By Rick Morris
When legendary pro wrestler Chris Benoit brutally massacred his family and then killed himself, many people, myself included, struggled to reconcile what we knew of this man, what we thought we knew and the horror that he ended up perpetrating. It all seemed so contradictory, the details of the different sides so disparate, that so many of us became reconciled to never knowing the full picture about what could have brought this family tragedy to reality. But author Matthew Randazzo V's shocking new book "Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & The Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry" does what I never thought possible: it takes the many seemingly disconnected threads of this man's life and weaves together a coherent whole that leads inexorably and sadly toward the blood-soaked weekend at the Benoit estate last summer.
[SIDE NOTE: I am very proud of my objectivity, and have displayed it here repeatedly by criticizing institutions that I love when justified, such as the Detroit Red Wings and the Cleveland Indians. But when I found out about this book in the last week, I knew that I would feel a need to read it and subsequently review it here and I feared that I could not be fully objective. Years ago, Mr. Randazzo and I used to visit some of the same industry forums, he largely as a poster, me largely as a lurker, but my memories of him were not fond ones. I'll not elaborate except to say that I found his forum persona overbearing and off-putting. In fairness, he was clearly a great and gifted writer and many talented creative types can come off that way. Additionally, as I've tried to familiarize myself with some of his other work this past week, I found some writing that puts his political views at great variance with my own -- and profound political differences have always been a threat to my potential for objectivity. Additionally, any writer who sees another get a book deal before him and does not feel at least a slight twinge probably doesn't have any professional pride. So, given my sometimes-overwrought potential for self-criticism, I was scared that if the book dissatisfied me that I'd be questioning myself about my real reasons for writing a bad review. Fortunately, as the next sentence will indicate, any qualms I had about anything I would write would prove to be badly misguided.]
This book is, quite simply, the best one in the genre of pro wrestling books that dates back almost a full decade.
Randazzo connects the dots in a manner that should perhaps have been more obvious to us, but was not at all. Chris Benoit's professional personality and private demons were not contradictory halves of a disconnected whole. His obsessive dedication to the business, his need to be perfect in his role as a pro grappler: these were SYMPTOMS of his overall crumbling psyche. In short, his madness was in plain sight the whole time, disguised as politeness with fans or hard work in the ring or any of the other aspects of his persona that made him appear to so many of us as the real (with apologies to Curt Hennig) "Mr. Perfect."
The link at the top of this review leads to a column from February in which I reviewed my thoughts at the time of the tragedy. Along with many others in the SportsTalkNetwork.com family, I posted repeatedly the night the murder-suicide was made public and in the days that followed. Chris Benoit was my favorite wrestler. In my column, I reprinted my posts in full even as I noted that they made me cringe by how naive I looked -- but I was grasping for a more full understanding as to how I and so many others were duped into thinking this man was personally as well as professionally great. On our FDH Lounge Internet TV show last summer, we reunited our friends Ryan Ward and Kyle Ross from the legendary smart mark show SUNDAY NIGHT SUBMISSION to help make sense of the matter. We couldn't. I admit that I saw Benoit as a professional role model, a symbol of persistence who proved that you could make it to the top of any industry with an unshakable work ethic. I came to the obvious conclusion that we never really knew him at all, but like everyone else I couldn't reconcile the pieces that didn't seem to fit.
Through his meticulous research, Randazzo managed to put them together. Benoit's entire life was a pathetic journey that led up to that infamous weekend in the Atlanta exurbs. A wiry and introverted Western Canadian boy, he took his first real meaning in life from watching his hero the Dynamite Kid compete in Stampede Wrestling. Kid, whose real name was Tom Billington, was perhaps the greatest technical pro wrestler of all time, and Benoit worshiped him. In ways that would seem funny if they didn't end up being so disturbing, Benoit was almost a precursor to "'Net smart marks" of today like myself with his strong appreciation for workrate. Benoit pumped himself full of steroids and other unhealthy growth substances and chased a pro career that began in the Stampede territory, led to a training stint with New Japan (more on that below) and then a triumphant return to Stampede (where he got to rub elbows with his ultimate hero professionally) before his early '90s tenure in Japan and Mexico led to the ECW/WCW/WWE sequence that defines him in the minds of most fans.
This book contains a plethora of amazing revelations about Benoit and so many of the surrounding characters on his road to infamy. Now, I have been queried by my friend, FDH Lounge Dignitary and SportsTalkNetwork.com President Paul Belfi whether I believe every last story I read in the book. The answer is of course no; this is an industry built on constantly working everyone else at all times, even when there is no apparent advantage to doing so. But I believe the vast majority of them and even the ones that are more questionable do add valuable color.
Case in point: an unnamed source, a WWE wrestler in the company in 1995, told Randazzo that HHH confided in him upon coming into the company, "I don't care what I have to do, but I'm going to run this place." Cue the "Mwhahahahahahaahaha" and twirling of villainous handlebar mustache. I don't blame Randazzo at all for putting this story in the book, but I'm dubious that he was told the truth. HHH was coming off a lower-middle-card stint in WCW and was in all likelihood just happy to have a better job at the time. The notion that he could have been Machiavellian and prescient enough to know then that he'd end up one day with the keys to the kingdom? Believe it if you want to.
But again, I do believe the vast majority of the stories in the book and there is an equal mix of on-the-record and off-the-record quotes in there. I've read some online reviews that objected to his use of materials such as shoot interview tapes for sourcing, but I have no problem with that as they are quotes on the public record.
I want to provide some flavor of what's in the book without giving away anything that might be deemed excessive by the lawyers over at Phoenix Books, so here's a list of generalities in terms of the most sensational materials:
^ Vince McMahon's 2004 mandate about the minimum size of new wrestlers being hired
^ The unparalleled con job Fidel Castro pulled on Antonio Inoki -- it's beyond anything you could imagine
^ What the Dynamite Kid did to his opponents while they were blading themselves
^ What the Dynamite Kid did right before his own wedding
^ How Stampede wrestlers might "rib" each other -- I'd call it committing felonies, personally
^ The hazing techniques of the New Japan dojo: banana rape, golden showers and drinking your own, uh, fluids, among others
^ The mob contract that drove the British Bulldogs out of the WWF
^ Horrible one-sided WWF contracts
^ The yakuza's methods of dealing with Big Van Vader
^ Ole Anderson's "scientific method" for proving Benoit was too small to make it in wrestling
^ Benoit's psychological pain about the incident that gave him the "Crippler" nickname
^ More legendary Paul Heyman con jobs
^ The never-told-before details on how Kevin Sullivan inadvertently sabotaged his own marriage with a storyline -- what's on the public record is only the tip of the iceberg
^ Sullivan's other behind-the-scenes shenanigans
^ Nancy Benoit's own oddities
^ Two incidents between Scott Hall and Benoit that were remarkable
^ Ric Flair and Arn Anderson road stories
^ The never-before-told story about the equipment that failed Owen Hart in Kansas City that tragic night -- and why it did
^ Vince Russo's aborted kid-toucher storyline
^ How Benoit would have mutilated himself on live television had WCW not released him in 2000
^ The extent to which the Radicalz screwed Shane Douglas
^ How the McMahons don't even let funerals get in the way of conducting business
^ The rib on Billy Jack Haynes that almost led to him murdering Vince McMahon
^ What led Scott Hall to think McMahon was the devil incarnate
^ Chyna and Eddy Guerrero -- why two drug abusers working together might have deepened both addictions
^ More behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Vince, Stephanie, HHH and their toadies than you can shake a stick at -- including stories of racism far beyond what got Michael Hayes recently suspended
^ Writer Dave Lagana's alleged sexual harassment of male and female wrestlers
^ How Benoit willingly kept wrestling, in reckless style no less, on a broken neck in 2001
^ Benoit's sense of torture at being on the sidelines due to injury in 2001-2002
^ How only top stars in WWE are allowed to use company trainers and physical therapists
^ Benoit's ultimate moment of triumph in 2004 -- undermined from the outset
^ Benoit's psychological collapse at the time of Eddy's passing
^ Nancy Benoit's "paper trail" -- the manner in which she chronicled through various means her husband's mental deterioration
^ How Vince's version of the Benoit tribute show was the result of him being boxed in by his own ego -- he felt that he had to proceed a certain route based on "the show goes on" with the Owen tragedy and the fact that he destroyed the "standard tribute show" in the "Vince got murdered" storyline
^ Evidence that Benoit was clutching at straws that God would somehow bring his son back to life before he hung himself from his weight bench
^ The chronology of the final tragic weekend
Some online reviews I've read find Randazzo's writing style to be distracting at best and counterproductive at worst. It's a matter of personal taste, so I'm not going to pronounce anyone wrong for their opinion, but I disagree. Randazzo has a strong and distinctive pattern of writing and it shows up constantly (i.e. touches such as referring to Benoit and Bret Hart in their WCW days as "deranged marks" and wondering, since Benoit apparently killed his son with his finishing maneuver, the Crippler Crossface, "did Benoit hear Jim Ross announcing in the background?"). The tone is absurd at times, but I feel that it matches the material perfectly. Again, others may disagree.
As a big follower of the Four Horsemen, I admit that I'd like to have seen the material on Benoit's tenure with the group in WCW fleshed out a bit more. Somebody like Mongo McMichael would have been a most unlikely character for Benoit to rub elbows with; the Horsemen aspect of the WCW stay is probably the weakest part of the book, but as you can tell from everything else I've noted, everything else more than makes up for it.
I appreciate also that Randazzo, while laying deserved blame mostly at the feet of Benoit (with the rest divided up among odious creatures like McMahon), does not take cheap shots at the fans at the very end for continuing to enjoy the spectacle of wrestling. Writer Irvin Muchnick has also provided outstanding coverage of the Benoit story, but he ends up with a judgmental "how can you fans still watch this without feeling the blood on your hands?" point of view that is aggravating. Randazzo lets us draw our own conclusions about how we should let these revelations color our enjoyment of the industry.
To sum up: were it not for fact that pro wrestling is the redheaded stepchild of American society, Randazzo would likely be up for a Pulitzer Prize for the journalism contained in this book. It's the most honest book ever written about the business, surpassing tomes penned by those in the industry because he's not holding anything back to protect himself or others. This book sets a new standard for exposing the truth about pro wrestling, one that may never be topped and certainly won't be anytime soon.
Showing posts with label Cuba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cuba. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
March Jane’s Geopolitical Roundup
By Rick Morris
Jane’s Information Group has some of the best intelligence in the world at its fingertips. On matters ranging from military to security to weaponry and beyond, the staff at Jane's provides top-notch information to its subscribers and probably runs rings around our frequently inept CIA much of the time.
The site includes free excerpts of its material in many different categories. From time to time here at The FDH Lounge Blog, we will link directly to their outstanding material on many subjects and allow those of you who are very much concerned with geopolitics and the world around us to keep up on important matters.
In addition to the material below, we refer you to the January and February installments of this series.
Organ trafficking: a fast-expanding black market
Legal loophole failing officers tackling human trafficking
Maximizing resilience: NATO CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) capabilities
Pakistan NWFP parties agree to secular coalition
NATO expected to further Balkan enlargement
Mughniyah hit threatens war against
Dark times for southern
Fidel Castro resigns Cuban presidency
UK Muslim communities close ranks to police
Transport finance sector eagerly awaits US election results
Multiview x-ray has wider vision
US Navy strike group responds to increasing
Future generation:
Negotiations advance on Typhoon production in
IDEX 2007: US considers accelerating JLTV purchase
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
My favorite Jean Schmidt lie
By Nate Noy
OK, by now everyone KNOWS that Jean Schmidt is a sloppy compulsive liar who could never be trusted, from her OEC reprimand for a “reckless disregard for truth” and making “false and misleading statements” about her fake college degree to the lies on TV in the cover up that followed.
Of course there are the lies she told to Ohio farmers regarding her support of lifting the embargo in Cuba (until anti-Castro groups with a larger checkbook changed her mind.) There is her plagiarism scandal, her lies in a deposition regarding her fake college degree, the money she took from USEC (the company bringing the nuclear waste dump to my hometown in Piketon, Ohio) and her support of that effort.
There also is the lie that she is a “conservative” that believes in the 2nd Amendment (she voted to ban guns in Clermont County when she was a trustee there) and the fact that she voted to devastate our economy by voting to raise the rates of inflation and unemployment.
But MY personal favorite Jean Schmidt lie is one that has gone completely under the radar since October 2004.
The website marathon guide.com publishes results of marathons. As everyone knows Schmidt has made her marathon experience an integral part of her persona, in fact one of her paid shill bloggers often uses “94-lb marathon runner from Loveland” when spewing her paid shilling for Schmidt. When I was researching Schmidt for the OEC complaints I filed against her in 2006 I came across the following results:
Chicago Marathon 10/10/04: Jean Schmidt (F52) 4:02:37 11147th place.
Columbus Marathon 10/17/04: Jean Schmidt (F52) 4:13:37 2401st place.
For those of you that have never actually completed a marathon this may seem plausible, however those of us that have run a marathon with a competitive time KNOW that only a small handful of super athletes could ever accomplish this feat. In fact Road Runner Sports has a guide to marathon recovery, in which it states the following about day seven following a marathon:
7. Elevate your legs whenever possible. When you're watching TV, lie on the floor with a pillow supporting your lower back and your legs against a wall. Let your co-workers know that they're apt to find you with your legs on your desk occasionally during the day-you're a marathoner-they'll understand!
People that run marathons can barely walk a week later, and if Jean Schmidt really did run two marathons under 4:14 in one week then she should have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated or something. Of course Jean Schmidt does have a twin sister, so my question for the day is: did Jean’s sister run the race for her in Chicago or Columbus?
You may ask, why would someone bother to have their twin run a race for them? Well, the answer to this is in Schmidt’s character and the medical condition I personally believe she has:
Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR)
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
reckless disregard for safety of self or others
consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations
lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
Sound like Jean Schmidt to you? Sure does to me!
Mnemonic
A mnemonic that can be used to remember the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is CORRUPT[1][2]:
C - cannot follow law
O - obligations ignored
R - remorselessness
R - recklessness
U - underhandedness
P - planning deficit
T - temper
Yep, still SOUNDS LIKE JEAN SCHMIDT!!!!!!
As I’ve said before Jean Schmidt is a psychopath that likely would have been in jail many years ago had she not had a multi-millionaire daddy to bail her out at every turn.
Additionally we all now know that she will soon be facing an IRS investigation for her blatant and intentional disregard of campaign finance law. We also know that she stands no chance in the general election in November. The fact that anyone may actually vote for her next week still boggles the mind of those of us that know the truth about her.
OK, by now everyone KNOWS that Jean Schmidt is a sloppy compulsive liar who could never be trusted, from her OEC reprimand for a “reckless disregard for truth” and making “false and misleading statements” about her fake college degree to the lies on TV in the cover up that followed.
Of course there are the lies she told to Ohio farmers regarding her support of lifting the embargo in Cuba (until anti-Castro groups with a larger checkbook changed her mind.) There is her plagiarism scandal, her lies in a deposition regarding her fake college degree, the money she took from USEC (the company bringing the nuclear waste dump to my hometown in Piketon, Ohio) and her support of that effort.
There also is the lie that she is a “conservative” that believes in the 2nd Amendment (she voted to ban guns in Clermont County when she was a trustee there) and the fact that she voted to devastate our economy by voting to raise the rates of inflation and unemployment.
But MY personal favorite Jean Schmidt lie is one that has gone completely under the radar since October 2004.
The website marathon guide.com publishes results of marathons. As everyone knows Schmidt has made her marathon experience an integral part of her persona, in fact one of her paid shill bloggers often uses “94-lb marathon runner from Loveland” when spewing her paid shilling for Schmidt. When I was researching Schmidt for the OEC complaints I filed against her in 2006 I came across the following results:
Chicago Marathon 10/10/04: Jean Schmidt (F52) 4:02:37 11147th place.
Columbus Marathon 10/17/04: Jean Schmidt (F52) 4:13:37 2401st place.
For those of you that have never actually completed a marathon this may seem plausible, however those of us that have run a marathon with a competitive time KNOW that only a small handful of super athletes could ever accomplish this feat. In fact Road Runner Sports has a guide to marathon recovery, in which it states the following about day seven following a marathon:
7. Elevate your legs whenever possible. When you're watching TV, lie on the floor with a pillow supporting your lower back and your legs against a wall. Let your co-workers know that they're apt to find you with your legs on your desk occasionally during the day-you're a marathoner-they'll understand!
People that run marathons can barely walk a week later, and if Jean Schmidt really did run two marathons under 4:14 in one week then she should have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated or something. Of course Jean Schmidt does have a twin sister, so my question for the day is: did Jean’s sister run the race for her in Chicago or Columbus?
You may ask, why would someone bother to have their twin run a race for them? Well, the answer to this is in Schmidt’s character and the medical condition I personally believe she has:
Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR)
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
reckless disregard for safety of self or others
consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations
lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
Sound like Jean Schmidt to you? Sure does to me!
Mnemonic
A mnemonic that can be used to remember the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is CORRUPT[1][2]:
C - cannot follow law
O - obligations ignored
R - remorselessness
R - recklessness
U - underhandedness
P - planning deficit
T - temper
Yep, still SOUNDS LIKE JEAN SCHMIDT!!!!!!
As I’ve said before Jean Schmidt is a psychopath that likely would have been in jail many years ago had she not had a multi-millionaire daddy to bail her out at every turn.
Additionally we all now know that she will soon be facing an IRS investigation for her blatant and intentional disregard of campaign finance law. We also know that she stands no chance in the general election in November. The fact that anyone may actually vote for her next week still boggles the mind of those of us that know the truth about her.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Jean Schmidt’s position on Cuba “bought and paid for” by lobbyists
By Nate Noy
Truth seekers everywhere should be grateful for two things: (1) that transparency exists regarding campaign contributes, therefore they must be disclosed and; (2) the Internet site archive.org where one can go back and view websites from the past verbatim.
I’ll let the facts speak for themselves on my most recent discovery regarding Jean Schmidt.
Fact: The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has a PAC with Ohio Registration number C00161265. This PAC made numerous campaign contributions to Jean Schmidt while she was a State Representative.
Fact: The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation like many farm trade associations has long been a strong proponent of lifting the trade embargo with Cuba. A few years back the federation even sponsored a trip to visit Cuba; Jean Schmidt was on that trip.
Fact: Jean Schmidt was a major supporter of lifting the trade embargo. On her campaign website she linked to a number of articles urging the lifting of the embargo and even wrote her own opinion on the subject.
Fact: On 4/21/2006 three anti-Castro PACs made campaign contributions to Jean Schmidt totally $6,000.
Democracy Believers PAC
1155 21st St. NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 2000.00
IRL PAC
PO Box 10460
Burke, Virginia 22009
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 1000.00
US Cuba Democracy PAC
1200 W. 49th St.
Hialeah, Florida 33012
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 3000.00
Fact: The US Cuba Democracy PAC was happy to report that this past summer an amendment to the farm bill to ease trade restrictions with Cuba was defeated on the House Floor.
Fact: Jean Schmidt voted against this amendment.
H.AMDT.707 to H.R.2419 Amendment sought to remove certain banking restrictions related to Cuba's payment for agricultural purchases from U.S. producers.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 7/27/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/27/2007 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Rangel amendment (A008) Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 245 (Roll no. 749).
Fact: there are two other major pieces of legislation that are currently before Congress urging the lifting of the embargo and to allow travel to Cuba. Jean Schmidt is NOT a cosponsor for either bill.
H.R.624 : To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/22/2007) Cosponsors (54)
Committees: House Foreign Affairs; House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Judiciary; House Financial Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Agriculture
Latest Major Action: 4/12/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
H.R.654 : To allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/24/2007) Cosponsors (119)
Committees: House Foreign Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/24/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Here is what Jean Schmidt previously wrote on her campaign website:
Ohio Farmers Look to Cuba for Their Future
February 4, 2003
"What is the definition of insanity? It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time. That can be said of the nearly 40-year-old embargo that the United States stubbornly maintains against Cuba, the Caribbean country of eleven million people. The reasoning behind the move back in the 1960’s was noble enough. Bring pressure to bear on a Communist dictatorship that was oppressing its people, taking away all their personal freedoms, the very hint of which is repugnant to Americans. But, the times they are a-changin’ and like it or not, we’re losing precious time and opportunities to other countries and other states that have seen the possibilities we’ve continued to shun for four decades.
The good news is that may be coming to an end. Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) president Terry McClure recently visited Cuba and returned with visions of a new market for Ohio’s struggling farm community. Our Caribbean neighbor, who is a mere 90 miles from Miami, Florida, is capable of purchasing $700 million dollars in food, much of it the very crops we grow in Ohio. Already $250 million has been spent in trade with the United States, but not with Ohio farmers. To begin a reversal of that trend and open up the doors to Ohio farmers, the Ohio Farm Bureau has organized an initial fact finding trip to Cuba in March. I am very happy to report that I will be along on that trip. I am also happy to tell you that not one cent of this trip will be paid for by your tax dollars. I am paying for all of my expenses.
My interest in Cuba is not new. My husband’s family had business interests in Cuba in the 1950's. During my first term in the legislature, I approached the Department of Development about sponsoring a State delegation of business and agriculture leaders to Cuba. I met with the Cuban Trade Council in New York to learn the mechanics of putting a trip together, as well as, with Cuban American business people in Ohio to gain a greater insight to the economic benefits that could result from such a trip.
By now, we are all painfully aware of the dire straits of the state economy is in. Now more than ever, it is important to look at new opportunities that will help bring dollars back into our economy and offset the staggering deficit that looms in the near future. This trip, sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau through the Columbus Council on World Affairs, takes the critical first steps in establishing relationships and opening doors that have been closed too long. Along with touring working farms, port facilities, cooperatives, processing facilities and seeing various cultural sites, I will be meeting with high-level Cuban government officials, farmers and business people. It is a first step in reversing the effects of sanctions whose time has come and gone.
If you are interested in learning more about Cuba, or have questions or comments, you may write to me at my Columbus office at State Representative Jean Schmidt 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215, calling me at (614) 466-8134, or sending an email to me at district66@ohr.state.oh.us. I look forward to reporting back to you on the progress we make during this trip. Look for more information on my website, www.jeanschmidt.com, including photos. I am proud to have this opportunity to explore opening new markets for the hard working farmers in Ohio. It’s time to open our doors to this new trading partner and to leave behind the outdated ideas from forty years ago that have never attained their goals. "
Conclusion: When Jean Schmidt was getting payoffs from a group in favor of lifting the embargo her position was that “It’s time to open our doors to this new trading partner and to leave behind the outdated ideas from forty years ago that have never attained their goals.” However, as soon as she gets to Congress she accepts money from anti-Castro groups opposed to what her previous contributors stood for and she has delivered by voting against an amendment that would ease restrictions and is not a cosponsor for bills that would directly result in what she previously advocated.
Cuba has been a hot topic in the news as of late and many people are starting to advocate lifting the embargo and allowing US travel to Cuba. Where do you suppose our Congresswoman stands on this issue, the answer likely is that she will stand behind the group with the biggest checkbook.
Jean Schmidt, the Congresswoman reprimanded by the Ohio Elections Commission for a “reckless disregard for truth,” should it surprise anyone that her vote appears to always be for sale? One thing is for sure, Jean Schmidt has proven that she IS corrupt enough to be a member of Congress.
Truth seekers everywhere should be grateful for two things: (1) that transparency exists regarding campaign contributes, therefore they must be disclosed and; (2) the Internet site archive.org where one can go back and view websites from the past verbatim.
I’ll let the facts speak for themselves on my most recent discovery regarding Jean Schmidt.
Fact: The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has a PAC with Ohio Registration number C00161265. This PAC made numerous campaign contributions to Jean Schmidt while she was a State Representative.
Fact: The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation like many farm trade associations has long been a strong proponent of lifting the trade embargo with Cuba. A few years back the federation even sponsored a trip to visit Cuba; Jean Schmidt was on that trip.
Fact: Jean Schmidt was a major supporter of lifting the trade embargo. On her campaign website she linked to a number of articles urging the lifting of the embargo and even wrote her own opinion on the subject.
Fact: On 4/21/2006 three anti-Castro PACs made campaign contributions to Jean Schmidt totally $6,000.
Democracy Believers PAC
1155 21st St. NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 2000.00
IRL PAC
PO Box 10460
Burke, Virginia 22009
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 1000.00
US Cuba Democracy PAC
1200 W. 49th St.
Hialeah, Florida 33012
Date Contributed = 04/21/2006
Amount Contributed = 3000.00
Fact: The US Cuba Democracy PAC was happy to report that this past summer an amendment to the farm bill to ease trade restrictions with Cuba was defeated on the House Floor.
Fact: Jean Schmidt voted against this amendment.
H.AMDT.707 to H.R.2419 Amendment sought to remove certain banking restrictions related to Cuba's payment for agricultural purchases from U.S. producers.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 7/27/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/27/2007 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Rangel amendment (A008) Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 245 (Roll no. 749).
Fact: there are two other major pieces of legislation that are currently before Congress urging the lifting of the embargo and to allow travel to Cuba. Jean Schmidt is NOT a cosponsor for either bill.
H.R.624 : To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/22/2007) Cosponsors (54)
Committees: House Foreign Affairs; House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Judiciary; House Financial Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Agriculture
Latest Major Action: 4/12/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
H.R.654 : To allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/24/2007) Cosponsors (119)
Committees: House Foreign Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/24/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Here is what Jean Schmidt previously wrote on her campaign website:
Ohio Farmers Look to Cuba for Their Future
February 4, 2003
"What is the definition of insanity? It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time. That can be said of the nearly 40-year-old embargo that the United States stubbornly maintains against Cuba, the Caribbean country of eleven million people. The reasoning behind the move back in the 1960’s was noble enough. Bring pressure to bear on a Communist dictatorship that was oppressing its people, taking away all their personal freedoms, the very hint of which is repugnant to Americans. But, the times they are a-changin’ and like it or not, we’re losing precious time and opportunities to other countries and other states that have seen the possibilities we’ve continued to shun for four decades.
The good news is that may be coming to an end. Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) president Terry McClure recently visited Cuba and returned with visions of a new market for Ohio’s struggling farm community. Our Caribbean neighbor, who is a mere 90 miles from Miami, Florida, is capable of purchasing $700 million dollars in food, much of it the very crops we grow in Ohio. Already $250 million has been spent in trade with the United States, but not with Ohio farmers. To begin a reversal of that trend and open up the doors to Ohio farmers, the Ohio Farm Bureau has organized an initial fact finding trip to Cuba in March. I am very happy to report that I will be along on that trip. I am also happy to tell you that not one cent of this trip will be paid for by your tax dollars. I am paying for all of my expenses.
My interest in Cuba is not new. My husband’s family had business interests in Cuba in the 1950's. During my first term in the legislature, I approached the Department of Development about sponsoring a State delegation of business and agriculture leaders to Cuba. I met with the Cuban Trade Council in New York to learn the mechanics of putting a trip together, as well as, with Cuban American business people in Ohio to gain a greater insight to the economic benefits that could result from such a trip.
By now, we are all painfully aware of the dire straits of the state economy is in. Now more than ever, it is important to look at new opportunities that will help bring dollars back into our economy and offset the staggering deficit that looms in the near future. This trip, sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau through the Columbus Council on World Affairs, takes the critical first steps in establishing relationships and opening doors that have been closed too long. Along with touring working farms, port facilities, cooperatives, processing facilities and seeing various cultural sites, I will be meeting with high-level Cuban government officials, farmers and business people. It is a first step in reversing the effects of sanctions whose time has come and gone.
If you are interested in learning more about Cuba, or have questions or comments, you may write to me at my Columbus office at State Representative Jean Schmidt 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215, calling me at (614) 466-8134, or sending an email to me at district66@ohr.state.oh.us. I look forward to reporting back to you on the progress we make during this trip. Look for more information on my website, www.jeanschmidt.com, including photos. I am proud to have this opportunity to explore opening new markets for the hard working farmers in Ohio. It’s time to open our doors to this new trading partner and to leave behind the outdated ideas from forty years ago that have never attained their goals. "
Conclusion: When Jean Schmidt was getting payoffs from a group in favor of lifting the embargo her position was that “It’s time to open our doors to this new trading partner and to leave behind the outdated ideas from forty years ago that have never attained their goals.” However, as soon as she gets to Congress she accepts money from anti-Castro groups opposed to what her previous contributors stood for and she has delivered by voting against an amendment that would ease restrictions and is not a cosponsor for bills that would directly result in what she previously advocated.
Cuba has been a hot topic in the news as of late and many people are starting to advocate lifting the embargo and allowing US travel to Cuba. Where do you suppose our Congresswoman stands on this issue, the answer likely is that she will stand behind the group with the biggest checkbook.
Jean Schmidt, the Congresswoman reprimanded by the Ohio Elections Commission for a “reckless disregard for truth,” should it surprise anyone that her vote appears to always be for sale? One thing is for sure, Jean Schmidt has proven that she IS corrupt enough to be a member of Congress.
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