There are many ways to frame it. For example, "Ohioans didn't expect they'd be asked to pony up $844 million more for Ted Strickland's budget mess, but here we are."
In the Fall of 2010, there will be a message war between the Strickland and Kasich campaigns. As with all re-election campaigns, it will be centered around the record of the incumbent.
So, using the talking points from Ted Strickland's own campaign website, how will they play against eachother? Let's test it out....
Strickland:I think you get my point.
I added school days to the calendar.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Strickland:
I created a residency program for teachers, similar to the process a new doctor might go through.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Strickland:
I crafted an evidenced-based approach that ensures that every Ohio child will receive an adequate education.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Strickland:
I signed a major tax cut for senior citizen homeowners, lessening the tax burden on Ohioans with fixed incomes.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Strickland:
I froze tuition at all public colleges and universities - the only state in the nation to do so over the last 2 years.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Strickland:
I proposed and signed legislation requiring that 25 percent of all of Ohio’s electricity be produced from advanced energy sources, such as wind and solar.
Kasich:
Under Ted Strickland, unemployment doubled and your taxes were raised by $844 million.
Effective campaigns are defined by effective messages on issues of high priority to voters.
The economy is, and will continue to be, the number one issue among Ohioans. Thanks to Strickland's ineptitude, Kasich now has his primary message that, whether you think it's fair or not, will be incredibly effective on the Ohio electorate in 2010.
Again, it's easy to take potshots when your a former Kasich campaign staffer living in Virigina. But in case you didn't know, Kasich has said NOTHING about this, and won't because he's already admitted that he'll have to likely shelve his own tax cuts until HIS SECOND TERM.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Strickland cut taxes the first three years, so the net result is that Strickland has cut taxes while cutting $2 billion in spending.
Senate President Bill Harris also refused to call it a tax increase, and it's gotten the support of the Ohio Manufactures Association and likely the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Nice try, hack, but the fact is that the plan is going over very well given the alternatives.
Actually, it's even easier to take potshots when they are the honest to God truth.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kasich campaign HAS commented. See Hallett's article.
Strickland didn't cut taxes. Taft and the GA did. Strickland just had to sit back and not mess it up.
Like he is now.
And as I mention on my twitter profile, I'm a FORMER hack...though people with your negative attitude do make me want to get back into it again.
No, you're still a hack. As this week demonstrated, Strickland's budgets were necesssary to make the tax cuts actually happened. He's going to be able to credibly claim that he's cut income taxes because that's what his budget called for and did.
ReplyDeleteYou mean Kasich's spokeman politically blasting the decision while demurring that Kasich has no alternative? Yeah, that was a great display of non-leadership.
Isn't it true that Kasich has said his own tax cuts are going to have to be delayed... potentially as late as what would be his second term because of the economy? (It's a rhetoric question because he's already publicly stated in publish comments that the answer is "yes.")