posted on June 24, 2005 02:49:34 AM
Updated: 12:11 AM EDT
Ohio Governor Struggles With Scandal
Will Ethics Probe Hurt Republicans' Changes to Win White House in 2008?
AP Republican Gov. Bob Taft's great-grandfather was William Howard Taft, the only man to serve as president and chief justice.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 23) - What should have been a time of triumph for Ohio's governor after a tepid six years in office has become a nightmare of heavy investment losses for the state and allegations of political favoritism and cover-up.
Republican Gov. Bob Taft, a member of one of America's most distinguished political families, had hoped to spend this spring focusing on his proposal to update Ohio's Depression-era tax system.
Instead, in what is probably the twilight of his career, the 63-year-old Taft is mired in a scandal that started with a questionable state investment in rare coins and has the governor and other Republicans all the way up to President Bush scrambling to give back potentially tainted campaign contributions.
"There are some days on this job I wish I'd stayed in teaching," Taft, a former Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa, quipped during a recent speech.
Taft's approval ratings are at record lows.
"His political service is over to the state," said Charles Burke, a political science professor at Baldwin-Wallace College. "I don't think he could be elected dog catcher in Cincinnati."
posted on June 24, 2005 03:37:40 AM
As a citizen in Ohio, I can tell you that Taft is worthless. He's been worthless his entire term in office. He was re-elected because of the strong bible belt in this state that refuse to vote any other way. Maybe now they will see the light.
The BWC scandal is the last straw. As an employer that pays into the fund I am outraged over the mess. The state of Ohio is not giving away money to those injured on the job. That money was entrusted to the state of Ohio by employers protecting their employees. I object to our money going to rare coins and think the whole thing was a scam from the get go. Stupid is as stupid does.
What can you expect from someone like Taft anyway? He can't be re-elected so why should he care. He's the lamest duck of all. On the bright side, hopefully this whole mess will keep Kenneth Blackwell from winning the governorship. If you think Taft is bad, you haven't seen anything yet until you've experienced Blackwell. We're doomed.
"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me."—Guess Who? Washington D.C., April 14, 2005
