up to hear Ken Blackwell and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas decry abortion and promote "family values."

Out in the lobby was a table where Family First's endorsed candidates could leave their campaign literature. A stack of sheets from Hamilton County's own Greg Hartmann, the GOP candidate for Ohio secretary of state, caught our eye because of the picture of Streisand belting out a tune.

It seems Streisand, an ardent Democrat who spends a boatload of her money helping elect her party's candidates, gave $1,000 to Hartmann's opponent, Jennifer Bruner.

Streisand has had some things to say about how the 2004 presidential was handled in Ohio, suggesting, as have a whole lot of other people, that things might not have been on the up-and-up when it came to counting votes in Ohio.

A $1,000 check isn't going to get Brunner or any other statewide candidate very far and it is doubtful that, prior to the 2004 election, Streisand could have found Ohio on a map, but Hartmann seems to have worked himself into a lather over the Streisand Factor.

"Ohio cannot afford to have Barbra's extreme ideals influencing Ohio elections,'' Hartmann's campaign flyer says.

So, in order to keep Barbra Streisand from becoming the new Boss Tweed of Ohio politics, Hartmann is asking that 1,000 of his supporters to send him $1 to "send a signal to Barbra and my opponent that we do not want out of state conspiracy theories to be a part of our elections.''


13 Comments:

at 10:07 AM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Howie, I personally would rather Soros and the rest of Hollywood stayed out of our elections. I mean, I wasn't all for Blackwell chairing the Bush campaign, and I definitely don't want some Hollywood nut jobs getting into the mix either. Why would we want their extremely "progressive" ideas entering our state? I guarantee the majority of Ohioans don't want Hollywood controlling the head of our elections.

Hartmann is funded by businesses who have been in Ohio for decades, and have always been in Ohio and had their interests in Ohio. I don't see the issue with keeping Ohio's elections, and their officials, in the interests of hard working Ohioans.

Lastly, Brunner's sign campaign to "Send a signal to Ken Blackwell" is more ridiculous than Hartmann's stunt. Howard why can't you talk about this, she is paying to have other states influence our elections! I don't see why we have state wide elections but its ok for other states to get involved. Lets just hold federal elections, that's what Brunner seems to support.

 
at 11:31 AM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

So does that mean Hartmann's going to give back the $500 Alabama contribution he received? How about the $5000 from Indiana? Since, you know, he only wants Ohioans contributing to Ohio campaigns.

 
at 11:54 AM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hartmann should return all of his out of state maoney or he's a hypocrite. He won't!

Great reporting Howard. That part about Barbara couldn't find Ohio on the map was very objective. Keep giving us hard hitting propaganda like this and you'll get araise in no time.

 
at 11:55 AM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ohions may not see an elephant in the room but others can. Ohio aint the heart of it all for nothing.

 
at 11:57 AM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The majority of his Indiana contributions seem to be from The Hillenbrand company, the Hillenbrands being his in-laws. I do not know about the Alabama contribution. I think anyone would suggest family would be ok contributions, if Brunner's related to Streisand, then that's cool with me.

 
at 4:24 PM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Ohio cannot afford to have Barbra's extreme ideals influencing Ohio elections,"

Mr. Hartmann,

I am a Republican and quite offended here because I love Barbara Streisand. Is this what our country is all about, fighting over money?

There are young men and women fighting over in Iraq and your squibbling over $1,000.00

Thank you Mr. Wilkinson for pointing this out for us older viewers. I'm glad I won't have to vote for him.

Margaret in Terrace Park, OH.

 
at 5:03 PM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

First of all the Secretary of State has NO say in any war. Second they should have a LOT to say in who is effecting our elections.

 
at 7:51 PM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Hartmann and Mr. Blackwell,

In Cincinnati, 12% of the population are disabled, 25% of our families live below poverty with an additional 19% being of individual status; 36% make under $22k.

Over half of our Grandparents are caring for children under 18 and the divorce rate is 19%. We have 20% of the population without high school diplomas.

To top it off, our federal money is tied up in Iraq and there's a possibility we're going to get stuck paying higher taxes according to our Ohio Auditor.

Where does family values, abortion, and concerns about Barbra Streisand and her $1,000 fit in with the reality of living in Cincinnati?


Donna S. in Finneytown

 
at 11:32 PM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I guess Streisand shouldn't perform in Ohio any more.
Hey Barbra: Tell these local yocals to f-off the next time they want you to book a concert in the Buckeye State.

 
at 11:36 PM, September 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, isn't Hartmann's campaign manager from out of state? Guess it takes one to know one.

 
at 12:19 PM, September 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

When politicians start campaigning to prevent extreme ideals from influencing their constituants, it sounds to me like their encouraging censorship.

Is this what porkopolis is all about? Is this what it boils down to?

Boxer, Snowball, and George

 
at 12:24 PM, September 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Twain tells us he was sarcastic for a reason, therefore we have decided to take Cincinnati off our reunion party.

Yours truly
Boxer, Snowball, George and gang

 
at 1:32 PM, September 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Howie, Thanks for printing that gorgeous picture of Barbara.. I can tell you have a crush on her, too. Jim B.

 
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