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Saturday, September 06, 2008
Chabot v. Driehaus, The Cincinnati NAACP, and Black Votes
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Ever since I saw that Republican Steve Chabot wrote a letter in support of an issue being discussed by Christopher Smitherman and the Cincinnati NAACP, I’ve been thinking about how the emerging boondoggle over Dwight Tillery’s “Closing the Health Gap” can hold Steve Driehaus back from beating the incumbent Republican. At the end of the day, the Chabot-Driehaus race will have less to do with political parties (since, after all, Driehaus has the same values as Republicans), and more to do with what kind of community connections each candidate can make to solidify electability.
A few thousand votes could be all it takes to decide the winner between Driehaus and Chabot. And in a presidential election year with Barack Obama on the ballot, the 1st Congressional District’s Black vote could be a huge factor. While the national stereotype is that African Americans vote Democrat, on the more local level things can become a bit more fluid—and with the local NAACP growing exponentially under Smitherman’s leadership, they could have a huge impact on Black voting patterns in between Driehaus and Chabot.
Remember, the NAACP has shown it can work across the aisle on issues important to its membership, like its partnership with COAST on getting issues onto the ballot. With the NAACP now celebrating its third success at achieving ballot access in just two years (the jail tax, the red light cameras, and Proportional Representation), the membership has established itself as a real citizen front for engaging the political process.
The whole Dwight Tillery situation smells like Democrats running insider deals for their friends. A few years back, when Council threatened to shut down health clinics in the inner-city, they managed to find a few hundred thousand dollars for Tillery’s operation—even though it is a private corporation not run by doctors. And if this recent Enquirer article is any indication, Driehaus has it in for the Cincinnati Health Department. (Could all of this be part of their plan to systematically shut down the Health Department, privatizing the operation through Tillery’s corporation?)
So I think Driehaus has a quick decision to make on this issue. He can side with the NAACP, or he can side with his buddies in the Hamilton County Democratic Party. If he chooses his Party over people, then Steve Chabot is already positioning himself to advocate for the NAACP membership and to earn Black votes.
Besides, that the City would wish to give monetary support to a private corporation instead of a public agency run by doctors that also qualifies for a huge state grant—well, it kind of fits with the theme of “fiscal irresponsibility” that Republicans love to use to hammer away at Democrats. Driehaus could be setting himself up to look like a wasteful Democratic spender playing cronies at the expense of people. The move could lose him thousands of Black votes, and it could be just the thing to concretize another term for the incumbent Chabot.
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06 Sep 2008 at 09:03 pm | #
For all the community partners, or those wishing to become community partners with Dwight, he is inviting everyone to a community partners meeting on Tuesday September 16th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Medical Education and Resource Center (MERC)Auditorium located at 620 Oak Street Cincinnati, Ohio. You need to RSVP by this Monday, September 8, 2008 by calling 513-585-9872 as a light dinner will be served for participants.
This comes from a Cincinnati Herald article in the Sept 9-12, 2008 edition.
07 Sep 2008 at 09:22 am | #
If Tillery wants to become community partners with the NAACP, he should come to our general membership meeting and address why he’s lobbying City Council members NOT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT FROM THE STATE OF OHIO TO START THE OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH.
07 Sep 2008 at 09:57 am | #
I saw Steve Chabot at the Black Family Reunion. I asked him to sign my PR petetion and he told me perhaps some other time. Which was a nice way to blow me off. Steve Driehaus didn’t show at the BFR. Still he had his main man, the laughable...excuse me lovable Brother Powell passing out flyers. Seriously, Brother Powell is a good guy.
Yesterday Steve Chabot was on the Lincoln Ware radio show pandering to the black vote, while Mr. Ware was “c’bing.” against callers who wanted to ask Mr. Chabot some tough questions. Like 90% of Cincinnatians think Dirty Joe Deters needs to resign, your thoughts Mr. Chabot. And why are you opposed to a planned parenthood on the west side of town? Do you think it’s OK that they stick all the PP in the “hoods.” (Thank you Margaret Sanger). Seems your area needs a planned parent hood considering that lately it seems more Bristols, Brittany’s and entire high schools of suburban girls are getting pregnant. It’s always been a given that black girls get pregnant, NOT!
OK it’s not about Black or White. It’s about Change and things are a changing in Cincinnati. I’m a Dem. But have and will continue to happily vote for a republican (except Joe Deters) every now and then. I agree with one thing that Mr. Chabot said and that is if you’re a constituent in my district, if I can help you, I’ll help you. I don’t care if you’re white, black, hispanic, Dem or Repub...I’m here for the community.
Put one on the scoreboard for Mr. Chabot.
07 Sep 2008 at 10:54 am | #
L.G.:
Great point made about Tillery coming to the NAACP.
Only a pretty strong person can step into such a stronghold of community service as the NAACP and present a stance one way or the other and learn from it. This is not about learning, it’s about preserving a job so you can do other things.
I make the information known as many groups affiliated with NAACP and other community driven organizations need to see if they get the answers they need to continue on the Tillery List, extract themselves from the list and association, or if not a member, resist the temptation to jump on a wagon not entirely composed of healthcare professionals.
Tillery stood in Tom Moore hall at a major Democratic function a month before the NAACP took the vote on condemning the two major parties for their collusion in the secret deals. He supported the deals, Burke, Radford and the other opportunists making his connections known. No one said anything about the deals that had been made over the years and why. ONLY at the NAACP meeting the next month did we hear of other deals over the years and how we have grown beyond that. While gathering his crowd it was all about Dwight, not what the CHG does.
The meeting on the 16th should open a few eyes, let people ask questions. Enough of us going, listening, asking questions and reporting back here and elsewhere gets more ears attuned and what’s really happening.
07 Sep 2008 at 11:03 am | #
I beg to differ.
Stating the truth - that the City Health Department failed to protect these nursing home residents - does not mean Steve Driehaus “has it in” for the Health Department.
Prior City Council and City Administrations decided to take on the responsibility for these inspections. However, over the years the City has allowed the bottom to drop out of its commitment to health issues—at least if the prime measure of commitment is adequate funding.
We constantly hear public officials use the tired rhetoric of “making hard choices.” Unfortunately, few leaders will admit that “making hard choices” really means “deciding who will suffer.”
It is a positive step to identify an agency that can get this work done right.
--pk---
07 Sep 2008 at 12:41 pm | #
komarek:
Firstly, there are TONS of unanswered questions about these inspections at the nursing home.
There is the fact that the home ALSO PASSED STATE INSPECTIONS, just before this weird police raid. So here you have the Cincinnati Health Department, which keeps losing funding, being made to do inspections that no other municipal health department in the State maintains—and they are apparently doing as good a job as the State.
But in all the fallout about this place in Westwood, the hammer keeps coming down on the Cincinnati Health Department, and NOT the state.
It raises overall questions about this strange police raid. What was going on in March that precipitated this raid? Is it normal for police to conduct these kinds of raids? What records, if any, exist to substantiate the details leading to the raid?
I’m not convinced that the City failed to protect nursing home residents. I do think this nursing home has been utilized as a leverage point against the Health Department, and I think Steve Driehaus railed against the Health Department without actually having a conversation with key players there. (At least, in the Enquirer article, it seemed he had not communicated fully with them.)
With all this stuff happening with Tillery’s organization, I’m just saying the timing of everything is awfully coincidental.
07 Sep 2008 at 03:01 pm | #
Dean
I can’t recall any other police raids on nursing homes for patient care issues. It’s virtually unprecedented.
On the other hand, care providers pass state and local inspections—then wind up hurting people days or weeks later—all the time. Investigations follow.
Look at the Marcus Feisel case. And in New York City a couple of years ago, a child died at a child care center the very day inspectors were at the place!
I believe that the Cincinnati Health Department went through a “fiscal triage” process that cut out support for their inspectors. The regulator that will actually support the effort should handle these inspections.
And I do agree with you that the Health Department should get the state grant funds for the Minority Health office.
--pk---
07 Sep 2008 at 03:30 pm | #
komarek wrote:
Precisely. So let us linger over this fact.
The mainstream is pounding away on the terrible conditions for those living at the facility. So, there is no need to do work on that front.
But no one is paying any attention to the unprecedented police raid on this facility. Why did it happen? Who notified the police? What position, if any, did this person have that s/he could persuade the police to take this unprecedented action?
What motives are at play here? Does this have anything to do with things not related to patient care?
Does the location of this nursing home have any bearing on this line of inquiry?
08 Sep 2008 at 06:00 am | #
Never one to let facts get in your way…
The police got involved when one of them chased a beloved member of your oppressed minorities through the place. Instead of following up on whatever the po’, misunnerstood, yoot was doing, the flatfoot said “What the hell is going on here”?
He reported up the chain of command that he witnessed terrible living comditions and elder abuse.The “raids” soon followed…
08 Sep 2008 at 07:37 pm | #
"and with the local NAACP growing exponentially under Smitherman’s leadership”
Really? Present the math demonstrating the exponent by which the membership upon his election has grown.
“n raised to the power of 1” doesn’t count.
Justin’s Rules of Evidence Apply.
08 Sep 2008 at 09:54 pm | #
JMthePlumber:
I must ask: Who is the “strong person” you’re referring to? What does “gathering his crowd” mean? Who is this individual you are not naming? You should speak plainly and not in riddles.
Tillery is supporting public policies that goes against the interest of black people’s health in the city of Cincinnati. Tillery wants CHG to be the only “gig” in town when it comes to “supposedly dealing with minority health issues. Why? Because he’s making six figures with benefits while not “closing the health gap” between minority and majority citizens in this area. Tillery doesn’t want competition because he’s afraid he’ll lose funding from Council to the Office of Minority Health, which would a city office rather than a non-profit. So what does he do? Calls up the Councilmembers who he has strings attached to & he has them reject the FREE MONEY FROM THE STATE OF OHIO. WHY REJECT FREE GRANT MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE AN AGENDA?
What CHG does is not the issue...the issue is that the infant mortality rate is ridiculous in Cincinnati and we need every free dime we can get to get this issue under control.
Further, everyone knows Tillery vocally supported the County Dems & Republicans cutting a deal to protect Portune (his good friend), Deters, Leis and ALL OF THE JUDGES IN COMMON PLEAS. We know this because Tillery was quoted in the paper the day after supporting the deal. When the highest voter turnout of African-American community looming in November, Tillery takes a public position to undermine the voters of this county and city. Dwight Tillery is looking out for Dwight Tillery...not for the poor & minority communities in this area. Tillery’s all about having power at any costs rather than supporting policies that will benefit black people in Cincinnati.
09 Sep 2008 at 04:43 pm | #
LG #11
I thought condoms were a quarter.
10 Sep 2008 at 09:53 am | #
LG:
“strong person” is any of us who have something to offer the conversation and present it. Present it even if it might be shot down. When we participate by offering solutions, listening, pitching in we are the stronger set individually and collectively. Smitherman’s leadership has brought out many strong persons who were moldering away. That’s the delight of increasing numbers in the local NAACP.
‘gathering his crowd” is simply gathering people who will support you in various ways to make sure you have sufficient numbers for a vote. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling people to say you need there help in visual numbers on an issue in a meeting. Or to join you on the courhouse steps.
By the way, yesterday our office was told that the meeting “Tuesday September 16th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Medical Education and Resource Center (MERC)Auditorium” has been cancelled and will be rescheduled a some other time. The heat is on Tillery. He does not want to be placed where he has to answer questions and be held accountable.
12 Sep 2008 at 05:14 am | #
Dean: Hello? Exponent, please.
Justin: have the Rules of Evidence been suspended?