Insults, Bad Votes and Bad Behavior Leaves GOP in Disarray

Schmidt, LaTourette, Ney & Toledo GOP In Disarray

For Immediate Release                                  November 19, 2005

Contact: Brian Rothenberg Comm. Dir       Phone: 614-221-6563

COLUMBUS – On the floor of the House yesterday Freshman Rep. Jean Schmidt  (R-OH) caused a stir rarely seen in Congress and usually reserved for foreign Parliamentary democracies when she hurled an insult at widely respected Democratic Congressman and decorated Vietnam veteran James Murtha (D-Pa.).

After erupting in boos and being forced to apologize and embarrassingly withdraw her own words on the House floor, Schmidt  managed to explain wanly that her comments were not meant to disparage Murtha.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Washington D.C. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) who won office back in 1994 by criticizing his opponent for flip-flopping on a major budget vote, turned around voted against what he termed a “lousy” bill that cost Ohio billions of dollars.

LaTourette told reporters "Well, Chardon's under 12 inches of snow, so they're really not worried about what happened here tonight.”

Also in Washington D.C. the Justice Department filed charges against a Lobbyist with connections to U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) which are expected to lead toward testimony against other lobbyists and Congressman. As the day unfolded the main lawmaker that it appears to have been involved in the alleged wrongdoing is none other than Rep. Ney.

And finally back in Ohio , the Chair of the Lucas County Republican Party resigned Friday amid the Thomas Noe investigation and questions about over $190,000 to his Party in donations that have unreported sources.

“Rep. Schmidt has obviously brought a level of shame rarely seen on the House floor,” said Brian Rothenberg, Communication Director of the Ohio Democratic Party. “Rep. LaTourette through his own words and actions has shown the ultimate hypocrisy by voting against his District in favor of GOP loyalty. And Rep. Ney and the Lucas County Republican Party have shown little respect for the ethics and election rules that their own Republican Party wrote.”

“Bob Bennett is fond of bragging that he takes care of his own “Bad Apples.” One wonders if he will speak out about Rep. Schmidt’s behavior, chastise Rep. LaTourette for his actions, insist on Rep. Ney stepping down from his Chairmanship and require Lucas County Republican leaders to account for their election activities,” said Rothenberg of Bennett who is Chair of the Ohio Republican Party.

“How much longer can Ohioans tolerate the behavior of Ohio Republicans whose behavior is becoming a national embarrassment, while Bob Bennett looks the other way. When Mr. Bennett says his Party takes care of their "Bad Apples" at this point journalists and the public ought to ignore those comments as pretty hollow.”