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Weirauch Loses in Hard-Fought Ohio Special Election |
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In yesterday’s special election, Democrat Robin Weirauch lost the battle to represent Ohio’s 5th Congressional District. With fewer than 100,000 votes cast in the election, Republican State Rep. Bob Latta won 57 percent of the vote, while Weirauch received 43 percent.
Weirauch’s stronger-than-expected campaign was assisted by phone banks, neighborhood walks and worksite leafleting by more than 1,000 union volunteers. Her campaign focused on economic issues, including good jobs, health care, fair trade and the Employee Free Choice Act.
The election was held to replace longtime Republican Rep. Paul Gillmor, who died in early September at age 68. Gilmor held the seat for nearly two decades after he was first elected to replace Latta’s father, Delbert Latta, in 1988. In the 2004 presidential election, the 5th District gave George Bush 61 percent of its vote.
Worried about the close race, the National Republican Congressional Committee spent $443,000—more than 15 percent of its bankroll—to keep the seat in Republican hands, as it has been since the 1930s.
Throughout the race, Northwest Ohio’s labor movement connected with and energized its members for future elections, including the 2008 presidential race. Across Ohio and nationally, the labor movement is ready to build on and exceed our successful campaigns of 2006 and 2007.
Despite a disappointing loss, this was a hard-fought campaign and drew national attention to a region, and issues, too often ignored in past cycles.
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It is incredible that any Republican – anywhere – could even win an election, let alone by a 57% to 43% margin.
Despite the fact that the Bush Administration and his GOP allies have waged war on America’s working class, Republicans still get elected! Incredible!
The never-ending war, our nation’s health care crisis, stolen pensions thanks to government-sanctioned corporate deviousness , jobs moved offshore, a decaying infrastructure, short-changing public education – all have damaged, and threaten to do further harm – those of us who turn the wheels in this country.
Why are working class people burying their heads in the sand? Incredible!
Then again, part of the cause for such illogical thinking may be that many voters are unable to discern where one Party ends and the next begins. As a result, good Democratic candidates suffer.
Democratic leadership is part of the problem. Rather than offering clear cut alternatives to GOP shenanigans, they too often cave in to Bush’s mean-spirited agenda. How can Democratic candidates go out on the stump and speak about the failings of the worst president in our nation’s history? Their candidacies are being undermined by Democratic leadership back in D.C. that urges “AYE” votes nearly every time the president demands something (to furthers his sinister agenda)!
Wake up working America! The White House and Congress belong to you! We only allow people to fill those seats. They do not own them. If they fail to represent us, they need to be replaced. (Just as any working stiff would be replaced for poor work performance.)
Or, keep doin’ what you’ve doin’. By doing so, you’ll keep getting’ what you’ve been gettin’. Shafted!
Write or phone your Members of Congress. Tell them what you want. If they refuse to listen to the 90% of us who comprise America’s working class they have no business holding office.