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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.
Scott Elliott is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He writes about education, city and suburban issues, politics, business, workforce and consumer issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > October > 10 > Entry
Editorial: Fisher closer to right on big issues; Portman wants to refight Obama wars
2010 ELECTION
Ohio’s election for the U.S. Senate comes at time when a Republican candidate has great advantages. President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress have failed to turn the economy around or to tamp down the hyper-partisan atmosphere in Washington — that is, to unite the country.
Moreover, Republicans in politics and the media have made a coherent, anti-government case against the president, whereas he has not come up with a theme other than “change,” which isn’t resonating anymore.
And yet the mess he has failed to clean up was largely left to him by a Republican president. And the Republicans who now want back in office are basically the same people who supported that president’s policies.
In Ohio, both Senate candidates are highly capable, perhaps the best their parties can offer. Democrat Lee Fisher was tapped to be lieutenant governor because Ted Strickland needed somebody who knew the state and Columbus. Mr. Strickland was widely judged to have found the right person.
Republican Rob Portman has bipartisan respect and an admirable way of finding issues on which he can work with Democrats while keeping his conservative base happy. One was reform of Internal Revenue Service practices when he was last in Congress in the 1990s.
But on the big controversies, he is a loyal, staunchly conservative Republican. He can’t be confused with the likes of retiring Sen. George Voinovich, former Sen. Mike DeWine or former Gov. Bob Taft, all of whom have paid a price with the extreme voices in their party for occasionally straying from the party line. Their relative independence has been courageous and right for Ohio and the country.
Mr. Portman, who believes the Obama administration is consciously out to expand government’s size and power, wants to “repeal” the Obama health care plan. He also talks about “replacing” it. But this amounts to repeal. He simply is not on board for the strong measures that result in dramatic progress toward universal coverage.
Mr. Portman, who is significantly ahead in the polls, also wants to end the Obama stimulus plan, and, in fact, to reverse it, to go in the opposite direction on spending. Instead, he would stimulate the economy with a payroll tax holiday. But to end the Obama stimulus — which Mr. Portman admits has had impact — while trying another kind of stimulus would be self-defeating.
He blithely insists that the original stimulus would have had twice the impact if it were half the size and had bigger tax cuts. That’s the Republican line. Such a stimulus would have been only about twice the size of the now-forgotten one of 2008 (wherein taxpayers were sent rebates). That effort had no important impact on a much smaller economic downtown.
Mr. Portman and other Republican leaders are eager to refight the ugly fights of the last two years even if they can’t prevail. Better to move on. Better to not deliver the message to business people, Wall Street and the world that the United States might make U-turns on fundamental policy after every election.
Mr. Portman was rising in the House of Representatives when he was appointed to the Bush cabinet. He could rise to party leadership in the Senate, too. But to do so, he’d have to play to the Republican mood.
That’s not what the swing state of Ohio needs. It needs focus on the nation’s needs.
Mr. Fisher has not generally aligned himself with the party’s vocal liberal wing. When he ran for governor in 1998, he called for a tax cut. Before that, he was associated with the Democratic Leadership Council, an organization set up to keep the party from drifting too far left. (Bill Clinton came out of it.)
This year Mr. Fisher is fuzzing up his old image especially on trade, highlighting free-trade agreements as bad for Ohio. On the other hand, though, he has joined the political right in opposing “cap and trade,” which would cut carbon emissions with a system of rewards and penalties. His position is a concession to being from coal-dependent Ohio.
He supports President Obama on health care and the stimulus. President Obama has proceeded on the premise that if he was going to achieve dramatic legislation, it would be in his first two years. He was right. The next Congress will have more Republicans, and the scarred Democrats will move to the center. Mr. Fisher and his fellow Democrats know they have stretched to the limit whatever mandate the party had after 2008.
Meanwhile, though, all the pressure on Mr. Portman will be to stick to his promise to refight the old fights, especially with Republicans being pushed away from the political center by the Tea Party.
At a time when both parties should be trying to find common ground — and when both parties have much to be humble and chastened about — Mr. Portman is the one with the ideological head of steam. Mr. Fisher is the better choice.
(A letter in support of each candidate is here.)
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: 2010 endorsements, Editorials, Martin Gottlieb, Ohio politics
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By Philman
October 10, 2010 6:47 AM | Link to this
Obamacare is already a failure,it will cost a Billion more than the Democrats claimed, and please tell me if the Democrats were telling the TRUTH when they claimed we needed healthcare for the people that DONT have it like at McDonalds & other companies, why did Obama just Exempt DOZENS of companies from his plan so they could keep their current plans, THE DEMOCRATS ARE FAMOUS FOR LYING TO GET A BILL PASSED, ALSO WHY HAS THE DDN SHUT DOWN THE COMMENTS ON FRONT PAGE AND POLITICAL PAGE, ARE THEY STEERING THE VOTERS WITH ONLY THEIR OPPINION FROM NOW UNTIL NOV.2???
By wrong
October 10, 2010 8:11 AM | Link to this
lies lies lies from the poster below. The CBO has estimated that the Health care overhaul will CUT the deficit and save billions of dollars. All this while making coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. It will NEVER NEVER NEVER be repealed. NEVER. You LOST that one. get over it. move on.
By bobby
October 10, 2010 8:15 AM | Link to this
Shocking! hahahahahahahahahahaha. Lee Fisher? What’s next, an endorsement of Joe What’s his name over Mike Turner? Dan Foley’s support of Lee Fisher has cost Dan my vote.
By Kurt
October 10, 2010 8:25 AM | Link to this
Want those facts again—until 2006 when the democrats took over both houses—here is Bush’s mess—4.7%unemployment-14,000 stock market, 53 months of record GNP growth, only 1 trillion in debt. Then came the sub prime meltdown caused by giving welfare recipients loans, all democrat ideas. By the way, Clinton left a recession Bush had enough class to never speak about.
By Jim
October 10, 2010 8:52 AM | Link to this
Philman, all I can say is that you’re seriously misguided if you think this country didn’t need health care reform. The Republican interest is in helping large corporations and the wealthy. Corporate loyalty to the USA and any sense of corporate/civic responsibility are things of the past. Supporting policies that favor big corporations is only going to allow them to outsource more jobs to emerging markets, so they can sell their products there. GM and CAT are the first two that come to mind.
By jimmie
October 10, 2010 10:00 AM | Link to this
Surprise, Surprise. The DDN lefties of Belcher, Gottlieb and company come through again.I’ll bet they would endorse Pelosi if they could.
By Chad
October 10, 2010 10:11 AM | Link to this
So, Jim, why did obama exempt the pharamceutical companies from any controls on pricing as long as they would not advertise against his healthcare takeover? Sounds like big corporation to me—all that from the constant candidate who lied about doing away with lobbyists. Healthcare has the MOST. obama lied again. ————- He exempts the certain labor groups and companies from the INCREASED costs of his healthcare takeover. You can’t change that fact. That should be a campaign commercial for obama and big companies and interests—his love for the UAW has ruined this country by not releasing GM and C from their stranglehold on overpayment and overbenefits. obama lies again about how honest he would be. His pelosi would “Drain the swamp.” Of course that was the swamp for free mortgages the Dems and friends Inluding Frank and his boyfriend Raines. ——- Constant lies after listening to the Dems b***h for 8 years anything and anytime they could about Bush. Then they turn the Clintonesque politics of personal destruction against Palin and O’Donnel in Delaware. They seem to hate women. Is that a psychological failing in Democrats?
By Rob
October 10, 2010 10:20 AM | Link to this
Obama inherited the mess? He campaigned for it, said he could fix it. Big Government, Higher Taxes and More Regulation won’t drive a recovery. I remember when I stopped paying for the DDN several years ago. One of the best moves I ever made.
By bobby
October 10, 2010 10:26 AM | Link to this
The shared opinion of the negotiators for NCR and DHL was that Mr. Fisher (please call me Lt. Governor Fisher) was an unprepared,arrogant blowhard. The Senate already has it’s quota of these types.
By Patrick
October 10, 2010 11:12 AM | Link to this
Lee Fisher is the best person for Ohio we don’t need any more of Portman’s failed economic plans that outsourced jobs bad trade deals and soaring deficits.Congressman Portman; he has a real economic plan but not for Ohio. Lee is just the hardest fighter Ohio can have he has been helping Ohioans as soon as he was elected, Portman has only been helping the banks on Wall Street. So I hope Ohio makes the right choice by electing Lee and last I heard with mail in votes Lee currently has a lead over Portman.
By pee-ell
October 10, 2010 12:06 PM | Link to this
“And yet the mess he has failed to clean up was largely left to him by a Republican president.” Should read And yet the mess he has failed to clean up was largely left to him by a DEMOCRAT CONGRESS.
By Get Real
October 10, 2010 12:07 PM | Link to this
Why do we always have such lousy candidates from both sides to pick from? Neither side should have anything to be proud of, they both are incompetent.
By Fiscal conservative
October 10, 2010 2:39 PM | Link to this
All I can say is I would have a hard time voting for democrats who continue to push endless spending. Anybody with half a brain realizes somebody is going to get a bill for it sooner or latter. We are all going to pay for it in higher taxes and inflated prices for everything we buy, including food.
By Social Security Debate
October 10, 2010 4:38 PM | Link to this
Democrats ended the SS independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the general fund under LBJ. They eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security withholding and Started taxing Social Security annuities. Then Carter enacted a law giving Immigrants who moved into this country the right at age 65 to began receiveing Social Security payments, even know they didn’t even pay into it.
By Bob
October 10, 2010 4:40 PM | Link to this
This editorial is the biggest bunch of horsesh@t I have ever read and it is the exact reason I will be voting a straight Republican ticket. The writers have no clue how this country has gotten in to this mess.
By Kelly
October 10, 2010 4:40 PM | Link to this
People if you think healthcare is not and issue that will run your lives your sadly mistaken. If the fat cat republicans are not held accountable for the last 4 years and the last 20 months of delays , blocks and political games on the voters to vote for them in this election. The state of ohio and this country is going to loose big for the wealthy corporate interests, insurance companies and wages next. You will have a job in a few years if these guys take over but you will be fighting to earn a living wage as well. People stop ignoring from a rebuilding economy and wake up. If you don not set an example to the republicans that it is time for you to work with the senate and house we have had enough then you deserve what is coming to you if they take over. IT is a fact !
By Kelly
October 10, 2010 4:45 PM | Link to this
People if you think healthcare is not and issue and does not need regulations that will run your lives your sadly mistaken. Has you healthcare went up prior to this administration? If you say No your not telling the truth. If the fat cat republicans are not held accountable for the last 4 years and the last 20 months of delays , blocks and political games on the voters to vote for them in this election. The state of ohio and this country is going to loose big for the wealthy corporate interests, insurance companies and wages for day to day workers next. You will have a job in a few years if these guys take over but you will be fighting to earn a living wage as well. People stop ignoring from a rebuilding economy and wake up. If you do not set an example to the republicans that it is time for you to work with the senate and house we have had enough of the games then you deserve what is coming to you if they take over. IT is a fact !
By jimmy
October 10, 2010 4:52 PM | Link to this
People stop the JOKE ON SPENDING! This is a typical political republican toy that goes on and on . It is a fact no one see it but Republicans spend just as much. Lets get something done for once why would you say vote for republcians when they put us in this mess and they have been paid for the last 20 months and done nothing but delay, block and played games and YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS. You aviously have not kept up on them governing or you have lost it!
By Macy
October 10, 2010 5:04 PM | Link to this
Jim and Kim your right I hope the state of Ohio has not lost sight of the damage those idiots put us in and what it will take to get us out. If anyone thinks 20 months will do it they have lost thier minds. Then we put up with 20 more months of games by this party through blocks and delays and politcal ploys with spending and fiscal responsibilty talk because of an election. People we should be wise to this by now! Where was this when they were in charge. What a JOKE and now they are suddenly the GODs to fixing this economic issues. It is a shame we are this dumb!
By GSM
October 10, 2010 9:19 PM | Link to this
@Macy, You ARE right, Except for your politics, which you are wrong.
By David Westrich
October 10, 2010 9:54 PM | Link to this
The editorial board did their homework and I agree with them.
By Jim
October 10, 2010 11:23 PM | Link to this
Honestly - what a joke our Dayton newspaper is. They might as well open every editorial with - “Dear Comrades”
By paul
October 11, 2010 12:20 AM | Link to this
Portman is sharp, and he’s right, ObamaCare needs to be repealed and reform the “right way”. ObamaCare is an embarrassment for the Democratic Party.
By Max
October 11, 2010 8:58 AM | Link to this
Healthcare reform is flawed but less flawed than the previous system where virtually anything goes. As an Independent I have leaned towards Portman for his leaning towards bi-partisanship approaches. The problem he has is this ‘repeal’ of healthcare; this is neither realistic nor is it in the best interest of the nation to propose a re-fight of that battle. However, the GOP candidates play to their audience ‘as if’ this was a possibility. Healthcare repeal has become the replacement banner for Roe v. Wade with the party and its suburb, the Tea Party. Healthcare reform can be amended through the legislative process and, as Obama and the current majority in the House concur, amendments are to be expected. Portman has a peculiar view of government’s role; he is against expansion as long as it can intrude in personal lives and choices. THAT’s also a party line. Fisher’s history is a checkerboard of positions, failures, crossing party lines, and commentary outside of the purvue of state politics to national and international issues. This is peculiar in that he wears the ‘stigman’ of Strickland and actually may benefit from it by receiving the voters’ ‘consolation’vote as they vote for Kasich. On this one, I am going to agree with Martin although for different reasons. Both parties are in the ‘woodshed’ with the voters and Fisher seems to be one Democrat open to consensus for the good of the nation.
By null
October 11, 2010 11:25 AM | Link to this
You must remember the DDN is supported by liberal readers, and advertisers. Plus liberal newspapers are dinosaurs.
By Mark
October 11, 2010 12:15 PM | Link to this
Gee, not a suprise that a liberal newspaper would endorse liberal candidate. I predict that Mr. Portman will be elected by a landslide. What the DDN doesn’t seem to understand is that most Ohioans are tired of the failures of the Democrats.
By Max
October 11, 2010 1:32 PM | Link to this
@Null….’liberal advertisers?’ My Kroger coupons have no party affiliation.
By jimmie
October 11, 2010 5:49 PM | Link to this
@Max- I suspect your coupons are food stamps. Per Ms. Pelosi - Food stamps and unemployment payments do more to create jobs than anything else.
By John
October 11, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
In 2007, the year Democrats took control of the house and senate the federal deficit stood at 160 billion. Today it now stands at 1.4 trillion with projections of 1.6 trillion next year. The debt that year was 36.2% of the GDP, this year it stands at 63.6%. Congress writes the legislation and in 2007 the Democrats took control of both houses. Any correlation? Yet we hear that it was a problem Bush and the Republicans created. As a conservative, I was appalled as any over the reckless spending Bush gave approval to that final year. But the first two years under Obama and the last three under a Democratic lead house and senate has made any debt and deficit spending Bush may have approved pale in comparison. What caused the current recession? It didn’t happen overnight. Questionable lending in the private housing sector with oversight and reform which was blocked by the Democrats in 2004 and 2005. Creation of the Fair Housing Act was another factor. It all came tumbling down. While two wars did cost us a great deal, it wasn’t the boogeyman of the left’s dreams that has us in this current crisis. Bailouts of Wall Street, GM, union pensions, the health care boondoggle are more likely culprits, yet the left still wants to fight the past forgeting their contributions to the mess and they clamor for more by endorsing a Lee Fisher who simply go with the program set forth by this administration and it’s willing cohorts. Tax the rich they say, it’s not their money, it belongs to the government. The government has proven it cannot manage anything. We could tax the rich at 100% and still not make a dent in this mess. The math doesn’t work. They complain about Republicans obstructing legislation. How can we and who would pay for this legislation they propose. I see no oone being able to explain that. Portman wants to cut spending. I say good. Will he? If he intends to keep his job he will attempt to do so. Would Fisher cut spending? Absolutely not. Would he be business friendly? Very doubtful. All I know is we cannot as a state or a country continue down the road we took in 2007 and 2008. Until anyone can convince me that Fisher is the better choice to help stop this insanity I will throw my support with Portman. Convince me otherwise…
By Jason
October 17, 2010 10:21 AM | Link to this
Dayton Daily News, you never ever let me down. You will always endorse the most liberal of liberals… I don’t know whatever happened to your fair and balanced approach you took a few years ago… I suppose it went out the window with your common sense….
By MG.
October 20, 2010 2:07 PM | Link to this
All I have to say, is where was the DDN when OweBama passed up Bush in the spending column as reported by the (CBO) Congressional Budget Office. please see:Heritage.org(Budget 2011; Past Deficit vs Obama Deficit in pictures) Its easy to say that the Republicans spend as much as the Democrats do, but the truth of the matter is that they out spent eight years of Bush in the first 18 1/2 months of OweBamas presidency! The bias of the DDN still hasn’t rescinded Owebamas “Hope and Change” rhetoric to “Hype and Chains”. They’re out of touch with middle class america and still can’t admit that people are infuriated with this health care bill that nobody wants!
By blucorsair
October 20, 2010 2:19 PM | Link to this
The DDN like George Soros can’t stop the inevitable retaliation of the american people against the communists that are in power now! Perhaps, if you tried a more truthful less propaganda approach to the news your daily circulation would improve! ….although I have to admit, its fun matching wits with the Halibuts….