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Gov. John Kasich
THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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COLUMBUS — Ohio's development director, Mark Kvamme, Friday began to tell a now familiar story about how he once introduced John Kasich to the man who founded a new Internet video site called YouTube.
"We've heard about it," Mr. Kasich quipped, a knowing nod to the YouTube video that this week resurrected a previously ignored remark in which Ohio's governor referred to a Columbus police officer as an "idiot."
That January remark took on new meaning given his current push to do away with collective bargaining rights for state employees, including some law enforcement officers.
"I had a very good meeting with the officer [on Thursday]," Mr. Kasich told reporters Friday. "Look, I apologized for my words. They were not appropriate. In the greater context, I tried to tell him what I was trying to communicate to the [Ohio Environmental Protection Agency] employees, but it was inappropriate.
"My kids shouldn't speak like that, and I shouldn't either," he said. "You've got to be man enough to stand up and apologize. … I have the greatest respect for law enforcement."
Soon after taking office in January, Mr. Kasich met with EPA employees to make the case that the regulatory agency had to become more consumer-friendly. To make his case, he described being pulled over and cited in 2008 by a police officer after he failed to give wide berth to a stopped emergency vehicle as Ohio law requires.
Mr. Kasich's EPA speech was routinely videotaped by his office, and the comment was ignored until a public records request led to its release and posting on YouTube. It quickly went viral.
The controversy, along with protests over the collective bargaining bill, overshadowed legislative passage of his top priority, the creation of JobsOhio, a nonprofit economic development corporation.
On Thursday, the mother of John P. Kalaman, the Centerville police officer whose 1999 death along I-675 near Dayton helped lead to passage of the law Mr. Kasich admitted violating, sent a letter to the governor. Paula Kalaman of Kettering wrote that she was "outraged and saddened" by Mr. Kasich's "insulting comment."
"Every individual, of course, is entitled to hold an opinion," she wrote. "However, for an elected official to make such a disparaging and unwarranted statement in public, regarding the very profession that ensures his own safety, is both deplorable and ‘idiotic.' Now, just how secure are you in the knowledge that these same police officers whom you have insulted will be willing to put their lives on the line for you?"
Mr. Kasich said the last thing he wanted to do was show disrespect to the family of Mr. Kalaman.
"You all know I'm a pretty spontaneous guy," he said. "My wife told me, ‘You know, words matter. You're the governor.' She's right. Enough said."
But if Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern has his way, there will be plenty more said. Friday the party circulated a fund-raising e-mail citing the remark and providing a link to the video.
Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.
Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.
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Published: 2/19/2011 - Updated: 1 year ago
Kasich blames his spontaneity for ‘idiot' gaffe
Gov. John Kasich
THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
Enlarge
| Photo Reprints
"We've heard about it," Mr. Kasich quipped, a knowing nod to the YouTube video that this week resurrected a previously ignored remark in which Ohio's governor referred to a Columbus police officer as an "idiot."
That January remark took on new meaning given his current push to do away with collective bargaining rights for state employees, including some law enforcement officers.
"I had a very good meeting with the officer [on Thursday]," Mr. Kasich told reporters Friday. "Look, I apologized for my words. They were not appropriate. In the greater context, I tried to tell him what I was trying to communicate to the [Ohio Environmental Protection Agency] employees, but it was inappropriate.
"My kids shouldn't speak like that, and I shouldn't either," he said. "You've got to be man enough to stand up and apologize. … I have the greatest respect for law enforcement."
Soon after taking office in January, Mr. Kasich met with EPA employees to make the case that the regulatory agency had to become more consumer-friendly. To make his case, he described being pulled over and cited in 2008 by a police officer after he failed to give wide berth to a stopped emergency vehicle as Ohio law requires.
Mr. Kasich's EPA speech was routinely videotaped by his office, and the comment was ignored until a public records request led to its release and posting on YouTube. It quickly went viral.
The controversy, along with protests over the collective bargaining bill, overshadowed legislative passage of his top priority, the creation of JobsOhio, a nonprofit economic development corporation.
On Thursday, the mother of John P. Kalaman, the Centerville police officer whose 1999 death along I-675 near Dayton helped lead to passage of the law Mr. Kasich admitted violating, sent a letter to the governor. Paula Kalaman of Kettering wrote that she was "outraged and saddened" by Mr. Kasich's "insulting comment."
"Every individual, of course, is entitled to hold an opinion," she wrote. "However, for an elected official to make such a disparaging and unwarranted statement in public, regarding the very profession that ensures his own safety, is both deplorable and ‘idiotic.' Now, just how secure are you in the knowledge that these same police officers whom you have insulted will be willing to put their lives on the line for you?"
Mr. Kasich said the last thing he wanted to do was show disrespect to the family of Mr. Kalaman.
"You all know I'm a pretty spontaneous guy," he said. "My wife told me, ‘You know, words matter. You're the governor.' She's right. Enough said."
But if Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern has his way, there will be plenty more said. Friday the party circulated a fund-raising e-mail citing the remark and providing a link to the video.
Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.
Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.
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