DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Republican Party and Ohio Christian Alliance are calling on Attorney General

Marc Dann to publicly apologize for an insensitive e-mail he sent to a staff member on Good Friday.

A story in Sunday's Dayton Daily News revealed that on April 6, Dann e-mailed Communications Director Leo Jennings III about an editorial

that ran in their hometown newspaper, The (Youngstown) Vindicator. "Bentley said there are six nasty

posts after the Vindy editorial. All about you," the e-mail stated. "Jesus had it better on good friday."

GOP Deputy Chairman Kevin De-Wine said, "His remark comparing a bad press day to the crucifixion of Christ is outrageous and inappropriate from anyone, much less an elected official ...If comedians and talk show hosts can be fired and publicly scorned for a single racist remark, Marc Dann should be held no less accountable."

Chris Long, president of the Ohio Christian Alliance, also asked Dann to apologize, calling the remark appalling, bigoted and insensitive.

When asked how Dann would respond, Jennings said: "I don't have anything to say about it right now."

DeWine called on Gov. Ted Strickland, an ordained Methodist minister, to join him in calling on Dann for a public apology. Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said the governor is too busy on issues such as health care and affordable energy.

"The governor is focused on moving the state forward. The governor

doesn't have any time for Kevin DeWine," Dailey said. The e-mail was found among 4,300 e-mails recently

released through a public records request the Daily News made in June.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1624 or lbischoff@DaytonDailyNews.com.