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OUR VIEW: Dann does it again Attorney general's Good Friday gaffe raises questions of judgment, sensitivity

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November 18, 2007

Marc Dann, the Mahoning Valley Democrat who took over as Ohio attorney general this year, shows signs of being a political bull in the proverbial china shop.

Dann campaigned last year as a populist reformer who vowed to end "pay to play" politics, but shortly after taking office accepted $7,500 from gambling interests involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the state. He insisted on having an SUV as his official state vehicle, and didn't see any conflict in using $40,000 in state funds to buy one from a campaign contributor. He also hired, then fired, a driver who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

His latest misstep? A decidely unfortunate choice of words in a series of e-mails to one of his staffers regarding a negative newspaper editorial. "Jesus had it better on good friday," Dann, who is Jewish, wrote on April 6, which happened to be Good Friday, one of the most solemn days on the church calendar for Christians, because it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Not surprisingly, Dann's e-mail -- which became public last week -- is drawing fire from the Ohio Christian Alliance and Republican leaders.

The recipient of the e-mail, Dann's spokesman, Leo Jennings, who is Christian, said he did not find it offensive or bigoted.

We'd bet that a lot of other people -- who don't owe their livelihood to the attorney general -- think otherwise.




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