Cincinnati Enquirer Censorship? Newspaper Rejects Dem Response To Republican Jean Schmidt's Column

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Caleb Faux, executive director of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and chair of the Cincinnati Planning Commission, asked the Cincinnati Enquirer for equal time to reply to U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt. Faux says the newspaper rejected his request for space to face off against Schmidt over her claim that the Chinese are drilling for oil off the coast of Florida. From Faux, the Democratic submission the Cincinnati Enquirer has refused to publish:

"My response below, which they decided they weren't interested in

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"In today's Guest Column, Congress Member Jean Schmidt blasts the Enquirer for calling her to task about a false statement on the floor of Congress. She laments that the Enquirer "has lost sight of the larger picture." Yet ironically, it is that larger picture that Jean Schmidt is being least forthright about.

"Schmidt falsely claimed on the floor of Congress that the Chinese are drilling for oil in waters 60 miles off the Florida Coast. When challenged she claims, again falsely, that other members of Congress including Democrats said the same thing. She then tries to change the subject to the high price of gas and her proposed solution, drilling in coastal waters.

"Schmidt, like her other GOP colleagues including John Boehner and Steve Chabot, are trying mightily to blame high gas prices on environmentalists and Democrats. This effort is little more than a shell game designed to divert attention from the real story, which is that more than anything it is Schmidt's beloved free market, supply and demand, that is driving gas prices higher.

"We may well end up drilling in coastal waters due to efforts like hers. But what she ignores is that any oil produced that way will not reach the market for at least 10 years and when it does, it will be in such small quantities that it will have little influence on price. It won't solve the problem.

"To those who've paid attention to energy policy, none of this is much of a surprise. We've known this was coming for at least 30 years, since the oil crises of the 70's. But during that same time it has been Schmidt and Republicans in Congress and elsewhere who've stood stubbornly in the way of preparing for it. They've blocked attempts to increase mileage standards for vehicles. They've blocked attempts to fund public transit. They've blocked efforts to develop alternative energy sources. They've blocked efforts to slow or reduce the urban sprawl that results in vastly increased oil consumption. Their solution has been consistent; more of the same, continued reliance on oil.

"Jean Schmidt's column is ample demonstration of why we need to replace her in Congress, why Vic Wulsin and Steve Driehaus should be elected and Jean Schmidt and Steve Chabot should come home. Energy policy and high gas prices are serious business, the cure is going to be slow and painful, more painful now because due to people like Jean Schmidt, John Boehner and Steve Chabot we've waited far too long to begin the change.

"Caleb Faux
Executive Director
Hamilton County Democratic Party
6109 Webbland Place
Cincinnati, OH 45213-1405
513.421.0495"