OH-5: Buehrer (R) Responds to "Truce" Letter by Latta (R)

State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) has written a letter to Ohio Republican Party Chair Robert Bennett, responding to yesterday's letter by State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) calling for an armistice regarding the negativity that has dominated the GOP special primary in the 5th Congressional District. (The letter is reproduced in full below.) In the letter Buehrer chastises Latta for his votes relating to taxes and accuses him of making Buehrer out to be a criminal by bringing up the issue of contributions from Tom Noe. He also argues that the Tom Noe affair is "in the past," so that Latta's reference to Noe is bad for the Republican Party. He basically calls Latta a hypocrite, as well, on the grounds that Latta also accepted money form Noe.

Buehrer doesn't apologize for seeking records relating to Latta's wife Marcia from Bowling Green State University (confirming along the way that the request concerns Latta's wife seeking contribution to BGSU from Noe), but does concede that it may have been "indelicate." Buehrer refuses to sign Latta's pledge, but offers one of his own, which to my reading does not in fact pledge to avoid negative campaigning, only to continue his fight (as he sees it) for positive improvements for Ohioans. He characterizes Latta's letter to Bennett as, in essence, an insincere political ploy.

On the whole, Buehrer's letter is a flat rejection of Latta's overture and a continuation of his prior charges against Latta. I am very curious how Bennett will respond. However, I do not expect that response to occur in public, so we may never know!

Dear Chairman,

Any time a Republican legislator votes for a massive tax increase to pay for a massive state spending increase, I believe he ought to be compelled to explain that vote to Republican voters.

That's not negative. It's accountability.

Last week, after Mr. Latta launched his new attack ad attempting to link me to Tom Noe, I had an idea to prove that many good people solicited Mr. Noe for contributions. So, my staff called Bowling Green State University to pull records that would point out the irony of Mr. Latta's negative attack on me. As a paid fundraiser for BGSU, even Mr. Latta's own wife solicited contributions from Tom Noe. My request was not at all to attack Mrs. Latta, but to prove to Mr. Latta that his attack was unfounded and that many good people - even in his own family (and I believe Mrs. Latta to be a good person) trusted Mr. Noe and were later let down by his actions. My campaign wasn't digging dirt. We were trying, perhaps indelicately, to prove a point.

Getting back to the campaign -

You should know that over the course of this campaign Mr. Latta and I have interviewed to receive the endorsement of many organizations. Most of those organizations are decidedly conservative, therefore all organizations endorsing to this point in the race have endorsed me.

One of those organizations is The Club for Growth. This group, with many members in Ohio, is a conservative organization dedicated to economic prosperity through lower taxes and less government spending. And, it exists to fight liberal front groups such as MoveOn.org. Mr. Latta worked very hard to receive their endorsement, but his tax & spend record disqualified him from earning their support. Now, Mr. Latta is attacking that organization.

Just so we're clear: Bob Latta wants me to denounce the organization whose support he worked so desperately to receive.

Paul Gillmor served this district honorably and I believe the campaign to succeed him should focus on the future or our Party and our country. We should take this opportunity to talk about some of the things that frustrate Republican voters about their own leaders. Among those concerns are Republicans who can't resist the pressure to raise our taxes.

In 2003, the Ohio General Assembly considered a budget that increased spending by $5 billion along with a massive tax increase to pay for it. Mr. Latta and I were both there to vote on it. I voted against that budget. Mr. Latta voted for it.

Other than pointing out that difference in our voting record, I have NEVER mentioned Mr. Latta's name in my campaign except now to defend myself against his constant attacks on my character.

His latest stunt to "run a clean campaign" would be funny if it wasn't so sad. In essence he is saying that he'll agree to stop attacking my character and making me sound like a criminal if I agree to stop talking about his vote to raise your taxes.

So, I'm writing to ask for your advice - from a Republican State Senator to a Republican Party leader - what do you think? How should Republican voters respond to this important issue?

On one hand, we have a Republican elected official who went to Columbus and voted for a massive tax and spending increase. Is it off limits to talk about that? Should he never be held accountable for that vote with the Republican electorate?

On the other hand, what of all the Republicans who showed conviction and courage and refused to give in? I, along with many of my colleagues, voted against that very same bill. The leadership punished us and stripped us of committee assignments because we refused to vote for that tax increase. Should we never point out that contrast?

In your judgment, as a Republican leader, who should be rewarded and who should be held accountable?

Bob Latta knows the answer. That's why he's trying to change the subject. That's why he's trying destroy my name. That's why he wants you to think he's the victim.

So here's my pledge.

My campaign will be a crusade to strengthen Ohio's economy by supporting conservative fiscal principles that encourage free enterprise. I will fight for lower taxes and less government spending and I will hold people accountable when they hurt Ohio families by raising their taxes to grow our government. I will battle every day to make positive changes for our families and our future.

Bob Latta may be many things, but he isn't a fiscal conservative. And, he did vote for a giant tax increase and a huge spending increase that I believe contributed to the decline of Ohio's economy.

He says he wants me to sign a pledge that I won't mention his name. What he really hopes is for me to sign a pledge that I won't mention his giant tax hike vote and similar votes which have harmed our economy. That way the voters won't know about his true record, and he won't be compelled to explain himself.

You should be aware, however, that I fully suspect that he knows I won't sign his pledge. In fact, I think he's counting on it. He is most certainly preparing campaign ads to wreck my good name but, before he does that, he wants to be able to tell you, "Buehrer made me do it."

My campaign is about strengthening our economy by fighting for lower taxes and spending.

His campaign is about Tom Noe and who knows what attack is coming next.

My campaign will make the Republican Party stronger. His campaign will destroy it.

But, you're the Republican leader. Please email me today at contact@stevebuehrer.com and tell me what you think.

Thanks for your continued dedication to the Republican Party and to our great country.

Sincerely,

Steve Buehrer
State Senator