Democrats Show Double Standard on Corruption

(Columbus) - Despite promises to fight public corruption and set a higher ethical standard in government, Ohio's top Democratic Party leaders stubbornly refuse to take a stand on a federal investigation targeting prominent Cuyahoga County Democrats.

According to federal officials, Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo is the primary target of a pay-to-play investigation involving allegations that he took more than a million dollars in bribes, much of it from a company hired by his office to do property appraisals.

Gov. Ted Strickland told The Plain Dealer he's "too busy" to call for Russo's resignation, despite similar calls from two county commissioners, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said he and the governor would not speak out because "neither of us live in Cuyahoga County."

"Their excuses are lame, and their hypocrisy is astounding," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine.  "They ran for office on a promise to clean up a so-called culture of corruption in government, yet the entire leadership of the Ohio Democratic Party has been spineless and silent as this scandal unfolds.  The Democrats used to breathlessly condemn the arrogance of one-party rule, but they apparently have a different standard for themselves."

Strickland, this week, would only commit to holding Russo and Dimora accountable "if they are found guilty of misbehavior in office," a much higher bar than Democrats set when they demanded the resignation of former attorney general Marc Dann amid accusations of mismanagement.

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For the Record

Ted Strickland Said His Administration "Will Set a Higher Standard of Conduct."

• His own administration will set a higher standard of conduct, Mr. Strickland said, starting at the top and holding others accountable.  [Toledo Blade, 9/1/06]

Ted Strickland Said He Would "Get Rid of the Corruption."

• "We're going to get rid of the corruption," Strickland said. "We're going to hold people accountable." [The Associated Press, 9/5/06]

Ted Strickland Said Ohio Was Suffering from a "Corruption Tax."

• Strickland said Ohio "is suffering from a corruption tax," promising to bring sweeping changes to the way public business is done in Columbus and elsewhere. [Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/17/06]

Ted Strickland Said He Would Not Let Ohioans Down in Fighting Corruption.

• He added that "11.3 million Ohioans depend on us, and we're not going to let them down." [The Athens News, 10/30/06] 

Ted Strickland Promised to Fight Pay-to-Play Government.

• Ohioans want their next governor to be "someone who avoids the corrupt pay to play leadership" that has plagued the state, Strickland said. [The Associated Press, 9/5/06]

Ted Strickland Used to Condemn the "Arrogance [of] One-Party Rule."

• "What we're seeing in Washington, D.C., and Columbus is the arrogance that comes with one-party rule," Strickland told about 100 supporters at a fundraiser sponsored by the Democratic Club of Huber Heights. [Dayton Daily News, 10/3/05] [Tags: One Party Rule]
• "U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who represents a district stretching from the Appalachian southeast to the Youngstown suburbs, said Ohio government lacks 'checks and balances' because one party controls it."  [Toledo Blade, 1/6/06] [Tags: One Party Rule]
• "It is an arrogance that comes from one party rule that is devoid of appropriate checks and balances," Mr. Strickland said. "... There was just an arrogance and attitude that we can do just about any damn thing we choose to do and no one is going to hold us accountable."  [Toledo Blade, 2/14/06]
• Ohio's top Democrats denounce the idea of one-party rule. State party Chairman Chris Redfern says it breeds arrogance. Gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland says it breeds corruption. [Columbus Dispatch, 9/3/06]

Sherrod Brown Campaigned Against Government Corruption.

• "Instead of public servants, we have monied interests in Columbus and in Washington who see government simply as a profit center - simply a chance to reward their friends, punish their enemies, and to shower money on themselves," Mr. Brown said. [Toledo Blade, 12/3/05]
• "That's why this election is so important," Brown said. "You really have to throw the money changers out of the temple." [The Athens News, 1/23/06]
• "People have had enough of the corruption in Columbus and the sleazy government in Washington," Brown said. [The Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/20/06]
• "There has never been this much corruption," said U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, who is trying to unseat Republican Mike DeWine from the U.S. Senate. [Akron Beacon Journal, 8/20/06]