House Spearker Dennis Hastert's "Prayer"
With apologies to King David
by former Congressman Bob Shamansky (D-OH)
Candidate for Ohio's 12th Congressional District
DeLay is my bagman: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in still more money.
He leadeth me beside big donors.
He restoreth my cash.
He leadeth me in paths of self-rightousness for his own sake.
Yeah, though I walk though the valley of grand juries,
I will fear not evil, for Tom is with me.
His hammer and his staff, they comfort me.
He preparest a defense for me in the presence of mine prosecutors.
My bank account runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow all my votes as Tom directs,
And I will dwell in the House of Representatives forever.
Bob Shamansky is a lifelong Central Ohio resident, lawyer, and local businessman. He served as a Special Agent in the United States Army's Counter Intelligence Corp during the Korean War, and as a Member of Congress representing Ohio's 12th Congressional District from 1981-1983. He is seeking the Democratic nomination as a candidate in the 12th Congressional District.
In 1980, Bob did something remarkable. He became the first Democrat elected to represent Ohio's 12th Congressional District since 1937 and the only Democrat to beat an incumbent Republican congressman in the year that Ronald Reagan was elected president. The man he beat,
Rep. Sam Devine was the third ranking Republican in the house - the chair of the House Republican Conference.
Bob won by being a different kind of candidate, and running a different kind of race. When he took his seat in Congress, he strove to be a different kind of Congressman - putting the interests of his constituents first, and fighting special interests like the Oil and Tobacco industries - fighting for fuel efficiency standards, and to eliminate tobacco subsidies.
Mr. Shamansky, a bachelor who is a graduate of Harvard Law School, said that he had modest goals. He said he would simply try to serve his district well. ''If my district thrives,'' he asserted, ''I will thrive.''
-The New York Times, Nov 21, 1980. pg. A.16
Bob told the unvarnished truth, and faced the political realities. In 1982 he was redistricted out after a backroom deal within his own party - and lost the seat to a young Republican named John Kasich. Yes,
that John Kasich. Now, 20 some years later, Bob's running again because he feels that the man occupying the 12th District seat isn't serving his constituents - he's serving the same kind special interests Bob fought against 24 years ago. Bob's fighting for real progressive values - a smart, safe, and free country where the people come first, and where our elected representatives answer first to their constituents.
We hope that you'll join Bob in his fight to bring real honest leadership to Central Ohio, and to help put our state, our communities, and our country back on the right track. Visit ShamanskyForCongress.com to learn more, and to join Bob's fight.
Disclaimer: Drew Tappan is Campaign Director for Shamansky for Congress