Mike Check: “Unless You’re Mike DeWine,” “Straight Talk,” “In Trouble” And “Still Waiting:” The Mess Surrounding Mike DeWine’s Campaign This Week
August 22, 2022
Good Monday afternoon, and welcome back to Mike Check, your weekly source of all the infighting, conspiracy spewing and corruption that’s making headlines in and around Mike DeWine’s campaign and statehouse, courtesy of the Ohio Democratic Party.
Here are some stories you may have missed:
THE LAW IS THE LAW – UNLESS YOU’RE DEWINE. When it comes to attacking Ohio women and ripping away their reproductive rights, Mike DeWine is suddenly all about law and order, telling reporters Friday that when it comes to enforcing Ohio’s extreme six-week abortion ban, “We can’t pick and choose what laws that we follow.” That’s a different Mike DeWine than the one we saw cave to his fellow Republicans, ignore Ohio voters and several Ohio Supreme Court orders and pass GOP-gerrymandered maps time and again, even ones he admitted were not “clearly constitutional.” It’s clear that DeWine uses the rule of law to suit his political needs: all for it when it comes to punishing women but merely an annoying obstacle when he wants to appease his fellow Republicans who he doesn’t want to piss off any more than he already has.
STRAIGHT TALK. In case you missed it, the Cleveland.com Editorial Board joined Nan Whaley and Ohio Democrats’ calls for Mike DeWine and Jon Husted to tell Ohio voters what they knew and when about the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. The editorial comes after bombshell reporting disclosing messages confirming both DeWine and Husted (State Official 1 and 2 in federal court documents) took an active role in pushing legislation at the center of a $60 million bribery scandal. Earlier this year, the Ohio Democratic Party announced a lawsuit against DeWine and his office to get answers about what DeWine knew and when about the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nan Whaley has called on DeWine, Husted and their administration to release all private emails, text messages and other communications related to the FirstEnergy scandal.
IN TROUBLE. Two new polls show what else we already know about Mike DeWine, he is in trouble and losing support by the day in his weak attempt to remain in office. Results out late last week have Nan Whaley within one point of DeWine showing the race is truly neck-and-neck. The polls also show DeWine trailing when it comes to favorability and a higher unfavorability number. The polls follow the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and DeWine’s comments that he wants to ‘go as far as we can’ to rip away reproductive rights in Ohio. They also come as the Republican Governors Association dumps big money into Ohio, showing they too think DeWine is weak and vulnerable.
(STILL) STILL WAITING. Another week passed and still no answer from Mike DeWine on his commitments to be transparent and debate this fall. When DeWine was once again asked weeks ago about debating Nan Whaley this fall, he once again refused a straight answer. In the weeks since, nothing but crickets. So we’re still asking, will DeWine duck the debates? DeWine has already dodged one debate this year, refusing to directly answer Ohioans on issues ranging from the FirstEnergy bribery scandal to his anti-abortion stances to his refusing to heed concerns from Ohio law enforcement about dangerous gun bills he signed into law. Whaley called on DeWine to debate across the state. DeWine can’t keep running away. He must face the voters straight on and face consequences if he doesn’t.
Thanks for catching up with us, that’s all the Mike Check we’ve got for this week. Have a great week!
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