Cross posted at the Wulsin blog (www.wulsinforcongress.com) by Ady Barkan, communications director.
Bob Ney's corruption is hurting the Republican Party, and they know it. They're getting all nervous about Ney's refusal to step down, and according to our uber-inside sources on Capitol Hill there may be an overwhelming bi-partisan vote to expel Ney. Jean Schmidt is gonna feel might uncomfortable when that vote comes up. She's had her own history of dishonesty and ethics challenges, you may recall. We sent out this press release today...
NEY SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY
"Public office is a privilege, not a right -- corruption and fraud negate that privilege," says Wulsin
Cincinnati, Ohio - "Rep. Bob Ney must resign immediately," said Dr. Victoria Wulsin, joining the growing chorus of bipartisan Members of Congress insistent that the convicted felon step down immediately from his elected post. Ney, the Republican Congressman from eastern Ohio, pled guilty to charges of corruption on Friday and has yet to resign from his seat in Congress.
"If Bob Ney does not resign immediately, the US House of Representatives should vote to expel him. His choice to accept lavish gifts in exchange for legislative favors is extremely poor decision making. He is the ultimate example of corruption and fraud in Washington and has embarrassed Ohio, our Congress, and our nation. My opponent should ask him to resign, and if he doesn't she should vote to expel him."
Like Ney, Rep. Jean Schmidt, Wulsin's opponent, is hindered by her own history of ethics violations and is unlikely to take a visible role in righting this wrong. Schmidt was previously reprimanded by the Ohio Elections Commission for "reckless disregard for the truth" and was scolded for failing to disclose $5000 in gifts that lobbyists gave her in a Cincinnati Bengals luxury suite. A month after receiving the gifts, she co-sponsored legislation directly benefiting the lobbyists. Schmidt also lied about her relationship with the coin-gate embattled Tom Noe. Republicans are worried that voters will penalize the Republican ticket this fall, believing `birds of a feather flock together' and that DeLay, Ney, Schmidt, and Noe exemplify the Republican Party's corruption.
"We see a disturbing pattern with Schmidt--we are not sure what to believe from Schmidt or her camp," says Mary Huttlinger, Wulsin campaign manager.
Schmidt has also refused to return the $10,000 that she received from Tom DeLay's political action committee, ARMPAC--money that was allegedly laundered. DeLay, currently under prosecution for corruption charges, was forced to step down as House Majority leader last year and is not seeking re-election.
The race between Wulsin and Schmidt is tied. 44% of likely voters say they will vote for Wulsin, and 44% say they will vote for Schmidt. Both Charlie Cook and Stuart Rothenberg, the highly respected non-partisan Washington D.C. analysts, say that the race is competitive, and Wulsin has 40% more cash-on-hand than Schmidt according to the July 15 FEC filling.