Andrew Zajac
They're running, make that sprinting, away from Marc Dann in Ohio.
The state's Attorney General is politically friendless, and also pretty much staffless following release of an investigative report last week which supported allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment in Dann's office. Dann also confessed to an affair with a subordinate staffer.
Two top aides were fired and a third resigned, as did Dann's assignation partner.
This morning, Gov. Ted Strickland and nearly every other top Democrat called on Dann to resign.
If he doesn't quit, House Democrats say they'll join Republicans in impeaching Dann.
The unusual vigor and speed with which Democrats are bailing on Dann has to do with:
1. the simplicity of the scandal. Every voter understands "booze", "sex" and "cover-up".
2. the fear that L'Affaire Dann will unravel huge gains Democrats have made in Ohio in the last election after a decade or more in the political wilderness. They hold every statewide office except Auditor and (the majority on) the state Supreme Court and are poised to re-take the House. A festering scandal would greatly complicate efforts to put the state in the Democratic column in the presidential campaign.
Democrats may also be guided by the Nobody Does It Just Once theorem of political misbehavior. The idea is to get Dann out of Columbus before further investigation uncovers yet more scandal.
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Comments
AGAIN the swamp won't post comments that are critical of democrats!
This guy Dann is a sleaze pure and simply. Apparently saying ANYTHING about the circumstances he put himself in is grounds to ban the post from the DNC swamp so I'll just say this: Dann has already hurt the democrats terribly in Ohio. It doesn't matter if he steps down today or yesterday or next week, the clear abuse of his office is there for every Ohioan to see.
Posted by: Jeff | May 5, 2008 3:30 PM
the clear abuse of his office is there for every Ohioan to see.
Posted by: Jeff | May 5, 2008 3:30 PM
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Keating Five?
Posted by: jackson | May 5, 2008 4:09 PM
Ohio's Democratic governor and House Democrats are telling Dann to "resign now or get impeached".
Compare that to Congressional Republicans refusing to show any political spine regarding senators Craig and Vitter in their sex scandals.
Posted by: BC | May 5, 2008 4:30 PM