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Jon Husted Apparently Backs Kanye West After Antisemitic Tirade

Watch the full video HERE

Columbus, OH – Jon Husted has decided to side with Kanye West, apparently. After West went on an antisemitic tirade earlier this month, Husted then retweeted a Fox Business video in defense of West after J.P. Morgan Chase cut ties with him, claiming they did so because of his ‘political viewpoints,’ when in reality the bank had severed ties with West weeks earlier. The video claims that West is being discriminated against because of his political beliefs, when in reality West is being held accountable for spewing a number of antisemitic tropes, which we will not repeat, but can be found HERE. 

“Jon Husted is dangerously amplifying antisemitic rhetoric and defending the indefensible. Ohioans deserve leadership that brings people together, not one that excuses hate in search of political points. Husted should take his retweet down, and apologize immediately,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Vivek Ramaswamy, who is featured in the video defending West, served as an advisor to Husted in 2020. Watch his full interview HERE. 

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Ohio Republicans Are Coming for Abortion Rights

“If we’re not able to get everything we want to get done in lame duck, we will be right back on Jan. 1.” 

Columbus, OH — In case you missed it, the Columbus Dispatch just outlined how anti-abortion activists are working behind the scenes to push Republicans to pass a near-total abortion ban during lame duck session. And they’re confident they have Republican support to do so, with Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis telling the Dispatch: “Based upon my conversations with Huffman and Cupp I am convinced that abortion will be addressed during lame duck.”

While Republican leaders are trying to tamp down their anti-abortion agenda ahead of November’s election, it’s clear that they’re telling anti-abortion activists behind the scenes that they’re ready to do their bidding – pushing for a ban on abortion that starts at conception, with no exceptions for rape or incest, once the election is over. These are the same extremists who Mike DeWine promised just months ago that he would “go as far as we can” to rip away reproductive rights. 

“Twenty-one Republican legislators recently promised to ban abortion from the point of conception at an Oct. 5 anti-abortion rally at the Ohio Statehouse. And abortion opponents previously expressed optimism that 2022 was their year,” write Anna Staver and Jessie Balmert of the USA Today Network. 

“Make no mistake: Ohio Republicans are coming for abortion rights in Ohio and the only way we can stop them is by electing Democrats up and down the ballot,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Read more from the Dispatch here and below: 

  • Twenty-one Republican legislators recently promised to ban abortion from the point of conception at an Oct. 5 anti-abortion rally at the Ohio Statehouse. And abortion opponents previously expressed optimism that 2022 was their year: “We are going to accomplish our goal and our mission to end abortion in 2022,” Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said in June, just days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

  • It’s also not clear what lines, if any, Gov. Mike DeWine will draw before signing another abortion ban. 

  • Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, said abortion rights advocates warned lawmakers that their restrictions would have consequences.

  • “If they’re saying that after nine years of deliberation, they are going to somehow craft clearer exceptions that will in any way prevent people from being harmed by their policies, they are either lying or revealing how truly incompetent they are when it comes to understanding the complexities of pregnancies,” Copeland said.

  • “The only way to protect Ohioans facing pregnancy complications, or the myriad of other nuanced and important reasons we may need access to abortion, is to not ban abortion in the first place.”

  • And Gonidakis says Ohio Right to Life is pushing for that in the final weeks of the legislative session, which are often called “lame duck.”

  • “Based upon my conversations with Huffman and Cupp I am convinced that abortion will be addressed during lame duck,” said Gonidakis, adding that he backs a comprehensive approach including DeWine’s proposals, improvements to adoption and more resources for children. “Ohio Right to Life will utilize all of its resources to ensure these topics are addressed.” 

  • “If we don’t get it done now,” Huffman said. “We will all be back here anyway.”

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Ohio Democratic Party Statement on Republicans Refusing to Participate in Ohio Debate Commission Debates

Columbus, OH — Today, the Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement after the Ohio Debate Commission announced today that J.D. Vance and Mike DeWine are refusing to participate in any of their scheduled debates. 

“J.D. Vance and Mike DeWine are both cowards and know Ohio voters view them as frauds and their agendas as out-of-touch. If Vance and DeWine can’t muster the courage to stand on a debate stage and face the voters, they certainly won’t be brave enough to take on special interests or their own party and do what’s right for our state. Neither J.D. nor Mike belongs anywhere near elected office,” said Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

“Separately, for the Ohio Debate Commission to blame ‘both parties’ for a lack of debates and refuse to hold Republicans accountable in any way for not participating is disingenuous and cowardly. They should be ashamed of themselves. Attempting to ‘both sides’ this issue and letting Republican candidates off the hook only reinforces Republican behavior that has brought us to this point,” continued Walters. 

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Ohio Democratic Party Statement Marking 9/11 Anniversary

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters issued the following statement marking the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. 

“As we mark the anniversary of September 11th, we honor the memories of the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost and hold their loved ones in our hearts. We also commemorate the courage of our first responders and service members who answered the call to duty that day. Their service is a true inspiration to all of us who wish to make our state and country stronger and fulfill our nation’s values of liberty and justice for all,” said Chair Walters. 

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