Score! (OH Gov.) Bob Taft Faces Charges!

[Flyboy]

Score! I only wish they could be felony charges.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,166020,00.html

Ohio Governor Faces Misdemeanor Charges

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Bob Taft (search) was charged with four misdemeanor counts Wednesday for failing to report dozens of gifts that included dinners, golf games and professional hockey tickets, deepening a scandal that has rocked Ohio's Republican Party.

Taft, a Republican and member of a distinguished U.S. political family, becomes the first governor in Ohio history to be charged with a crime. The charges are also an embarassment for a politician who has pushed for high ethical standards in his office.

The governor could be fined $1,000 and sentenced to six months in jail on each count if convicted, though time behind bars was considered unlikely.

Taft will respond publicly on Thursday and is not planning to resign, spokesman Mark Rickel said. Prosecutors said they expected the governor to appear in court Thursday.

The gifts were worth about $5,800 and given over four years, prosecutors said. Taft earlier had revealed that he failed to report some outings but said the omissions were accidental.

Prosecutor Ron O'Brien (search) said the gifts included two golf outings worth $100 each paid for by embattled coin dealer Tom Noe (search). Noe is a Republican fundraiser whose $50 million investment of state money in rare coins launched the scandal that led to Taft's revelation that he failed to list golf outings on financial disclosure forms.

State law requires officeholders to report all gifts worth more than $75 if the donor wasn't reimbursed.

O'Brien said the gifts also included meals and tickets for a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game.

A state task force and the Ohio Ethics Commission are investigating public employees for similar offenses and O'Brien said he expected more serious felony charges to be charged, although not against Taft.

The charges against Taft are another blow to the GOP in the Republican-controlled state that won President Bush re-election. Democrats have found hope for the next election in the investment scandal and a surprisingly close congressional race this month for an open seat in a GOP stronghold.

Taft's great-grandfather was President William Howard Taft — who later was chief justice — and both his father and grandfather were U.S. senators from Ohio.

In a speech in May, the governor stressed the importance of ethical behavior for public employees.

"Public employees can enjoy entertainment, such as golf or dining out, with persons working for a regulated company, or one doing business with the state, ONLY if they fully pay their own way," he said in the speech at Xavier University.

Taft released records Aug. 5 showing he accepted invitations to 21 golf outings since 1999, including one in 2001 with Noe. The coin dealer has contributed $22,190 to Taft's political campaigns, state records show.

Taft's golf partners included John Snow, then the head of transportation company CSX Corp. and now the U.S. Treasury secretary; and Tony Alexander, president and chief executive of Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.

Some partners have said Taft paid for the golf; others have said they picked up the tab.

Taft's former chief of staff Brian Hicks pleaded no contest last month to failing to report stays at Noe's million-dollar Florida home. He was fined $1,000.

Noe has acknowledged that up to $13 million is missing from the rare coins fund, and Attorney General Jim Petro has accused him of stealing as much as $4 million.

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006, said the charges are part of a "culture of corruption" in Ohio.

Some residents also are fed up with the corruption.

"It's a sad state of affairs," said Bruce Lively, a Maumee resident who said he had backed Taft in the past but now thinks he should step down.

Other Ohio governors have come under investigation, including Republican George Voinovich, investigated for unproven allegations he laundered campaign money, and Democrat Richard Celeste, whose connections to a contributor who owned the failed Home State Savings Bank were examined.

Taft was elected governor in 1998, following the most expensive campaign in state history. He also had been secretary of state, a state representative and a county commissioner in his hometown of Cincinnati.

 

[taliv]

rock on.

 

[FPrice]

Republican governors are taking some hits. John Rowland from Connecticut was forced to resign (last year?) for similar ethics problems.

 

[P95Carry]

Good to know that ''high-ups'' are not immune from prosecution.

 

[sctman800]

Don't forget Illinois.

Our former Governor George Ryan who is awaiting trial for several counts of corruption. Hopefully Mayor Daley will be close behind. The same federal procecuter that got Ryan is investigating coruption in Chicago. In fact Daley is saying the same things Ryan did right up to his indictment. "I didn't know this was going on!" "I had no idea!" It didn't work for Ryan and I hope it doesn't work for Daley. Both are super anti-gun, but deserve jail for the corruption they helped go on in our state. Jim.

 

[Henry Bowman]

I would have preferred to be rid of Bob Taft without so much collateral damage. Although he is a RINO, that "R" after his name taints many others in Ohio who are decent conservatives and will both embolden the liberals and repulse the swing vote moderates toward a "D".

 

[Werewolf]

OH - MY - GAWD! He got to play golf for free and go to some hockey games. The end of the world as we know it is surely upon us! Oh lordy, lordy, lordy... :banghead:

Just Imagine - if he'd driven his car off of a bridge while in a drunken stupor and left his secretary to die then he could be a Uuuuuuunited States SENATOR!

Don't Ohio DA's have anything better to do? Aren't there some real criminals there they could be spending their time on?

 

[foghornl]

It is too bad that we will not get to see the famous "Perp Walk" i.e. Guv Booby Daft being escorted from the Governor's Mansion in chains.

That being said, like Mr. Bowman I believe that some of the Good Guys are going to get painted with the same brush of scandal as Guv. Booby.

Don't know if The Guv is a crook or a schnook, but either way, baaaad news for Ohio.

 

[308win]

Don't know if The Guv is a crook or a schnook, but either way, baaaad news for Ohio.

Not really, could be a blessing in disguise. Taft is a lame duck and will a good lightening rod for the fulminations of the Democrats. Unfortunately, the Republican front runners for governor may be dirtier than Taft. Fortunately, the Republican State Chairman may be able to convince them they can't win (with the exception of Blackwell who never confuses himself with facts) and open the race the Kasich. Also, fortunately the Democratic party is still controlled by the same inept leadership that has delivered all but one statewide office to the Republicans over the last 15 years.

 

[Dave Dembinski]

Problem with getting rid of Taft is that the gun-grabbing mayor of Columbus has been champing at the bit to make a run for governor. So yeah, this could be major bad news.

 

[Henry Bowman]

with the exception of Blackwell who never confuses himself with facts

I am very interested in supporting Blackwell for governor. I believe he is genuinely pro-gunowner. However, I do not want to do so blindly. If you have any substantiated criticism of him, I'd like to hear it.

Also, fortunately the Democratic party is still controlled by the same inept leadership that has delivered all but one statewide office to the Republicans over the last 15 years.

Do you mean DeWine? or Voinovich?

 

[Flyboy]

Werewolf, I agree with you that there are perhaps more serious crimes out there, but there are several reasons this is a good thing.

A) Political corruption is wrong. Period. Full-stop. Taft broke the rules, he needs to pay.
B) The higher the office, the more important it is to abide by the law and set a good example.
C) Taking Taft down for comparatively minor crimes may help embolden other communities. Like, say, Chicago.
D) Taft is a worthless RINO, who--among other things--demanded the poison pills in Ohio's concealed carry law. It took years to pass the thing at all because the jerk kept threatening to veto; he only signed it this year because the majority was veto-proof. Karma's a pain, and petty vindictiveness is good for the soul.

I say let 'im rot.

 

[STW]

What this highlights more than not is just how stupid this ethics laws are. Do those making them honestly think that anyone is going to be bought and stay bought for the price of a dinner or some game tickets? Would you want someone elected who could be bought so cheaply?

I suspect the trouble and expense of keeping track of these things is more than the cost of the things themselves. Given the topics of this forum, does that sound familier?

We have people pushing theses laws who know as private groups they don't have to put up with similar restrictions but know it's better for others, such as politicians or us, because they think so. (Sort of the reverse of the economist question - "I know it works in practise but does it work in theory?"
All of this is theory with no practical benefit.

 

[308win]

I am very interested in supporting Blackwell for governor. I believe he is genuinely pro-gunowner. However, I do not want to do so blindly. If you have any substantiated criticism of him, I'd like to hear it.

Blackwell is very much progun and also very much in the hip pockets of the American version of the Taliban; neither he nor the religious right in Ohio would hesitate for a second to legislate what and how your kids are taught in school, what you read and watch in the media, your right to plan your family the way you want, where, how, and when you pray.

Do you mean DeWine? or Voinovich?

Ah yes, Mr. F and Mr. D voting records on gun issues. A couple of real keepers there!

 

[Monkeyleg]

Is that as bad as it gets in Ohio? Sheesh. Come to Wisconsin, where our politico's have learned from the crooks in Chicago.

Our governor received $750,000 from the indian tribes that own the casinos, and his first act in office was to hand them gaming compacts for free.

Our former senate majority leader, Chuck Chvala, is facing 20 felony counts, including extorting tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists. He may also be facing federal money-laundering charges.

We have so many Milwaukee city council members either in jail or on their way that I've lost count.

Hockey tickets? Taft is an amateur.

 

[hksw]

OH - MY - GAWD! He got to play golf for free and go to some hockey games. The end of the world as we know it is surely upon us! Oh lordy, lordy, lordy...

Although I agree in that the 'gifts' were insignificant (but did total over $6000), what is at issue here is that this ass preaches ethics to his minions and has fired a few because of it. Instead of falling on his sword for his 'errors', he has decided that he will NOT step down, contrary to his edicts.

 

[ajax]

Monkeyleg your state leaders suck but ours like to put dumb a**es behind the wheels of semi's. Just think my state leaders screw everyone because at some point some goofball could be rolling through your town putting your lives on the line and not just mine. You see I live in Ill where all the state leaders are crooked DEM and REP. To explain my state leaders sold drivers licenses to truckers who couldn't pass the tests. Ibelieve at 1500$ a pop. Sincerly Screwed in Ill.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

Are you guys for real?!

Dinners and tickets ARE A BIG DEAL .... What do you suppose went on at these dinners, shows, and golf games? I am sure all they did was discuss the finer points of clubhead speed, top spin vs. backspin, and how to hit," The long ball" ...

You don't invite the govenor to spend time," off the clock", at YOUR expense, without an AGENDA or plan of having some return on YOUR INVESTMENT :banghead: ... So is this akin to murder? Of course not. Abuse of office and the Public Trust, most definitely ...

PS: The policy is a good one. Politicians should not take gifts, as most can be too easily bought/influenced if you ask me...

 

[Greg L]

As hksw kind of mentioned, Bob Daft has made senior members of his administration resign for the exact same reason that he is giving himself a pass upon (no links handy, sorry).

While I don't think that he should resign over this (there are many other things that I wouldn't mind seeing him go away for), he should have been made to pay 5 years severance pay for EACH of the people that he forced to resign out of his OWN pocket (or perhaps 1/2 to them & 1/2 to a charity as they weren't exactly innocent themselves).

Certainly a goose & gander type of situation.

 

[Flyboy]

I just heard it on the radio. Taft pled no contest, was convicted, and was fined $4000.

Guess crime really does pay.

On a related note, I thought about it right after I heard the news, and I think the solution to this problem is to get rid of the idea of misdemeanor official misconduct. If you do something wrong that is wrong because of your position, it's a felony, and you go to jail. Accept money? Fine for private citizens, but criminal for officials. Welcome to Club Fed.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Choices!?, that's a valid point.

It's also the #1 reason why our group--the WCCA--is all-volunteer. There are several members who could be paid to be full-time lobbyists but, then, we would have to disclose things such as: Bill bought Senator X a beer on 4/16/2002; or Dick gave his leftover plate of french fries to Senator Y on 3/15/2003; or Tom gave Representative Z a cowboy hat on 2/11/2005.

Do we have an "agenda?" Are you kidding me? We want a shall-issue concealed carry bill passed, pure and simple. It's 100% agenda-driven. That's all that we're about.

And no hockey tickets or beers or french fries or hats are going to sway the votes of those who oppose concealed carry.

For the professional lobbyists, the promise is either large campaign donations (given in small-dollar amounts by corporate employees or union members) or votes.

Why is the idea that someone with an "agenda," a representative of a group with an "agenda," or an entire group with an "agenda" talking with an elected official so reprehensible?

What is so godawful about spending some private time--on a golf course, at a restaurant, or at the range--with an elected official, discussing what sort of legislation you'd like to see passed?

If you're into gun politics, and you spend enough time working the cause, you get to know the politicians who are on your side. And you see them here and there, and you get the chance to give your input about bills pending.

That's citizen involvement. That's Civics 101. Mr. Smith goes to Washington.

It's when an elected official takes money or favors in exchange for changing his or her position on an issue that you know the official has been bought.

 

[Flyboy]

It's when an elected official takes money or favors in exchange for changing his or her position on an issue that you know the official has been bought.

A large part of the case centers on the fact that Gov. Taft failed to disclose such money or favors. That's the sort of thing that prevents us from finding out when he's changed his position in response to favors.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Flyboy, that's a very fair argument.

Believe me, I'm not defending Taft. I know what Ohio gun owners have gone through during his reign while trying to get concealed carry passed.

What I'm trying to do with my posts, while not trying to hijack this thread, is differentiate between what used to be common contacts between legislators and citizen/lobbyist/civic groups, and real corruption.

The public is convinced that all legislators at every level are for sale. In ride John McCain and Russ Feingold to gut the First Amendment in the name of Honesty. Well, they didn't accomplish much, and opened the doors even wider to groups with less acountability.

Real corruption is hard to hide. There's a civic group watching every dime that goes to every legislator. If it had not been for the lack of effort, complete ineptness and total blindness of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to Chuck Chvala's crimes (which were known to even the lowest-level staffers of every legislator back in 2001), he wouldn't have been in power to kill our bill.

Even a criminal like Chuck Chvala didn't compromise his ultra-liberal beliefs, though. We obviously never offered him money to get our CCW bill passed, but I know without a doubt that he wouldn't have made that bargain. That speaks volumes about just how far he would or would not go to bend his own beliefs in exchange for money. We could have raised hundreds of thousands, if we were like him.

And all of the above is what bothers me about the reporting and the glee surrounding Taft's charges. Yes, those of us on the gun-rights side take some satisfaction in seeing him brought down.

But at what cost? What used to be considered private conduct or such is now open to barrages from both sides of the aisle. I can guarantee you that, if the press had printed the stories they knew about FDR, Eisenhower or Kennedy, the public today would regard them with scorn. After Nixon, though, it was open season.

And there's a problem. How do you get really principled people to run for office when the race is a public hazing?

My opinion is that the media is absolutely thirsting for a blood story, and this is what they got. From this side of Lake Michigan, it looks like they bagged themselves a trophy-sized fieldmouse.

 

[Sam]

Doesn't matter a lick whether they carry a "D" or an "R", a crook is a crook.
And the higher up they are the more severe and the more public their punishment should be instead of the other way around as ALWAYS happens.

The real bad thing is that someone somehwere knew about Taft and his character flaws a long thime ago and did nothing about them. And let it keep going on and on and on ............

Stop giving your loyalty to parties! Vote for people. You ,might think you have a fine party but if they run dirtbags, the party $UCK$. No party is any better than its dumbest or most crooked member.


Sam

 

[Henry Bowman]

From this side of Lake Michigan, it looks like they bagged themselves a trophy-sized fieldmouse.

Funny and a very good point!