Media blames law

Joe Blundo in the Cleveland Dispatch's Feb 23rd 2006 edition, page F1, blames the law for Wilson's error. He writes (via Lexis-Nexis)

The only news out of the Democratic camp that even comes close involves not Ted Strickland, the front-runner for governor, but Charles Wilson, the man who would like to have Strickland's congressional seat.

Wilson seems to have failed to make the ballot because he didn't get enough valid signatures. Why? The congressional district is so ridiculously gerrymandered he can't tell who lives in it.

By implication the Republicans were in control of redistricting Strickland's seat (D- 6th) and so are to blame for this mishap. No doubt George Will is correct to notice the problems with a 98% incumbent return rate for the '02 and '04 elections. The district's borders are actually quite sensible, since the 6th borders pretty much all of SE Ohio.

Notice also how the press has turned hostile (see Pat Buchanan), as for example earlier in the Article Blundo mocks the convictions of Blackwell and the formerly NARAL-endorsed Petro for their positions on abortion. Blundo writes

Until the other day, Petro and Blackwell had largely busied themselves staking out ever-more-extreme positions to win the favor of religious conservatives.

So Blackwell revealed that he opposes abortion even when a woman's life is in danger.

And Petro said he opposes it even in cases of rape.

And Blackwell announced he would not allow abortion even if a woman were impregnated by space aliens.

And Petro said he is against even Diane Keaton's character having an abortion in The Godfather Part II.

And on and on.

Blundo also criticizes Blackwell's recent adds for pointing out the proverbial 800 lb gorilla in the room. Contra-Blundo voters don't forget dishonesty. If Blackwell and the GOP do not condemn the chicanery in Congress and Ohio and provide solutions to the problems, voters will reward the party-in-power with early retirement.

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