I’d once thought that Ken Blackwell was essentially a decent guy running in a bad year. Now (H/T) I’m rooting for him to lose:
Ken Blackwell’s gubernatorial campaign today distributed harsh comments by radio talk show host Bill Cunningham related to Ted Strickland’s sexuality and about a former campaign aide arrested in 1994 for public indecency.
In a news statement emailed to Statehouse reporters, the campaign reprinted a transcript from Wednesday night’s Fox News’ Hannity and Colmes television show. The show’s co-host, Sean Hannity, is a Blackwell supporter, who will be in Blue Ash for a Blackwell rally today. They also sent out a digital video version.
Cunningham, who hosts a talk radio show on WLW radio, was a guest on the program. During the TV broadcast, Cunningham questioned the Democratic congressman’s sexuality — even after Strickland declared Wednesday: “No, I am not gay, although it is none of their business in the first place.”
At one point in the Fox News interview, Cunningham said: “After the (1998) election Ted Strickland flies off to the shores of Naples, Italy in order to enjoy a little fun with this 26-year-old boy toy.”
Carlo LoParo, Blackwell’s campaign spokesman, said the campaign has no qualms about alerting the media to the Fox program.
“The fact that this issue is being covered in the national media is of importance. . .It’s an issue that is gaining national interest in light of the current scandals in the Capitol regarding Congressman Mark Foley and what the leadership knew about those activities,” he said.
“This particular scandal regarding Congressman Ted Strickland is of the same vein which will naturally gain interest in the national media. Now what people say, that’s their opinion, they base their comments on what they know,” he said.
“There’s nothing new, ever,’’ reacted Keith Dailey, a Strickland campaign spokesman. “It’s lies. It’s the veil of innuendo. It’s outrageous allegations and it’s just disgusting stuff.”
With any luck, we won’t hear from Blackwell again.
Posted by Hubbard in Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Kulturkampf, Politics