Op-Ed: (Another) Taft holds Ohio GOP on the brink
by Gerard Valentino
News stories chronicle turmoil in the Republican Party caused by a candidate that ran on one platform and governs on another. He breaks campaign promises without regard for those that supported him during the election. Party members and voters feel betrayed, leading to a movement among core Republicans to defect. Grassroots organizations spring up among the Republican faithful in the hopes getting the Party hierarchy back in touch with the rank and file. Ultimately, it is too much for the party to handle, leading to the downfall of a Republican President. Ohio in 2004? No, not yet, unless Governor Bob Taft allows history to repeat itself.
In 1912, the Republican Party destroyed itself when Bob Taft’s great-grandfather, William Taft, ascended to the Presidency as Theodore Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor. Taft rewarded his mentor by deserting the agreed upon platform and instead bowed to power brokers concerned more for special interest groups than for the constituency. Roosevelt, incensed at the betrayal, and determined to follow through on Taft’s broken promises, created the Bull Moose Party and ran for President. Taft chose not to aggressively campaign, but refused to support his former friend. Even Roosevelt’s formidable charisma was unable to overcome the party’s division. Woodrow Wilson was elected President, and the Republicans did not regain control of the White House for another eight years.
Today, in Ohio, the parallels between Governor Bob Taft’s record and his family legacy are undeniable.
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Taft was the hand-picked candidate of the Republican Party leadership. He was chosen for his name recognition, and because it was his “turn,” much like his great-grandfather. His strong conservative platform promised to return Ohio to fiscal responsibility and give Ohioans back the right to self-defense by supporting concealed carry reform. The elder Taft ran as a progressive and governed as a conservative. The current incarnation ran as a conservative and governs as tax and spend liberal. Both abandoned the supporters they relied on to get elected, without concern for their Party’s well being. True to family history, once elected, Bob Taft quickly broke his promises.
Governor Taft, from a privileged upbringing, raised taxes without understanding or concern for the financial hardship everyday citizens feel during an economic downturn. Republicans at the national level recognized the economic value of leaving money in the consumer’s pocket and lowered the Federal Tax rate. Governor Taft responded by raising state taxes, leaving Ohio with the nation’s third highest tax burden and robbing Ohioans of the economic benefits being realized in other parts of the country. Taft then attempted to increase the burden yet again with his failed Issue 1 initiative. Even, now, as Ohio struggles to recover economically, he continues the fight for higher taxes.
Michigan experienced a 10.5% decrease in crime since passing a concealed carry law and for the first time in 40 years their crime rate dipped below Ohio’s. Ohioans, however, still do not have the right to defend themselves due to the political gamesmanship of Bob Taft. He steadfastly refuses to sign any bill not supported by his appointees in leadership of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Under the guise of protecting State Troopers, Taft keeps Ohioans from protecting themselves. He claims, without any statistical evidence, that concealed weapons will turn law abiding citizens into cop killers and ignores the safe track record of concealed carry programs around the nation. In Texas, concealed carry permit holders account for less than one percent of all crimes and in the 45 states that allow concealed carry there is not one documented case of a permit holder using their weapon against a police officer during a traffic stop. None of that matters to Bob Taft. Without regard for the will of the people he simply ignores the facts and pushes his own agenda.
William Taft left politics in 1912 after splitting his own party and failing to win a second term. Bob Taft had no serious opposition, and was re-elected to a second term as Ohio’s Governor. The story doesn’t end there however.
The conservative anti-Taft movement, motivated by his broken promises, threatens to implode Ohio’s Republican Party at a time when its power and savvy is needed to help capture a bigger prize - the re-election of President George Bush. As Taft’s actions alienate conservative voters, he hurts Bush’s chances to win Ohio, a state the Republicans need in 2004. Taft also risks splintering the State Party by forcing Republican legislators to choose whether to honor campaign promises by supporting a potential veto override of concealed carry legislation, and to take sides in the movement to repeal his 20% sales tax increase.
Either could prove too much for the Party to handle. Taft may not care; he is term-limited and lacks the political strength to make a serious run at the Presidency, partially due to his embarrassing approval rating, which is rooted in the lack of trustworthiness he showed Ohio voters. The question is: does he want history to repeat itself? Must we have another Taft to blame for the failure of a Republican Presidential bid. Or rather, does he want to be remembered as the Governor that returned the right to self-defense to Ohio, lowered our tax burden, and helped in the re-election of George Bush.
Well Bob, which is it?
Gerard Valentino is the Central Ohio Coordinator for Ohioans For Concealed Carry and a former military intelligence analyst.
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