#OHSEN Slugfest: “Personal Attacks” Fly as the #OHSEN Field “Sparred” on the Debate Stage
January 26, 2024
Columbus, OH – During the first Senate primary debate, the #OHSEN field “sparred,” “clashed bitterly,” and exchanged “personal attacks,” while making it clear they’re more focused on fighting each other than fighting for Ohioans and the issues most important to them. Plus, after Business Insider reported Bernie Moreno “destroyed” key evidence he was legally required to keep to avoid paying his employees the overtime they earned, a new fact check from WCMH confirms Moreno’s opponents’ attacks that Moreno destroyed evidence he was “obligated” to keep.
Here’s a recap of what happened last week in what has already been called one of the “messiest,” “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country.
TOP DEBATE MOMENT: BERNIE MORENO GETS BLASTED FOR DESTROYING KEY EVIDENCE
After new reporting by Business Insider revealed Bernie Moreno shredded evidence he was legally required – and agreed – to keep to avoid paying his employees the overtime they had earned, Bernie Moreno tried and failed to dismiss legitimate questions about why he destroyed the documents on the debate stage:
Matt Dolan during Monday’s debate: “And Bernie, we learned this week, I don’t know if we can trust you. You know, your employees trusted you to follow a court order, and do not destroy documents that help them, their case against you. But what did you do? You shredded those documents, because it helped Bernie Moreno, not the employees. This is a matter of trust.”
Read about the facts here and here.
And it seems like the attacks will just keep coming…
Live footage of Bernie Moreno shredding evidence to get out of paying his employees the overtime they’d earned:
TOP DEBATE MOMENT: MORENO AND LAROSE DOUBLE DOWN, SUPPORT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose both reiterated their support for a government shutdown despite the devastating consequences for Ohioans.
Bernie Moreno: “[A government shutdown] would not be something you’d take off the table because it lessens your ability to negotiate.”
Frank LaRose: “You bet I’m willing to shut down the government.”
TOP DEBATE MOMENT: FIELD DOUBLES DOWN IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL ABORTION BAN
Moreno, LaRose, and Dolan all doubled down in support of overruling Ohioans by passing a national abortion ban.
Cleveland.com: “All three Republican candidates on Monday night called Ohio’s new abortion amendment out of the political mainstream, and said they would support a national law banning abortion…”
WVXU: “And all three — Moreno, LaRose, and State Sen. Matt Dolan of Chagrin Falls — agreed there should be a national abortion ban… It makes you question whether the three GOP candidates were paying attention last November when 57% of Ohio voters who went to the polls voted in favor of a ballot issue enshrining abortion rights in the Ohio constitution.”
Ohio Capital Journal: “Dr. Catherine Romanos, a family doctor in Columbus, said her patients ‘breathed a sigh of relief’ after the passage of Issue 1 last November. ‘They asked me less often if what they’re doing is breaking the law and they seem confident to come and get the care that they need,’ she said. Echoing the warning that Republican candidates would support national abortion restrictions, Romanos argued ‘They think they know better than Ohioans. They’re wrong.’”
But even when they’re agreeing with each other, they’re still fighting…
SENATE CANDIDATES OR INTERNET TROLLS?
While insults flew on the debate stage, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan also took shots at each other online.
SLUGFEST COUNTDOWN
53 days left until this Slugfest comes to a head and the infighting just keeps getting worse.
TOP QUOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Bernie Moreno: “Yeah, I mean it’s silly season.”
Frank LaRose on Moreno: “Yeah, this is a slick sales pitch from a guy that has changed his view on this.”
Matt Dolan: “First of all, what has changed in Bernie’s world is he now wants to be a Republican candidate for US Senate, he’s running in a primary, so he’s willing to abandon long held principal beliefs.”
LaRose: “What Ohioans don’t care about is a bunch of bickering from a couple of corporate elitists.”
Moreno to Dolan: “But maybe your dad can explain to you how business works.”
Dolan on Moreno: “Well we just heard an absolute political phony answer. He’s trying to reinvent himself.”
QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK
WVXU’s Howard Wilkinson on the field supporting a national abortion ban: “It makes you question whether the three GOP candidates were paying attention last November when 57% of Ohio voters who went to the polls voted in favor of a ballot issue enshrining abortion rights in the Ohio constitution.”
Axios: “Bernie Moreno is a corporate elitist. Matt Dolan is a failed career politician. Frank LaRose is a lying, scheming loser.”
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