Prelude to Bush speech in Dayton

Statement by Chris Redfern, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman:

"This speaks to the priorities of President Bush. George Bush comes to Ohio, not to address the faltering national economy or the foreclosure crisis, but to raise money from a job exporter and a money launderer on behalf of his protégé John McCain."

Then comes this from the Ohio Republican Party:

A few things Chris Redfern forgot to mention... from the Ohio GOP State of the Union blog: Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern is apparently all twisted up this week about a fundraiser we're hosting. Since he's so focused on campaign finance issues right now, we thought he could take the opportunity to weigh in on some of his party's questionable fundraising practices: Chris Redfern said nothing when State Sen. Ray Miller, the newly appointed leader of Ohio's Senate Democrats, was fined recently for multiple campaign finance violations dating back six years. Miller is now under investigation for campaign spending habits, and he previously faced prosecution for illegal use of state resources on behalf of his political campaign. Chris Redfern said nothing as Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland kept his $10,000 in sleazy campaign cash from the disgraced former governor of New York while other politicians returned the money. (Strickland finally returned the contribution after we called on him to do so.) Chris Redfern said nothing when Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner took campaign cash from Myron Cherry, a Chicago lawyer involved in a major corruption scandal that prompted other politicians to return his contributions. Chris Redfern said nothing when Brunner was raising money at the home of Norman Hsu, a Democrat campaign contributor now facing federal corruption charges. Redfern also said nothing while Hsu was bankrolling Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, which was later forced to return thousands of dollars in contributions connected to Hsu. Chris Redfern said nothing about Barack Obama's special favors for a longtime friend and political ally who helped Obama raise thousands of dollars in campaign cash and now faces federal corruption charges. Chris Redfern said nothing about Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy steering lucrative county business to union contractors who bankrolled her 15th District congressional campaign. Chris Redfern said nothing when a major Democrat contributor was found guilty of fraud after losing more than $215 million in Ohio's workers' compensation investments. Chris Redfern said nothing as Gov. Ted Strickland and other statewide Democrat officeholders were accused of "corrupting themselves out of office" by doing major political favors for campaign contributors. The list goes on. Unfortunately, the Democrat Party boss would rather point fingers at everyone else than clean up his own house. The hypocrisy continues.