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Charlie Wilson a sore loser
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By David Skolnick (Contact)
- On the side
Filing deadline: Post-general election campaign finance reports for those who ran for U.S. House seats must be filed with the Federal Election Commission by midnight Thursday.
Costly race: There is little doubt that U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, a Democrat from St. Clairsville, raised and spent more than his Republican opponent, Bill Johnson of Poland, in the 6th Congressional District race. The 12-county district includes all of Columbiana County and about half of Mahoning County.
Johnson defeated the two-term Democrat in the Nov. 2 general election.
About $2 million was spent by outside organizations — including the American Action Network, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — on this race.
Most of that money went toward television commercials criticizing the two candidates with considerably more attack ads against Wilson than Johnson.
No one likes to lose.
After U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, a Democrat from St. Clairsville, lost the 6th Congressional District race to Republican Bill Johnson of Poland, he wouldn’t take calls from the media to discuss his defeat. Wilson was always glad to speak to the media after his victories.
Rather than discuss the loss, Wilson’s campaign emailed a two-sentence statement about 11:30 p.m. on the night of the election.
The next day I emailed his campaign treasurer and his congressional communications director to see if I could briefly speak to Wilson.
The response from Hillary Wicai Viers, his communications director, was: “I’m sorry, Congressman Wilson isn’t available today. Charlie’s focus right now is on the transition and making sure it goes very smoothly so that constituent needs are met.”
The transition? That’s a good one.
It’s even more amusing when you consider Kristi Paolina, Wilson’s campaign treasurer, emailed me on Nov. 4, writing: “Charlie is taking a few days away to spend at the Lake. When he returns, he is going to find his old phone (he does not have it with him), check messages and give you a call.”
I left a number of voice mail messages on Wilson’s cell phone. A transition at the lake must be why he still hasn’t returned the calls to this day.
On Nov. 17, more than two weeks after losing the election, there appeared to be some hope. In response to one of my many emails, Viers wrote: “Charlie is interested in doing something this week. Let me know what your schedule looks like.”
Less than two hours later, she “recalled” that email, and asked me to contact her later. I did by email and phone without a response.
I checked again on Nov. 19. In her response, Viers wrote: “I will contact you as soon as I know if anything is possible.”
That is political-speak for: You’ve got no chance of Charlie talking to you.
Running again?
WTOV, a television station in Wheeling, W.Va., that covers Steubenville, which is in the 6th District, went to Washington, D.C. A reporter for the station said Wilson declined multiple requests for an interview. Wilson spoke to the reporter off camera saying he planned to operate his funeral home and would consider running again in two years.
Again, no one likes to lose. But when you lose, it’s important to be professiona, not act like a spoiled kid who’s taking his ball home because he didn’t like the outcome of a play.
Despite its length — eight years in the Ohio House, two years in the state Senate and the past four in the U.S. House — Wilson’s political career was hardly impressive or inspiring. But Congress and state Legislatures throughout the country are filled with politicians just like Wilson.
Wilson is best known nationally for failing to get at least the required minimum number of signatures, only 50, on his nominating petitions in the 2006 Democratic primary, spending a lot of money because of the mistake, winning a write-in campaign in the primary against two opponents, and then capturing the congressional seat.
I’ll remember him best as a sore loser.
Comments
Sadly, I don't expect much better from this Johnson fella who appears to be another flunky *(tea bag) who wouldn't be in office if it wasn't for the millions the stinking Republican Party poured into to his campaign. He doesn't even live in the district
TaxedOff,
Charlie Wilson also doesn't live in the 6th District.
Dan Quayle was right. Character counts.
The court documents linked below detail the abuse Charlie the lib inflicted on his wife. Pretty tough stuff to read.
I'm asking because I don't know. Did the Vindy cover this story, which is germane to the selection of a Congressman?
http://biggovernment.com/mikeflynn/20...
I'm asking because I don't know. Did the Vindy cover this story, which is germane to the selection of a Congressman?
http://biggovernment.com/mikeflynn/20...
Of course not.
Not a fan of Wilson and glad he lost, but not very surprising he is not making himself available. He doesn't have to be a jerk about it though.
Some of these comments are unresearched. In regards to outside Republican money, it should be noted that most of the money the local Democrats spent on their elections came from outside Mahoning County, and the rest of the money came from outside Ohio.
One party shouldn't be called on something both parties are guilty of doing.
The link below describes an "Ohio media blackout" regarding the abuse Democratic-Socialist Charlie Wilson inflicted on his wife.
I have searched and cannot find any Vindy reference to this story.
This story is important because:
-Abusing another human, especially physically, is a crime.
-One's actions are the best measure of their judgement, ethics, and likely future actions.
-This was a man who was running for re-election as a US Congressman. He will, and has, cast very important votes that will determine the future health of the USA, such as whether to destroy healthcare or not, and to what degree the USA should be bankrupted.
A news organization presents unbiased and complete information relevant to a topic deemed valuable and important to the readership. Propaganda filters and censors information, say for example, on behalf on the Democratic-Socialists who may someday throw a bailout to a failing print media industry...as long as they've behaved.
http://www.nationalreview.com/campaig...
dan quayle ? and character? from the guy that was caught cheating on term papers in college and still was a C aveage student.at least he was dumb before it was cool like george w. or sarah palin.his son , who recently won an election used to regularly write for a sex site recently as five years ago.if thats character , then no thanks
jessiedavid make sure you put george bush one and two in that list and future president palin on worlds dumbest presidents , too. somehow we gravitated to obama instead of commenting on mr quayle and his family values.maybe mrs palin daughters"baby daddy" can shack up in the white house ,too when she wins
and by the way i dont quote bill clinton cause i know he was a whoremonger. so read up on dan quayle before you tell me about his family values. the guys that always preach to others about right and wrong are usually the biggest freaks and idiots out there = dan quayle
jessiedavid i agree with you too that if that is true ,charlie wilson is a piece of trash that deserved to lose. i just want everybody to know that there is trash in both parties and more garbage just got newly elected on nov. 2 im just pissed because kasich , johnson and the others are just a new round of garbage that the people who voted for them will be complaining and wont understand why they did nothing either in office. we get pimped every time there is an election , and dont think this tea party crap is any better , just a springboard to get a cushy do nothing job