OH-01 GOP Steve Chabot: Aide Used U.S. House E-Mail System To Recruit Campaign Workers

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Chris Good at the Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill breaks a story about Republicans abusing the U.S. House e-mail network for political purposes. They messaged congressional offices seeking campaign workers to make phone calls for the Republican National Committee: "If you have interns sitting around today, please send them over to the RNC . . . to phone bank for Oberweis." An aide to Steve Chabot, R-OH-O1, forwarded the e-mail on the House system.

The message was sent Friday to round-up some last-minute workers for Jim Oberweis, a Republican running for the Illinois seat vacated by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Oberweis lost in a special election Saturday. Chabot's aide apparently violated House rules Friday when he forwarded the message on the House e-mail server. The Cincinnati congressman's spokesman, George Cecala, apologized for the incident:

"It's not our office policy to conduct business this way . . . We apologize if there was an appearance of impropriety, which was certainly not our office's intent. We apologize to the folks back home. We work hard to make sure that our staff is fully informed on the proper procedures."

The Hill reported that the e-mail's arrival from the RNC could run afoul of a House rule that says, "Official resources of the House must, as a general rule, be used for the performance of official business of the House, and hence those resources may not be used for campaign or political purposes."

Dayton Campus Paper's Gay Slur: Dumbledore Cartoon Draws Apology

DAYTON (TDB) -- The student newspaper says a "lack of judgment" led it to print a controversial editorial cartoon depicting the Harry Potter character Dumbledore with a wand in his mouth and a line saying "Deathly Swallows." The cartoon was meant to satirize author J.K. Rowling's revelation last month that Dumbledore was gay. An editorial published by the Flyer News apologized after the paper received sharp criticism.

"From our staff to the UD community, we would like to sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended. Our lack of judgment in this case is now obvious. We meant no disrespect and meant nor harm. At Flyer News we continually strive to be a publication that accepts and includes everyone. Furthermore, it is not our mission whatsoever to make anyone feel unwanted or unloved here on campus."

Some of the letters to the editor denouncing the cartoon are here and here and here.

Campus minister Emily Strand complained to the newspaper's faculty advisers and called the cartoon absolutely tasteless.

"I'm all for the First Amendment, but that's not the issue here; we could print the F-word all over a page and call it an article, but we don't for reasons that are obvious. It's not about whether we can print something, but whether we should if we with to be consistent with our Catholic and Marianist identity. (Not to even mention your cartoon was not even witty.)"

Cincinnati Enquirer's Apology: Wishy, Washy And Squishy

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Faced with a firestorm of protest over his newspaper's bad-smelling coverage of a Clermont County murder case, Cincinnati Enquirer editor Tom Callinan has apologized for, in part, promoting a journalistic freak show. He said the publication, which is also online at Cincinnati.com, screwed up by publishing the jury's identities. He apologized and called it a "late-night, deadline decision that was wrong."

Somehow, that appears to lack the ring of complete truth.

The newspaper's employees no doubt retrieved the jurors' personal data in the fact-gathering process, then tried to figure out what to do with the information. Reporters probably were looking for the jurors and seeking out interviews. Callinan implies that there was a list that suddenly materialized and presto! it got published at the very last minute. He blamed the incident on rushing and over-aggressiveness. He admits voices were raised against publishing the juror's names, but adds those voices were ignored.

However, his apology came without a detailed explanation of the entire episode. It's a trust-us-
we-really-know-what-we're-doing apology, a pronouncement that seems issued from on high to the peons who buy the newspaper or click to its online content. It is an apology that smacks of a hierarchical era, when editors presided over the sacred rites of journalism and the hicks had to believe them.

"So how did the decision to publish the list of jurors' names happen? All I can say is that we lost our perspective. In being aggressive on a big story we rushed to a very bad decision." Callinan wrote, offering nothing else except to say that the murder of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel was a big story.

Inquiring minds want to know: Why the rush? Aggressive on a big story? It was a trial, for heaven sake.

The Enquirer did not solve the murder, arrest the suspect, present the evidence, or even locate the victim's corpse, which is still missing. Outside of overblown headlines, prose and page display that went far beyond Yellow Journalism to the portion of the spectrum that causes skin to blister, the Cincinnati daily played no important role in determining guilt or innocence. The Enquirer was a leech at worst, a pest at best.

Callinan says it is important for the public to know about the people who serve on juries. But, again, he stumbles. There has hardly been a big push in that direction by Callinan prior to this mess on his watch.

There are jury trials every day in SW Ohio -- civil and criminal -- and about zero is ever written about the empaneled fact-finders who decide guilty or not, or what the preponderance of evidence shows. Some might even see in Callinan's apology an element of fraud when he declares. "It is interesting and not irrelevant that a power company lineman, restaurant server and psychiatric nurse are among those entrusted such an important and awesome responsibility. Certainly jurors bring those life experiences to the process. But it's not necessary to publish their names."

Every Ohio jury is comprised of everyday citizens. That might be news to the Enquirer's editor, but it has been a basic precept of the legal system since the days of the Northwest Territory and Cincinnati was settled in 1788.

As the leading newsroom executive, Callinan needs to be far more transparent and:

1) Disclose how long the newspaper had the names.

2) Disclose how the decision to publish the names was made.

3) Disclose what the arguments were against publishing.

4) Disclose where he stood at the time -- for or against.

The Enquirer's editor has not been forthcoming. He concedes the publication of juror names damaged the public's trust in his newspaper, but he won't elaborate.

Sorry, Mr. Editor. It is time for transparency. I call BS.

The full-text of the apology is HERE.

Ohio Gov. Strickland Gets Apology: Christian Cartoon Was 'Low Blow'

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- A scurrilous editorial cartoon appeared recently in the religiously-oriented, pro-life publication Christian Citizen USA that ridiculed Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and his wife, Frances. Democrat Strickland is an ordained Methodist minister who is not aligned with the religious right. Now the publication's owner has publicly apologized for a "low blow" and is seeking forgiveness.

"The cartoon on our Commentary page was provocative. It was about our new governor Ted Strickland. Gov. Strickland and his wife have a history of not living together in the same location at the same time. Some of our readers thought the cartoon speculated on their personal lifestyle choices. Either way, we apologize for the cartoon. In hindsight it was a low blow and as Christians we did not do a good job of showing the same grace that God has faithfully showed us through our many mess-ups," Pendra Lee Snyder said about the incident.

"Our commentary page is set aside to express what we hope are opinions based on solid facts -- opinions that are helpful, not hurtful. The news pages are just that, news. We work to keep a distinction. And we certainly do not want to come across as throwing out what we might believe is smart commentary when in reality it is just smart aleck commentary."

She said Christ probably would not have put such a cartoon in print and closed by saying, "Please forgive us and please send your comments."

Other Ohioans on the right have raised similar smarmy questions about the governor's sexual orientation -- an issue that Republican Ken Blackwell's camp tried to flog without success in the final days of his tanked gubernatorial effort. Mrs. Snyder, at least, demonstrated she has class by confessing online for all the world to see that she had strayed from her Christian principles. She didn't hide or dissemble. Others who jumped on the Blackwell gay-bashing bandwagon have yet to do the same.

There is quite a bit of background about Mrs. Snyder's publication HERE , and it is an important voice and widely read by those active in the evangelical movement. She even had the courage and fundamental decency to print this letter from a critic:

"Dear Editor,
"The cartoon, about Governor Strickland, in the January (2007) edition of the Christian Citizen USA seems out of place in a Christian publication.
"I believe that Christians are to show love and Christ to the world. I do not feel that cartoon does either.
"I feel that Christians should not talk, in a negative way, about people, spread gossip and/or poke fun at others.
"I do not think Christ would have put that cartoon in the paper if he were the editor.
"I am ashamed of the newspaper having that cartoon in it and although I usually pass the paper out to co-workers and friends, this edition will go in my garbage.
"I did not vote for Strickland so my opinion is not because of favor for him. It just seems very unchristian like.
In Christ,
Bonnie Sylvia
West Portsmouth, OH"