O'Neill/Fingerhut '92

Check out this 1992 photo featuring Bill O'Neill and former Congressman Eric Fingerhut, in what was the first election for the 14th Congressional district.

All-Star Rally for Change!

Bill O'Neill is joined by Hillary Clinton and Ted Strickland today at Lakeland Community College.

Bill on Daily Kos!

A diarist at Daily Kos highlighted Bill's race today, you can check out the diary HERE. They specifically mentioned the great article from Cleveland Scene magazine profiling Bill which came out yesterday.

Our Closing Argument

Take a listen to our newest radio ad by clicking HERE, and chip in a contribution to help us keep it on the air.

The Change We Need

Bill O'Neill speaks in Willoughby last Friday about the need for universal healthcare.

Bill has been dubbed a healthcare hero by the California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Committee for his championing of universal healthcare. To check out more pictures from the event, click HERE.

Shawn O'Neill

Shawn O'Neill carries on the family tradition, serving with honor in Iraq.

Katie’s Brigade to Target Stow, Twinsburg

Katie O’Neill (pictured center above), community activist from Portland, Oregon and daughter of Bill O’Neill, will be making the trip across the country for the final stretch of the campaign to join the O’Neill for Congress team.

Katie will be leading “Katie’s Brigade” in Stow and Twinsburg, launching a two-week house-to-house effort to reach 5,000 households in the area. She will join forces with a group of her former classmates from the 1992 campaign, including her twin brother Shawn, a United States Air Force and Iraq veteran, along with Brandon O’Neill of Kent State University, Nick and Matt Brown of Geneva Neighbors and Kent State University, and Kevin Hogan, starting tackle for the Kent State Flashes. Members of the UAW Twinsburg local, IBEW local, SEIU local, AFSCME/OCSEA, Summit County Labor Council, OEA and OFT teachers will also be taking part in the campaigning efforts in Stow and Twinsburg.

Stow, with a population of 32,000, represents 5% of the district. Twinsburg is also an important target, with a population of 18,000.

The goal of Katie’s Brigade is to send 50 volunteers to visit the homes of 5,000 registered Independents and Democrats between October 20 and November 4.

Justin Barasky

Press Secretary

What Would YOU do for a Million Dollars???

Listen to our new radio ad HERE and find out what Steve LaTourette was willing to do...then feel free to let us know what you would do!

Justin B
Press Secretary

Watch Bill on Channel 5!

Bill was featured on ABC 5 this week to talk about the campaign. To watch, click HERE.

Justin B
Press Secretary

Plain Dealer Editorial Rips LaTourette

From today's PD:

"LaTourette absurdly claimed "the people who made the mess should clean up the mess." Well, if they were capable of cleaning it up, they would have done so without some of the richest investment banks in the world going under."

To view the full article click HERE.

You're Invited!

Click on the image for a larger view or click HERE to see the invite online.

Radio, Radio

Listen to our radio ad, click HERE.

Getting the Facts Straight

If you didn’t listen to WCPN last week, then you missed Steve LaTourette accusing Bill of having been tainted by rulings in favor of those who had contributed to his judicial campaigns. Allow us to set the record straight.

The Facts About Bill O'Neill's Record

As a judge and a judicial candidate, O'Neill was hailed for his courageous stances self-limiting campaign contributions. In his campaigns for Ohio Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court, O'Neill limited his campaign contributions to $10 from individuals and $1,000 from organizations, figures drastically under the maximum allowed under state law.

In his 10-year judicial career, O'Neill ruled on more than 3,000 cases. Only nine (9!) of those cases involved a contributor (0.003 percent). In those nine cases, he ruled nearly as often against his contributor (3 times) as in favor of (5 times), with one split decision. (Ohio Secretary of State's Office)

The Facts About Steve LaTourette's Record

In 14 years in Congress, LaTourette has taken nearly four million dollars ($3,994,807 as of June 30, 2008) from special interest PACs; he has taken nearly $300,000 ($287,970) from individuals and PACs in the oil and energy industries, and over one million dollars ($1,196,373) from individuals and PACs in the financial services industry. (Center for Responsive Politics)

In LaTourette's first campaign for Congress, LaTourette criticized his opponent for taking money from PACs, calling him the "prince of PACs" (Plain Dealer, May 5, 1994). Now PACs make up 46% of his lifetime contributions and 59% of his contributions this cycle. (Center for Responsive Politics)

According to Oil Change International's Follow the Oil Money site, which LaTourette's staff has cited, LaTourette votes with Big Oil 82% of the time. Last night, he cast another vote against a bill that would have ended tax subsidies for Big Oil companies.

A comparison of records shows that the record is clear. Steve LaTourette is in the pocket of special interest PAC’s.

Justin Barasky
Press Secretary

Bill Calls out Steve LaTourette for Once Again Siding with Big Oil

Wednesday night, Steve LaTourette once again stood firmly on the side of Big Oil, as he voted against a comprehensive energy bill that ended tax breaks for oil companies, invested that money in alternative energy, lowered gas prices and opened up more drilling opportunities.

Bill was disappointed, but not surprised, and said-

“He’s been saying he’s for ‘all of the above.’ And now that he’s voted against this comprehensive energy plan, I guess he meant ‘none of the above.’ When I’m a congressman, I will do everything in my power to fight for lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,”

Bill also went after Steve LaTourette for taking nearly $287, 970 from the oil and energy industries since he went to Washington (Center for Responsive Politics).

It’s clear where Representative LaTourette’s loyalties lie, and it’s not with the people of Northeast Ohio. It’s time for a Congressman who will fight for us, and not for big oil. It’s time for a change, and it’s time for Bill O’Neill to be our next Congressman.

Ben Barasky
Deputy Press Secretary

Listen to Bill on WCPN's "Sound of Ideas"

Click HERE to listen.

LaTourette Criticized for Involvement in Financial Crisis

Yesterday, we issued a press release asking Steve LaTourette to stand up and take responsibility for his role in the economic crisis facing Northeast Ohio and the nation.

"The people of Northeast Ohio deserve an explanation and, quite frankly, an apology," O’Neill said.

Bill’s statement has been receiving some nice reviews in the blogosphere. Ohio Daily Blog said “we came out swinging” while Buckeye State Blog notes that Bill O’Neill has “a track record of “standing up for working families.” Open Left, a national blog noted our press release here, and PolitickerOH wrote a great story highlighting Steve LaTourette’s connections to Phil Gramm, who infamously called America “a nation of whiners” recently.

Ben Barasky
Deputy Press Secretary

Had Enough?

"I'd like to know why Steve LaTourette is on the side of Phil Gramm and the banking lobbyists who are to blame for this crisis instead of the working families of Northeast Ohio. He's taken their money his entire career, and he's done their bidding in Congress, and last year Ohio had the sixth highest foreclosure rate in the nation to show for it. Steve LaTourette is out of touch, out of excuses and out of time, and working families have had enough of this lack of leadership in Congress. It's time for a change."

Fixing Healthcare in America

Last week Bill did a radio interview about Universal Health Care. To listen or download in a variety of formats, click HERE.

Justin Barasky
Press Secretary

Asleep on the Job

Why I Support Bill

The campaign is heating up, and sadly I won’t be in town to see it unfold because I have overpriced textbooks to read and classes to attend. Before that starts, I thought I’d fill everyone in on my experience this summer as an intern on the Bill O’Neill for Congress campaign.

I was exposed to the many different facets of a congressional campaign, from fundraising to field, from press events to parades. And I got to see a side of the candidate that most people never get to see. I see him working hard raising money during the day and then staying until he’s met every last person and shook every last hand at an event at night.

There’s any number of good reasons to support Bill in his bid for Congress. but the reason I found myself supporting him. Bill’s most unique quality, and one that should be the biggest reason we elect him to Congress, is his genuine desire to help anyone he meets. Bill left a safe seat as a Court of Appeals judge because he wanted to do more, and he became a pediatric emergency room nurse. And when Bill saw his country on the wrong track, he asked what else can I do? That’s why Bill wants to go to Washington – to serve.

Bill O’Neill often says that when life has been good to you, as it has to him, then you have a responsibility to try and make life good for others. And that’s what I want in my congressman. I want my representative in Congress to look out for what is best for me, not what is best for himself, or for the oil companies, or for the billionaires of the world. I want my congressman to care. That’s why I support Bill O’Neill for Congress in OH-14. And I hope that’s why you’ll support him, too.

Emma

Finance Assistant