Political Cause.

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: LaTourette / O'Neill, Ohio, Scandalous, Strickland
• Date: Oct 28,2008

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio’s inspector general is investigating why a state agency director approved checking the state child-support computer system for information on “Joe the Plumber.” Helen Jones-Kelly, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, confirmed today that she OK’d the check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher following the Oct. 15 presidential debate. She said there were no political reasons for the check on the sudden presidential campaign fixture though the Support Enforcement Tracking System. Amid questions from the media and others about “Joe the Plumber,” Jones-Kelley said she approved a check to determine if he was current on any ordered child-support payments.

Democrats won't care about this at all – which was also at least the 4th time state computers were used to access his information. To them, the fact that Joe was just asking a question and might hurt their Lord in his run to the White House means that he is to be torn down and smeared right away. The means are justified. They are just doing us a public service. That is really how they think. By the way, as we know by now, Joe's kid lives with him. So who would he owe money to? Himself?

Oh, and Helen Jones-Kelley has maxed out to Obama. Governor Strickland, according to his spokesman, is "satisfied that there are no political overtures to the check on Wurzelbacher (Joe)." Yep. Sure. Move along, nothing to see here.

Joe the Plumber may turn into Joe the Litigant. Jones-Kelley will probably get a promotion to another department when the election is over. Or maybe a position with HHS in an Obama Administration.

Did this happen in Cuyahoga County too?

Unrelated: What is Bill O'Neill talking about? Last time I checked, Steve LaTourette voted against the bailout. Twice. Bill O'Neill was for it. The bailout money in part was used to buy National City Bank and kill Cleveland jobs. I don't get how his own press release in any way helps O'Neill.

Bill O'Neill On Iraq and Health Care

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: LaTourette / O'Neill
• Date: Sep 6,2008

In this segment, 14th Congressional Candidate Bill O'Neill discusses his views on the War in Iraq and Health Care.

Why Bill O'Neill Can Win OH-14

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: LaTourette / O'Neill
• Date: Sep 4,2008

People are always looking for bell weather indicators of how Ohio is going to go this cycle. Last weekend, I went to Wickliffe interview Congressional Candidate Bill O'Neill who is running in Ohio's 14th Congressional District. The district is the northeast corner of Ohio from Cleveland to Conneaut. Though the district changed during redistricting, that part of the state has been represented by Republican Steve LaTourette since Newt Gingrich lead the Republican surge in 1994.

In this short interview, Bill O'Neill lays out the numbers that help support his case why he can win his district. He points out that the contested Democratic Primary in Ohio resulted in more Democrats registering to vote than Republicans, which is a first for the district. Watch this short clip for more details.

OH-14 isn't a top tier race yet because so many districts in Ohio are in play and O'Neill is being substantially out raised by LaTourette. With a little help from the DCCC or ODP, O'Neill can at minimum force the Republicans to spend a lot of money to hold the seat and just might win turning this red district blue and helping deliver Ohio for Obama. Thanks to Bill O'Neill for getting together. I'll post a few more clips from our interview this weekend.