Glass City Jungle

This in via e-mail from TruthPAC and an email was received from Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan referencing a portion of the TruthPAC release which I have included in quotes to clearly delineate the two sources. Then I just received a corrected media release from TruthPAC, since I don’t delete releases, I’ve indicated what was changed from the original release using the strike feature.

DUCKIN’ DAN GILBERT CONTINUES BACKING OUT OF DEBATES
But He Stars In New TV Ads As Issue 3 Campaign Enters Final Week

(Cleveland, OH) – Dan Gilbert, one of the main financial backers of a plan to legalize Las Vegas style casinos in Ohio, has ducked at least four debates in five days, and continues to refuse to explain how his public comments about his arrest for illegal bookmaking contradict news accounts of his arrest.

The two most recent ducks occurred yesterday, when Gilbert failed to show up at one debate sponsored by Kent State University and another by WTAM radio in Cleveland. Last week, Gilbert canceled an appearance on Ohio News Network, which sponsored an hour-long show on Issue 3, and backed out of a scheduled appearance on the TV show, “The State of Ohio” with Karen Kasler.

Updated portion: Response from Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan

TO STATEHOUSE/POLITICAL REPORTERS

Regarding TruthPAC’s “Duckin’ Dan” news release, please be advised that Dan Gilbert was never invited to appear on Karen Kasler’s show “The State of Ohio,” was never scheduled to appear on “The State of Ohio” and therefore – quite obviously – never ‘backed out of” an appearance on “The State of Ohio.”

This is, in other words, a flat-out, bald-faced lie. Karen has graciously offered to confirm this.

“What’s Duckin’ Dan have to hide?” asked TruthPAC spokeswoman Sandy Theis. “The public has lots of questions only he can answer.”

Instead of debating, Gilbert plans appearances at carefully scripted rallies, including one before the Cleveland Cavaliers’ home opener tomorrow. Gilbert is the majority owner of the Cavs.

See Jim Heath’s 10TV story on Duckin’ Dan here.

Despite his absences, Gilbert plays a starring role in a new TruthPAC TV commercial (VIEW: here) that urges voters to vote NO on Issue 3 and reminds them that Gilbert refuses to identify his business partners.

The ad opens with an announcer who says: “They say we should keep Ohio gambling money in Ohio. But who’s really getting the money? Dan Gilbert, arrested for running an illegal bookmaking operation in Michigan … Before we write a monopoly into our constitution, shouldn’t we know who will profit from Ohio’s gambling dollars?”

The second ad (VIEW: here) gives the voters the FACTS:

* Issue 3 gives out-of-state casino developers a gambling monopoly written into the Ohio Constitution;
* The tax rates casinos would pay is so low that it shortchanges Ohio out of $473 million each year; and
* A loophole allows casino developers to avoid paying taxes on cash bets.

Both new commercials are expected to dominate TV and radio over the next week.

Gilbert’s past arrest came to light in newspaper articles that show he was arrested in college for running an illegal bookmaking operation. Although Gilbert has publicly likened the incident to trading NFL cards and said “no money was ever exchanged,” news reports at the time said a frightened student bettor turn him in, and an undercover State Police officer wearing a wire discovered Gilbert and his associates running a $114,000 illegal bookmaking ring.

Gilbert paid a fine, completed community service and served three years probation.

ABOUT TRUTHPAC

TruthPAC is a broad, bipartisan coalition opposed to Issue 3 – a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize four Las Vegas-style casinos in Ohio. Financed in part by Ohio’s historic horse racing industry that will be destroyed by the Casino Plan, the committee works to counter exaggerated claims put forth by the out-of-state gambling interests bankrolling Issue 3.