Democrat raised 'in a chicken shack'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/11/art.strickland.gi.jpg caption ="The camp of Strickland's opponent took aim at the Democrat's humble upbringing."](CNN) - The first line of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's campaign biography boasts the Democratic governor is "the son of a steelworker" who "never imagined he'd be able to go to college."
Indeed, Strickland's humble upbringing is just the type campaigns love to highlight, and never more so during an economic climate that still hasn't shown signs for recovery for many Ohioans.
But the campaign of Strickland's Republican opponent -former U.S. Rep. John Kasich – is causing a stir for attacking the same simple origins Strickland celebrates.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said in a statement Tuesday Strickland is a poor manager of Ohio's cities because the Democrat was raised "in a chicken shack on Duck Run."
Nichols' statement came after Strickland's running mate, Yvette Brown, said in a recent speech, "Ted didn't grow up in city, but he fights for our cities every day."
"Not until Ted Strickland feared needing their votes did he give urban Ohioans a second thought. Having grown up in a chicken shack on Duck Run, he has all but ignored our cities' economies and their workers," Nichols said in the statement responding to Brown's speech.
Strickland's campaign seized on the slap at Strickland's upbringing, saying, "Only the Congressman from Wall Street would be so out of touch as to insult Ted's humble upbringing."
"While Congressman Kasich may have spent a lot of time in boardrooms at Lehman Brothers and rubbing elbows with lobbyists at cocktail parties in Washington, Ohioans are looking for a Governor who will represent their values-and clearly that is not John Kasich," spokesman Lis Smith said.
Nichols has since said he did not mean his comments as an insult, but Strickland's campaign has organized a conference call later Wednesday with "representatives from rural and Appalachian Ohio" to take aim at the comments.
UPDATE: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, speaking in Cleveland Wednesday, also took a hit at the comments.
“I noticed that the other campaign yesterday ridiculed him for ‘growing up in a chicken shack on Duck Run Ohio,’” said Kaine. “I’m don’t know why they though that’s a bad thing, but maybe that’s how it looks from the perspective of a Lehman Brothers consultant.”
Just what you would expect from a former congressman turned Wall Street influence peddler Fox News mouthpiece.
This just shows kasich lack of class and his stupidity.Typical Repugnant Republican
Now we know where Republicans stand on the American dream...
"Anything to deflect from the mess that Ohio is under Strickland..."
Heh, nice try. I'm not a fan of the Dems but Strickland hasn't done anything to make matters worse here in Ohio.
You are an idiot Mr "Barack.Hussein.Obama-America's-Benevolent-DICTATOR"
I do not want to register as Rep or Dec. I am indepent, but I do not see how Republican can ask for my vote when they are nasty using low level comments to the other. It is just almost very close to cursing people. I do not want my leader or representative who could not speak in a straight but professional way. I have been observing the speeches of Tea Party leaders or recent comments of the run away general and feel sad about where are those ladies and gentlemen. All I can see are those who shows sign of sore loosers. Republican can win more seats in this coming election because people frustrated about Democrat, but we are going to hit another road block or concrete wall or downhill road with Republican without any new idea of any subject beside cursing, slamming, blamming and noing.
This sounds so typical of a republiKKKlan.
SHAMEFUL
Republicans = anti-patriotic, anti-ideas, anti-civility.
Ohioan`s should think about the source of the prepared comments then ask themselves who do they want representing their interests.
I can honestly say this is the first time I've ever heard a candidate say *vote for me because I'm better than you* . . .Not surprised, though, that it's coming from the GOP. NOTHING they say makes sense anymore.
For the past two years, GOPers have done nothing but mock and ridicule the unemployed, those facing housing foreclosure, those who lost retirement pensions during the crash, and those who are now suffering the most during the oil spill.
It's all about the numbers, but never about solutions, isn't it, GOPers? Easy to mock those of us who have felt the negative impact, but, expecting those of us who have suffered to accept such mockery is beyond contemptuous.
I want my country back too, GOPers. Back to what it was before Bush and Cheney . . . when we did have a budget surplus and things were looking optimistic.
America is turning around. Laugh and mock all you want. It saves us voters from having to decide who is and who isn't for all of America, and not just Red America.
That certainly shows the arrogance of what Republicans are all about. With the one man apologizing to BP and an example of this Kasich, maybe some who are not wealthy or in positions of authority will wake up. America should be so lucky!
Stay classy
Typical republican. Cannot relate nor do they care about struggling or less fortunate Americans.
Their undying love and support for Wall St is more prominent every day, They have and will sacrifice us and our country for their personal goals, gains and big business.
Nice. One man disparaging another man's childhood neighborhood. He might as well said "gee, your parents suck making you grow up like that". What a schmuck.
As a second generation American who didn't have all the benefits of generational wealth or a cozy job at Lehman – which resulted in a golden parachute for him and stolen life savings from others – I say GFY, Kasich.
"Can't wait for Civil War 2. The right-wingers need to be removed from society like the cancer that they are. Please fire the first shot you cowardly righties, the real American patriots of the country are waiting for you."
If you'd like, I can refer a competent therapist to you. Remember... denial is not a river in Egypt. Get help.
And the Republican was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
During the last election, the rethugliban tried to convince that those raised in cities were bad, bad I tells ya, and not "real Americans". "Real Americans" came from rural, sparsley populated areas. What happened to change their minds?
Notice a trend with the right wing corporate bought and paid for Republicans? All they do is insult intelligent people with their vile bullshit and lies.These kinds of people are boring and have nothing better to do than spew hate, fear, and personal attacks.
What did he say???
Oh wait – that was chicken SHACK.
I thought he said something else....
"Back to back...chicken shack
Son of a gun...better change your act
We're all confused, so what's to lose
You can call this song, the United States Blues!
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
Summertime's done come and gone, my, oh my...!"
I'd much prefer someone raised in a chicken shack over one raised, and apparently still living, in an ivory tower.
Regards to RH
So were so many of us! We were immigrants and when I was growing up, I didn't even know I was poor.
So was Lincoln, and ......etc., etc.
10.7% unemployment in Ohio thank you Strickland.
Republicans are elitist jerks who think anyone below their wealth or self-important social status is worth nothing and does not deserve any attention or government programs.
All Republicans care about is the big corporations who can pay them huge bribes and give them perks so they will vote for the corporations and abandon the People who put them in office.
It's time to teach Republicans who really has the power – WE DO – we have the VOTE and we will not put leaders in office who look down on us and betray us in favor of corporate greed and profits. Republicans have shown their true beliefs by standing up for BP, apologizing to them for how they have been treated, and are fighting to limit BP's liability in cleaning up the Gulf and helping the people whose lives BP has destroyed.
If you care more about the profits of a company who destroyed our Gulf than the People whose lives have been turned upside down – you have no business representing the People in ANY elected office. Go work for BP or the banks or the health insurance companies. Republicans are already on their payroll anyway.
Democrats are the Party of the People and have delivered solutions for working families all year. They take their oath of office to serve US seriously and care about what we our lives are like. If you want America to keep moving forward and see prosperity for the middle class again – we need more Democrats.
We all supported Strickland last time around for lots of reasons, including his humble upbringing. But he has turned out to be as dishonest and disengenuous as they come. He has played the payback game better than most-giving the Unions free millions and adding another layer of government buracracy, he is completely anti-business, he has pandered to the blacks and minorities in the urban areas, and has continually surrounded himself with folks not smarter, not better intentioned, and not more experienced than himself, in order to handle the incredible pressures put on Ohioans. He is a loser and should be replaced! As a taxpayer, I can't wait!
Typical GOP. The entire GOP is only working for corporate America and totally ignore the American people. From BP to Wall Street the GOP protects their profit margins while Main Street is hurting.
Vote NO in NOvember to the party of NO.
Republicans don't have anything to offer the American public. All of their policies have been tried and are proven failures.
So they resort to lies, fear-mongering, division and hate.
Folks to need wake up to the reality that Republicans will do anything and everything to regain power, so they can continue the policies that took our country to the brink of financial ruin.
Only a fool would vote for the Republicans and their agenda of demise.
GOP = Party Before Country