The True Face of 'Reform Ohio Now'

So who's REALLY driving the campaign for Reform Ohio Now (State Issues 2, 3, 4, 5)?  Even the liberal New York Times calls it "a coalition dominated by Democrats, unions and watchdog groups." ("Democrats and Labor Get Redistricting Vote on Ballot," Dean E. Murphy, The New York Times, 09/09/05)

One of its top endorsements comes from Common Cause, a group whose president and CEO, Democrat Chellie Pingree, was embroiled in a campaign finance scandal during her recent U.S. Senate bid.

“Pingree, A Senator Who Is Now President Of The Campaign-Watchdog Group Common Cause, Did Not Properly Disclose $81,946 Funneled To Her Campaign From Groups Supporting Her, Auditors Found.” (Bart Jansen, “Audit Finds Mistakes By Pingree Campaign,” Portland Press Herald, 5/22/04)

Pingree recently teamed up with State Sen. Marc Dann (D-Youngstown) for a conference call to promote State Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5.  Dann, of course, was unanimously reprimanded by the Ohio Supreme Court last year for a legal ethics violation.

But back to Common Cause.  The legal counsel for Common Cause Ohio is none other than Cliff Arnebeck, the lead attorney in the effort to overturn President Bush's 2004 Ohio election victory and the source of a lawsuit filed to stop the president's inauguration. 

Arnebeck's endless and frivilous claims of election fraud were declared by the court to be "at best, highly improbable and potentially defamatory, inflammatory, and devoid of logic." (John McArthy, Associated Press, 5/19/05)

To top things off, one of the top contributors to Common Cause is George Soros, the billionaire extremist who funded the radical activist groups that tried to steal Ohio's 2004 presidential election and the same guy who literally poured millions of dollars into a failed 2002 Ohio ballot campaign to legalize drugs.

“[Common Cause Spokeswoman Mary] Boyle Said That During The Past Four Years, Soros’ Open Society Institute Had Given $600,000 To Common Cause’s Education Fund - The Group’s 501(C)(3) Arm.”  (Ben Pershing, “Gillespie Issues Challenge To BCRA Backers,” Roll Call, 11/18/03)

“Mr. Soros Also Donated $18 Million To Groups Supporting Campaign Finance Reform, Including Common Cause.” (David N. Bossie, “George Soros Exposed; Bush Hater Funds Bush-Hating Groups,” The Washington Times, 11/25/03)

Of course, Soros' interest in State Issue 3 makes perfect sense.  The amendment would allow out-of-state billionaires to spend unlimited amounts of their own personal fortunes to influence Ohio's elections, while at the same time severely limiting the rights of individual Ohioans to contribute to the political process.

So who's REALLY behind State Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5?  The money trail speaks for itself.  Don't fall for their claims of bipartisanship, competitiveness, or reform.  They tried to steal your vote last year, and now they're back to do it again. 

VOTE NO on State Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5.