Okay, let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: I live in Ohio. Specifically, I live in Cleveland, in the midst of the bluest county in the state, and where we’re going to have the RNC inflicted on us in July. To make things even worse, the convention starts right after my birthday — if you want to buy me a birthday present, I’m considering a medically-induced coma for the week of and the week after the convention.
Anyway. The real reason for this diary.
I’m really getting tired of the media referring to Kasich as the moderate, the level-headed one, the “adult in the room”. It is utter bullsh!t.
He cut billions out of the education and local government budgets, which disproportionately affects the poor. This has caused many districts and cities to raise local taxes and levies, which disproportionately affects the poor.
He raised the state’s sales tax and broadened what it covers, which disproportionately affects the poor.
He signed a bill redirecting $1.3 million in federal funds from Planned Parenthood, to “community clinics” … which have yet to be named, and which disproportionately affects the poor.
One of the first things he did as governor was push Senate Bill 5, which tried to gut public sector unions a la Wisconsin. Luckily, it was overturned by a referendum and never went into effect.
He said at the very beginning of his first term that people “could either get on the bus, or get run over by the bus.”
But, hey, he did cut the state’s income tax … which disproportionately benefited the rich.
Oh, and that Medicaid expansion? That actually helped the poor, so at least they can see a doctor after all the money’s been vacuumed out of their wallets by new taxes. Assuming, of course, they can find a doctor that treats their conditions, takes Medicaid, and are close enough to get to easily. (Did I mention he’s also cut funding for public transit?)
Oh, and as for his landslide reelection? This was over one of the weakest challengers that the Democrats have ever fielded, who ran a terrible campaign, and handed Republicans all the ammunition they needed. He didn’t just shoot himself in the foot, he shoved both in his mouth and then shot himself in both feet. And I still voted for him, because Kasich has been that bad a governor.
And this is the guy who’s the moderate? The adult? Okay, granted, compared to Trump and Cruz he is, but that’s not exactly a high bar to cross. He’s just better at hiding the crazy than the others.