Governor Ted Strickland (D) and former Congressman John Kasich (R) squared off in the first debate for the Governor's office Tuesday night. Neither candidate moved off their current talking points and neither gave specific details on dealing with the coming $8 billion budget deficit. However Strickland hit home that Kasich has no new ideas, was part of the Wall Street rape of the economy, and is impulsive and reckless.
Strickland explained about all he has done in his first term:
Strickland called Kasich's repeated pledge to cut the state income tax reckless while arguing that the state has cut its income tax 17 percent, and he has reduced spending by more than $2 billion.
"We've passed two balanced budgets in Ohio without raising taxes," Strickland said. "In fact, we've cut taxes. . . . Most of that while I've been governor. We've also given every senior citizen who owns a home in Ohio a major property tax cut, a property tax cut that averages $400 per senior homeowner, and we've eliminated taxes on military retiree pensions."
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, challenger John Kasich go on attack in debate, go thin on policy details
Kasich kept pointing out that false talking point that Strickland has lost 400,000 jobs.
Kasich rebutted: "Governor, we've lost 382,000 jobs on your watch. You promised to turn Ohio around and you failed and you want to blame everybody else. You've got to learn to accept personal responsibility."
Strickland: "I'm not blaming everybody. I'm not blaming Ohio and Ohioans. I'm blaming you and your buddies on Wall Street that acted irresponsibly, (and) caused the collapse of Lehman Brothers that plunged our economy off a cliff."
Kasich : "If I'd lost 382,000 jobs, I'd engage in the politics of distraction as well...If you can't sell your own record, you attack the other guy. But you know what, I'm not distracted."
Strickland, Kasich remain civil in debate
Politifact says Kasich isn't telling the truth:
The Republicans are referring to the state’s net job losses since Strickland -- and by extension Fisher -- took office in January 2007. Ohio lost 386,600 non-farm jobs from January 2007 through June of this year, the latest figure available. So Republicans are largely accurate when they say Ohio has lost 400,000 jobs since January of 2007. Job losses were as high as 438,900 at the end of February of this year.
But the claim breaks down when Republicans suggest that the governor -- or any one official -- is responsible for the job losses.
Ohio has been losing jobs since January of 2000 - 568,300 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those, 403,800 came in the manufacturing sector.
Republican Governors Association says Ohio lost 400,000 jobs on Gov. Ted Strickland’s watch
Kasich again mentioned his idea to privatize the state development department. He would appoint the members, hide their pay, and allow them to make decisions on how to use development dollars without legislative oversight. Corporate welfare to the extreme.
Kasich also complained about the use of stimulus funds to "expand government" when it was used to keep teachers, police, and firefighters on the job. The 3-C train project came up and Kasich wanted to use that $400 million for roads and bridges. The building and operating a train would in fact cost less in the long term than rebuilding I-71 every few years or building more roads.
I felt that Governor Strickland won the debate because he hit with his talking points proving that he has done many of the items John Kasich claims he will do if elected - lower taxes, less spending, business friendly.
It was also telling that John Kasich kept talking about business people running government - because cheap labor conservatives like Kasich only believe that business people can run things - and Kasich has never been a CEO or business leader. After he left congress he sat on a couple of boards and was a lobbyist.
The problem is that most voters won't see the debate and so Strickland needs to get his story out in the public more. Recent polls show Kasich has a lead. The people who are hurting will only blame the current guy in charge.
The debate will be rebroadcast on the Ohio News Network Friday 9/17 at 8 pm
Video is also available here on the WBNS-TV website
The next debate is set for October 7th at 8 PM in Toledo.