DeWine asks Democratic leaders to stop ‘playing the race card’

By ELISE FRANCO

The Ohio GOP chief fires back after accusations of racism from two Democratic representatives.

COLUMBUS— Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine shot back at Democratic Party allegations that undecided and independents voters who choose to vote for John McCain are racist.

During a phone conference to several media outlets Tuesday afternoon, DeWine called comments made by state Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th, and state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, “disturbing” and “offensive.”

While talking to journalists Monday in an effort to support the presidential candidacy of Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Letson said, “Race — that’s the only reason people in the Valley won’t vote for him. There are 1,000 reasons to vote for Obama and one reason why you won’t — race.”

“I’m calling on Democratic leaders to quit playing the race card,” DeWine said of Hagan and Letson as well as Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. “These sort of accusations have no place in our politics.”

Such comments show the Democratic Party is dismissing legitimate concerns some Ohio voters may have, DeWine said.

He said to lump all undecided voters into the category of racist because they haven’t made a choice on which candidate to vote for is a gigantic leap.

The tactic represents an effort by Democrats to use race as a platform during this election, he added.

“It seems to be a coordinated surrogate strategy for the Obama camp in Ohio, and only they can answer why.”

He said he hopes Obama steps forward and puts a stop to the comments against independents and undecided voters.