Earlier, we found out that OH-09 Teapublican candidate Rich Iott couldn't bring himself to tell his would-be constituents exactly what it was he did for a living. He happily described himself as a "local businessman," but that was about all he'd say. And the local business for which he worked? Well, he retired from that about ten years ago when the business was sold. But as for what he's been doing these days, he's been... evasive at best.
But it turns out it's not just a matter of being intentionally vague on his web site and obscuring the fact that he's actually something closer to a globe-trotting film producer than a local business stalwart. He's also fibbing to the Feds!
Watch Iott try to answer questioning from Laura Emerson and debate moderator, Shaun Hegarty, both of FOX News Toledo, during their Monday night debate:
EMERSON: On March 19th of this year, the Federal Elections Commission reports that you made a contribution to the Republican National Committee of $500. They report that you listed your employer as the State of Ohio, and your occupation as a "soldier." Can you explain this?
IOTT: I don't remember that one specifically. I would like to see the verification of that, because I don't recall that at all.
[A half-hour later...]
HEGARTY: OK, Mr. Iott, I want to follow up on a question we had from Brandi [ed. note: actually from Laura Emerson] earlier in the day. You were asking about documentation from the Elections Commission. I want to let you know we uploaded it [ed. note: actually downloaded] right there for you, so you can see a copy of it, where it lists you as "State of Ohio," and "soldier," that dated March 19th of 2010. I'll give you a second to look over the document there. But the question from Brandi Barhite from the Toledo Free Press [ed. note: again, Emerson, not Barhite] was, on that election report, you made a contribution to the Republican National Committee of $500, they report you listed your employer [as], "State of Ohio," and occupation as a "soldier." So now that you're looking a the documentation, can you give us an explanation of exactly what that means?
IOTT: Uh, no, actually, I can't. I... am a soldier of the State of Ohio -- I'm in the Ohio Military Reserve -- and, uh, that is true. But that would not be my employer, certainly. And I don't know -- I don't know how that was -- got that way, to be honest with you.
Wow. Look at that face when he's hit with that question! "Soldier?" Clearly the fantasy life extends beyond the reenactment field. I mean, you can't knock somebody for giving their time to logistical support for the Ohio National Guard. But is "soldier" really the best description of your occupation when you're on the one weekend a month plan?
And "I don't know how" that got on there? Come on. You know who fills out the paperwork for political donations, don't you? When I click on Iott's website, the first thing that happens is it hits you up for a donation. And if you click through to make one, you'll notice that it asks you -- as in, the person making the donation -- to list your employer and occupation.
"I don't know how" that information could possibly get there, though!
Why can't Rich Iott just tell people what he does for a living?
That's... really strange. Don't you think? Gosh, there sure are a lot of things that turn out to be... really strange about Rich Iott. Aren't there?