How Will Gay Marriage Impact Ohio In 2008?

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jul 1,2008

The recent legalization of same-sex marriage in California and New York has brought the dormant issue back to the election year limelight. Former Republican Presidential Candidate and Conservative Christan Leader Gary Bauer had an interesting piece on the Politico's website yesterday titled "Can gay marriage save the GOP again?" Ohio is the state that Bauer references as the place where the issue could have the most impact this year because of the success of the issue in 2004:

"In Ohio[2004], for instance, a huge marriage amendment campaign registered 54,500 new voters, and thousands more Ohioans who were registered but rarely voted cast their votes for the marriage amendment. On the strength of the marriage initiative, Bush won in the battleground state, as did 13 of the 17 Republican candidates running for Congress there." - Gary Bauer

Bauer makes more good points in his article and has additional data. The issue of gay marriage did help to deliver the State of Ohio for George W. Bush and the issue is still peculating nationally. Time Magazine released a poll this week on the topic of Gay marriage: "Should gay and lesbian couples be allowed to marry, giving them full legal rights of married couples, or not?" The results: 42% should, 51% should not. If John McCain is looking to awaken and engage Christian Conservatives like Gary Bauer, then gay marriage may be the way to do it.

Part of the reason why I think this issue has been so effective is because Democrats and gay rights organizations generally do a bad job organizing and responding to this issue. Most voters only hear the opposing arguments to gay marriage. However, that may not be the case this cycle. One group helping to educate voters about the issue of gay marriage is Equality Ohio. You may notice that the top issue on the website is a statement discouraging gay couples from suing in states, like Ohio, where gay marriage is illegal. That is good advice during an election year.

In an interesting twist, Stephanie McCloud is one of the names being floated to run for Ohio Attorney General this cycle. Stephanie's dad Phil Burress helped lead the campaign for the amendment to ban gay marriage in Ohio. Putting Stephanie McCloud on the ballot as an A.G. candidate may help jump start Gary Bauer's plan to energize conservatives in Ohio.

Friday Roundup: Seals, Polls, Schools, RINOs, and More

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 27,2008

Some stuff I have been meaning to discuss all wrapped up into one post on this Friday afternoon as the markets keep sinking on the prospects of Obama:

The Obama seal. Jim Geraghty thinks it could have been one of the moments we look back on that defined a candidate. Could be. I am not quite ready to go that far, but it does scream of arrogance. How could anyone have ever thought that was a good idea? "It was a one-time seal for a one-time event," an Obama communications man said. That is a clear lie - it backfired and they pulled it. In changing the Presidential seal, the Obama campaign continues to reveal its contempt for the office itself, not just George W. Bush. Shouldn't mess with it if you are some candidate. So I actually liked Obama's own presidential seal because it showed him to be the true power hungry politician he is. TheVote weighs in on the seal as well. Next up: The 57 star flag?

I like how so many Democrats are getting so excited about the recent polls by Newsweek and the LA Times showing Obama with huge leads. The LA Times was my favorite. Their sample of Republicans? 22%. That seems right. Less than one-fourth of voters this fall will be Republicans, according to the LA Times. Newsweek is Newsweek. I get ripped all the time for dismissing polls that produce results I don't care for. That is fine. I don't doubt Obama is up right now. But by 15%? Hell no. Sometimes I really think these places put out polls to try and depress the Republican base. John Fund today said it best: "Republicans shouldn't panic, but they should be worried."

"Slight" change to curriculum at North Carolina high school: Make it a Spanish speaking school. The school will just accommodate everyone by making them feel right at home! Don't make them learn English. That would take too much effort. Stories like this are so commonplace anymore that it just doesn't even phase people.

Gordon Smith of Oregon is an embarrassment to other Senate RINOs. Nice ad. Stiff. He isn't going to lose, but still, come on Senator. Just hold Ron Wyden's hand and go vote for Obama.

Another position change for Obama. By October I wonder if he will have any stayed constant on anything except being for abortion. Clarifying positions is becoming very commonplace for Obama and his staffers, or at least those who he doesn't blame for filling out questionnaires wrong. Don't forget, Obama wants to ban the sale of guns within 5 miles of parks or schools, or in other words pretty much everywhere.

Electoral College: Using current Census estimates, if they reallocated EVs before every election here is what would happen this year: Gaining votes- Texas +3, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah +1. Losing votes - Ohio -2, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania -1. Based on 2004 numbers (286 Bush, 252 Kerry), 2008 would start off as Republicans 296, Democrats 242. Doesn't really matter I suppose for 2008. Will matter in 2012.

Cleveland Shaw High School band plays at the Great Wall of China. Here is the back story on their story from WLST.

Special thanks to all the at the Nuthouse last night for helping me write today's piece. And when I say help me write it, I mean thank you for not allowing me to write it last night. Here is another tip for people: Don't try and tell DJ Larry windfall profit taxes on oil companies are a bad idea.

The Bush Legacy Bus Tour Coming To Canton

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 26,2008

A group called "Americans United for Change" is sponsoring a Bush Legacy Bus Tour across America, which will be stopping in Columbus today and Canton tomorrow. The bus is a mobile museum which focuses on the failures and missed opportunities of the current administration. Topics for bus exhibits include: Iraq War, the Economy, Health Care, the Environment, Workers, Katrina, Education, and Progressive Vision.

The first stop of the tour was in Dayton, Ohio to draw attention to John Boehner (the tannest man in Congress) and his support of tax cuts for oil companies while Americans pay record prices at the pump. From there, the bus went to Louisville, Kentucky to visit the state of Senator Mitch McConnell. Columbus is the third stop and the focus will be Senator George Voinovich. The goal of the visit is to…

…hold Sen. George Voinovich accountable for voting in support of this President's failed policies 90 percent of the time, according to Congressional Quarterly. The bus will then be opened to the public where Ohioans will be given the chance to reflect on the Administration's tragically inept response to Hurricane Katrina, the mismanaged and endless war in Iraq, 'trickle-down' economic policies that favored the wealthiest Americans and more.

Saturday, the bus will visit Canton, Ohio. I don't have details on the time or location. I have a call in to an event organizer and will post those details if I can get them. I'm guessing they are going to pay Kirk Schuring a visit.

This bus tour is interesting on many levels. First, it highlights a clear strategy by the left to not let the country forget the past 8 years. The second strategy is to make sure that the Republican Congress that helped the President advance his agenda gets their share of credit for where we find ourselves as a country. I'll try to catch the bus on Saturday if I can and report back next week.

The Long Road Home Is An Excellent Series

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 22,2008

This is a nonpartisan post.

Saturday night I was fortunate to catch a half hour special on WKYC called "The Long Road Home" with Eric Mansfield. The special profiled several soldiers and their families from Northeast Ohio. It focused on unique challenges these soldiers face as they make their adjustments back to civilian life after being in combat. WKYC has set up a special website which has video clips from the series. There are profiles of families, a college student, and a single mom. Kudos to Eric Mansfield and WKYC for their excellent work on this series.

Tim Russert Remembered

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 15,2008

Here is a short montage of some of Tim Russert's questions through out the years. His death is a true loss for all of us who love politics.

¿Por qué es esto en español?

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: Uncategorized
• Date: Jun 10,2008

Hoy en día, un grupo de bloggers de Ohio es la publicación en una lengua extranjera como una sutil protesta a Ohio HB 477. El proyecto de ley requeriría "la utilización del idioma Inglés de Estado y de entidades del gobierno local en actos oficiales y los procedimientos". La protesta fue organizada por la Ohio blog escribe igual que habla, que tiene una lista completa de otros blogs que participan en Ohio. El propósito de todos estos sitios de blogs en un idioma diferente es mostrar cómo los lectores de exclusión HB 477. Me han elegido para publicar en español el mío porque es el idioma que la mayoría de estos proyectos de ley están destinados a meta.