Fitzgerald campaign tries to bribe Ohio press with pizza

Ed Fitzgerald’s campaign for governor has been a months long display of ineptitude. Today was no exception.

In what they thought was a clever gimmick, they had pizzas delivered to many of Ohio’s major media outlets. From Henry Gomez of the Plain Dealer:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Political theater has its cheesy moments.

Observe: Tuesday afternoon, as Statehouse watchers waited for Gov. John Kasich’s administration to introduce a mid-budget policy agenda, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald’s campaign for governor had pizzas delivered to reporters across the state.

Here’s the explanatory email from FitzGerald press secretary Lauren Hitt:

Today, a pizza will be delivered to your office courtesy of the FitzGerald Campaign. We are sending it not just because we care, but also to remind you that John Kasich’s income tax cut plan only amounts to a couple of pizzas for middle-class families. However, if you fall within the top one percent, his tax cut could fund a round trip to Rome to eat pizza under the Colosseum. Not to say we don’t have great pizza here in Ohio, but that just doesn’t seem fair.
Food for thought,

Team FitzGerald

Um. Journalists are not allowed to accept gifts from campaigns. Either the Fitz campaign didn’t know this, or they didn’t care. Neither answer is acceptable.

And, as usual, they’re lying about the governor’s plan. A single parent making just $30,000 per year would see a total of $350 of tax reduction every year. Middle class families would save even more. That’s certainly not comparable to a pizza.

Maybe Ed’s press secretary from New York didn’t bother to read the actual plan, just like Ed put out a “response” to the SOTS speech before the speech was even made. These guys continue to embarrass themselves.

As for the pizza? Donatos original thin crust is my favorite, so I kidded with Henry and asked if he was tempted.

Ohio’s journalists have ethics. Apparently, Ed Fitzgerald’s imported out of state campaign staff does not.