Slots opponent Blackwell (OH) owns stock in manufacturer

[Newsjock]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2006/04/07/20060407-A1-05.html

Mark Niquette and Joe Hallett
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Although he opposes potential November ballot initiatives to permit slot machines at Ohio’s horse-racing tracks, Republican gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell holds stock in the world’s leading maker of slot machines.

... Brian Rothenberg, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, said that as an owner of IGT stock, Blackwell "stands to make a profit off something he says he’s ideologically opposed to. How does he reconcile his conscience from his pocketbook? "

... A spokesman for Attorney General Jim Petro, Blackwell’s rival for the GOP nomination for governor, was more direct.

"It is outrageous that Ken Blackwell campaigns against gambling, but lines his own pocket with slot-machine profits," Bob Paduchik said.

... Blackwell, who opposes abortion rights, also holds stock in Barr Pharmaceuticals, maker of the controversial Plan B, or the morning-after pill, to prevent pregnancy.

[bluestateguy]

1. That's Kenneth TAFT Blackwell

Let's make sure we get Kenneth TAFT Blackwell's name right.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Should that be Kenneth GRAFT Blackwell?

[Orion The Hunter]

2. I've worked with Mr. Blackwell....

...and the man is just reprehensible.

[xchrom]

3. but it's ok because he's a republican.

it's ok for bush to illegally invade a country that is no threat and it's ok for blackwell to own stocks in slot machines -- it's a known fact the republicans have superior values.

WHAT UTTER SHIT!

[zbdent]

4. If a repuke says "So what?"

remind him/her of their stance was when Gore was found to have stock in tobacco, or Michael Moore had stock in Halliburton . . . or whatever it was . . .

[Botany]

5. He used to be a liberal democrat

he is lower than snail shit on the bottom of the ocean

[badgervan]

6. Wake Up, Ohio

Wow. I do despise hypocrites. And arrogance. And bullies. And cheaters. And liars. Ohio, how did this jerk attain such high office? Let me guess: he is a "born again" christian, right?
If your basic christian voter would examine the actions, not the words, of these hypocrites, black hearted bad guys like Blackwell ( and a certain shrub prez ) wouldn't stand a chance.

[Selteri]

10. Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him... ever.

The fact is that Ohio went hard right for some reaon and is slowly correcting itself. I think this last election was more than a bit strange for how far off the exit polls, pre-polls and the actual votes were.

[drm604]

8. This fits into something I've been thinking about for a while.

Way back the middle of last year in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1821879
I discussed signohio.com, which is no longer in operation but was the website for a movement called "Stop Increased Gambling Now" which was supported by Ken Blackwell. You can still see mirrors of the site in the internet archive at http://web.archive.org/web/20021129115901/http://www.signohio.com/ and http://web.archive.org/web/20030623132459/http://www.signohio.com/
The first mirror is from November 2002 and the second one is from June 2003. They are nearly identical except for one name difference in the list of supporters. The 2002 version shows the following names:

Secretary Ken Blackwell

• Treasurer Joe Deters
  
• Sen. George Voinovich
  
• Rep. Diana Fessler
  
• Rep. Tim Grendell
  
• Rep. Jim McGregor
  
• Rep. Linda Reidelbach
  
• Rep. Twyla Roman
  
• Rep. Bryan Williams
  
• Rep. John White
  
• Rep. Derrick Seaver
  
• Sen. Jim Jordan
  
• Sen. Lynn Wachtmann
  
• Sen. Michael Shoemaker
  

The 2003 version shows the same list except that Sen.Michael Shoemaker has been replaced with Sen. John Schlicter

What really intrigued me is, if you read this article: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14024690&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
you'll see that Indian gambling was involved. That, of course, set off all kinds of bells and whistles in my head!

I've never been able to find any kind of connection between Blackwell and Abramoff or his cronies but my gut feeling is that they were involved somehow, even if indirectly. Your article, indicating probable insincerity in Blackwell's anti-gambling stance, just adds to that feeling.

I think this is important because a connection between Abramoff and Blackwell could mean a connection between Abramoff and electoral shenanigans. And who knows where that could lead.

If anyone has any more info about any of this I'd appreciate you posting it or PMing me about it. One thing to do would be to search for any connections between Abramoff and any of the people listed on those archive pages. It might also be a good idea for as many people as possible to get those archives on their hard drives before they disappear.

On Edit: Spelling Correction

[drm604]

12. Kick

:kick:

[LisaL]

9. He has shares of Diebold too.

[zann725]

11. Despite all his "flip-flopping," isn't Blackwell doing badly in the polls?

"Slot machines?"....hmmm. Maybe that's where they got the technology for the '04 Election machines:

Push in ONE "Kerry" vote...and voila...THREE "Bush" votes miraculously roll-over, appear..ONLY of course WHEN the casino owner first "calls" it.