GOP pitbull taking big bite out of Dann

As Ohio Republican Party deputy chairman, one of Kevin DeWine’s main responsibilities is to be a pitbull.

DeWine is ready with a statement whenever he and/or other party officials determine something done by Ohio Democratic leaders is questionable, stupid, illegal or wrong.

After Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat formerly of Lisbon, delivered his State of the State address last week, the party issued a statement from DeWine calling the speech “pedestrian at best.”

This was the best part: “I hate to say it, but the state of our state is worse than it was when Gov. Strickland took office.”

DeWine’s responsibilities as deputy chairman is to attack Democrats so I somehow doubt the sincerity of the first part of that quote.

While Strickland is a major target of DeWine and the Ohio Republican Party, he is almost a nonentity in comparison to Attorney General Marc Dann.

I’ve received numerous e-mails from the Republican Party with DeWine criticizing Dann, a Democrat from Liberty.

DeWine has hammered Dann for a variety of issues. Some of DeWine’s criticisms have merit while others don’t. But all of them are politically-motivated.

When it was recently reported that Dann spent about $145,000 on security equipment and services to protect his Liberty home, DeWine struck again. Of the cost, $33,525 came from Dann’s political campaign fund. The rest came from the attorney general’s budget.

DeWine, a state House member from Fairborn, called the security measures an “elaborate system of protection,” and questioned the legality of Dann using political campaign funds to off-set some of the cost.

Citing an article in the Dayton Daily News, DeWine said the level of security implemented was “apparently without proper justification.”

In response, Jennings called DeWine’s accusations ridiculous and unfounded. Jennings said there have been threats and other indications that Dann could be in danger as attorney general and the proper precautions were made.

Jennings wouldn’t disclose the incidents because of security issues.

But DeWine wasn’t done.

The Republican chairman-in-waiting criticized Dann for spending about $350 in campaign funds for newspapers, food and beverages last year. DeWine said Dann used his campaign funds for personal expenses, a violation of state law.

What’s unbelievable about this is DeWine spent $868.60 on subscriptions to four newspapers in 2006 and 2007.

How did DeWine attempt to explain that what he did was OK, but what Dann did violates state law?

Subscriptions to newspapers in your district to keep up with what’s going on are fine. But picking up a newspaper while on the road and billing it to your campaign is wrong.

Huh?

As attorney general, Dann represents the entire state and not a portion of Greene County. Dann might be interested in issues in Cleveland, Dayton, Xenia and other parts of the state and grabbing a newspaper could be helpful.

Donut holes

When pressed further, DeWine responded that Dann was using his campaign funds to buy a “Mountain Dew, donut holes and a USA Today.” DeWine acknowledged he had no idea what newspapers, food or beverages Dann purchased.

But, hey, it’s a catchy quote.

Also, if “donut holes” aren’t acceptable, perhaps DeWine should ask Senate President Bill Harris, a Republican from Ashland, how much food he can eat in a day.

Harris’ finance reports shows seven “planning lunch(es),” costing his campaign $539.82 — five in Ashland, one each in Mansfield and Columbus — as well as $474.13 for fuel all on Jan. 20, 2007.

Dann has certainly opened himself up to criticism from Republicans. Perhaps DeWine should wait for those times instead of making mountains out of alleged Mountain Dews.