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John Kasich's LeBron gaffe could cost him the governor's race

Jun 23, 2010, 10:00 AM EDT

33 Comments

First, you have to give John Kasich points for not being a pandering schmuck when it comes to the issue of keeping LeBron James in Cleveland. The Republican gubernatorial candidate is right, of course, when he says that Ohio has bigger problems than worrying about whether James stays with the Cavs. But then you have to take those points away for stupidity. Kasich’s comments about James on Alan Colmes’ Fox Radio show on June 17 were tactically short-sighted; a bone-headed play for someone claiming he’s sharp enough to take the state’s top elected office.

Colmes asked Kasich if he would be joining “the chorus to keep James in Cleveland.”

“I’m not singing in any chorus for LeBron James,” Kasich said.


Oops. Kasich needs a re-do! More from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Colmes: “You’re not?”

Kasich: “No, I’m not. Look, he’s a great basketball player, he’s a great guy. There’s a lot of great people in Ohio.”

Before that, Colmes asked Kasich if he were governor, what he would do to help persuade James to stay in Ohio.

“Alan, we’ve lost 400,000 jobs out here and the last guy I worry about is LeBron James. You know I mean, we all hope he’ll stay in Cleveland. We think we’ve got a great guy there that can turn everything around, but we got some serious problems,” Kasich said.

That was just the opening that Ted Strickland, Kasich’s Democratic incumbent opponent, needed. Strickland’s campaign quickly put up the Ohioans Against LeBron web site, which claims Kasich (pictured) as its only member. It’s good to have fresh ideas, but you know the old saying: In politics, nothing beats a good Photoshop and a YouTube parody video.

Of course Stickland’s staff has also figured out how to use the issue to highlight one of Kasich’s real weaknesses; his ties to Wall Street.

“LeBron isn’t just a basketball star and Ohio icon, he’s a huge economic driver for the Cleveland area,” said Democratic Party spokesman Seth Bringman. “But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that John Kasich doesn’t mind if LeBron goes to New York, considering all the time he spent on Wall Street.”

Ooh, that hurts. Of course as You Been Blinded points out, LeBron should make his decision in July, and the election isn’t until November. But in a race where poll numbers show the two in a virtual tie, and only 8 percent of the electorate still undecided, fallout from his issue actually could decide things.
Of course they could just make LeBron governor and all problems would be solved.
***
Ohioans against LeBron [Official Site]
John Kasich not joining the chorus begging LeBron James to stay [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
LeBron James Could Swing Ohio Gubernatorial Election [You Been Blinded]
Democrats make light of John Kasich’s refusal to join the LeBron chorus [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

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  1. danny - Jun 23, 2010 at 1:35 PM

    His right. Lebron James is only a basketball player, who can’t even solve his own basketball problems let alone the ones in Cleveland which requires more than just a high school education. Because of Micheal Jordan’s success in endorsement, everyone wants to find his replacement but failed miserably as no one has found someone as good as Jordan yet, not Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James. They have tried to lionized these players and made them more important than they really are. After all, they’re simply just ball players made into heroes and even problem solvers. Please, sports and academics don’t mix, much like physical muscle and brain power. Wake up, people.

  2. davidc45629 - Jun 23, 2010 at 1:56 PM

    If you are stupid enough to vote against someone due to their opinion on a basketball player you deserve the leadership you get.

  3. mick-7-1961 - Jun 23, 2010 at 1:58 PM

    I’m not a Republican but I agree 100% with Kasich. James makes what? How many millions? There are many in Ohio who don’t have the luxury of a check coming in every two weeks. For Alan ‘Puppet’ Colmes to press the point borders on stupidity (but, then again, he was the ‘Mannity’s’ side kick at one time).
    If Ohio has indeed lost 400,000 jobs,LeBron James should be the least of this candidate’s worries.

  4. brutus7004 - Jun 23, 2010 at 2:10 PM

    And that loser Strickland immediately makes a web site highlighting this “travesty”. Shows the substance of his campaign! The fallout from this could as the story suggest “decide things”, but not in the tone of this article! People know what matters the most.

  5. arodoll - Jun 23, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    So what exactly is wrong with Kasich’s remarks? He’s more worried about the unemployed or underemployed in his state than a millionaire basketball player, I say THANK GOD. I love sports but where Lebron ends up SHOULD NOT be a concern to politicians running for office, especially with everything going on in Ohio. What can a politician really do to keep a star athlete anyway? Other than waste taxpayer dollars to help greedy teams…
    Those people attacking this guy are the ones who look like idiots, I don’t think it hurts Kasich at all.

  6. Tyrone - Jun 23, 2010 at 2:42 PM

    Oh Pleae John Kasich is a joke and may be just as dumb as that airhead Sarah palin. If Kasich were smart he woudnt have said anything other than i hope Lebron comes back. That’s it……now he has created a situation that doesnt put him in a good light becuase he wanted to act like some hard edged teab@gger nwho doesnt know the difference. Way to go John you schmuck.

  7. RedsGhost - Jun 23, 2010 at 3:09 PM

    Couldn’t agree more David!

  8. dsmith4444 - Jun 23, 2010 at 4:26 PM

    If the candidate is stupid enough to take the bait about a basketball player, then I am not stupid enough to vote for him. he is a moron.

  9. LeBoob - Jun 23, 2010 at 4:30 PM

    Finally, a person running for office that sees the bigger picture. Probably still a worthless POS but he may just get my vote. Pop culture or sports and entertainment have been the top priority not just in Ohio but the entire country and look where it has gotten us.
    This is a prime example of Ohio political leadership. You have this idiot Ted Strickland using this as a pawn in the election, is this the best you can come up with? 400,000 people without jobs in Ohio, and these are just the people filing, who is going to be able to afford to go see this kid play anymore?
    Let’s focus all our attention and resources on LeBoob and screw all the unemployed in Ohio. LeBron will feed and cloth your kids, make sure there is a roof over their heads. People act like he is some sort of gold mine, where and how? How is winning a basketball championship in Cleveland going to put people back to work? How have people in Butte, Montana been able to survive without a professional sports team. Don’t give me all this BS about what it brings to the economy, jobs and a safe place to live help the economy. Seasonal restaurants don’t do much to help things along. How many of these big shots that come in during the NBA playoffs actually come back to visit Cleveland when there is nothing going on?
    The city of Cleveland builds a new baseball stadium, football stadium and basketball arena. We dump all sorts of money in Playhouse Square. We have about a billion dollars invested in downtown sports and entertainment over the last 15 years and what have we gained from it? NOTHING.
    Pittsburgh is a very similar city to Cleveland and when the steel industry took a dive Pittsburgh put its focus on technology and created jobs. Cleveland sat idly by and hoped and prayed that it would all come back some day while they built a few playgrounds for millionaires.
    All this coming from one of the biggest sports fans in the city before I found out what professional sports really is. When the NFL allowed one of the worst businessmen to move the Cleveland Browns, that was it for me with all sports. It didn’t help that you need to take out a second mortgage to take a family of five to a game.
    Ohio is the dumbest state in the country.
    Keep electing officials that have there financial lives in order. What the hell are they going to fight for? Get some middle class folk in elected offices, you know, the people that actually know what it is like to live in this country and maybe change will happen. Until then, let’s just worry about where LeBoob is going to lace up his sneakers.

  10. What - Jun 23, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    Take the bait, take what bait? He makes an intelligent comment that the people of the state are more important than one basketball player and he is a moron? I guess he should have not answered the question at all because who wants to step on some 25 year old kids shoes.
    When LeBoob has the qualifications to run the state we can talk but some millionaire kid with a high school education should not have the power to hold cities for ransom.

  11. gary - Jun 23, 2010 at 6:01 PM

    I really don’t care who wins the election, but having James in Cleveland brings money into the area. Without James fewer people will come and that means less money. They have done studies on this and a more successful teams means more money for the town and who doesn’t need people spending money in your town. Sure ball players all make too much money but that is the way things are. Look at what NY is doing to lure him to their city, I am embarrassed.

  12. Mark B - Jun 23, 2010 at 6:07 PM

    Northern Ohio is mostly Democrat anyway, so I doubt this would affect the vote there, they wouldn’t vote for him anyway, whereas Southern Ohio, for one thing, doesn’t care about LeBron or the city of Cleveland, and mostly vote Republican so that too wouldn’t affect the voting. Ronald McDonald could run for Gov. and Southern Ohio would vote for him, and another clown Barrack Obama could run for Gov. and Cleveland would vote for him!

  13. Joey - Jun 23, 2010 at 6:14 PM

    Pretty much a no-win situation: Had he expressed concern about keeping LeBron his opponent would have used it as “proof” he only cared about millionaires. As for making LeBron governor, sounds like that would be a major step up–Strickland’s website sounds like something a middle schooler would dream up.

  14. Vic - Jun 23, 2010 at 6:15 PM

    Thank you for insulting the intelligence of Ohio voters Mr Chandler. I wouldn’t kick a dog in the a** with what you try to pass off as journalism.

  15. Joey - Jun 23, 2010 at 6:36 PM

    Uh, Vic, that would be Ohio’s governor insulting the voters’ intelligence. You either didn’t read the article or just want to shoot the messenger.

  16. The Dude Abides - Jun 23, 2010 at 8:44 PM

    The best part of the Lebron comment? Kasich went on to say that if Lebron left, then the Cavs could just “steal some players from the Knicks.”
    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

  17. Vic - Jun 23, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    Joey, A politician will try anything to gain votes. That does not make it newsworthy. The insulting part is to say that this political slam job may swing the election. Read the title
    “John Kasich’s LeBron gaffe could cost him the governor’s race” yep, scores of voters will shun Kasich for his gaffe. did u read the article?

  18. JOe - Jun 24, 2010 at 9:50 AM

    Politicians suck… Kasich is absolutely correct, Ohio has bigger things to worry about than whether or not Lebron stays in Cleveland. I voted for Strickland 4 years ago, but after this ridiculous overture by his campaign and the democratic party I’m voting for Kasich.

  19. Theo - Jun 24, 2010 at 11:30 AM

    Danny and the others that don’t get it, probably cause they sit at home with nothing to do but make short sighted comments just to tell themselve they a smart and they are right and others think the same NOT!!!! Negative!!!!
    Duhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
    Lebron A Sports Icon Listen (pea brains) pro sports creates jobs Duhhh!!!! And having a star in any sport makes it a little more easier to bring more talent to that team who spends that money into the local economy, which bring more ideas on creating more jobs. on other Levels. Which spends more money into that City economy Duhhh!!! Stop making comments with out thinking things through Oh wait you or the other pea brains don’t know how to think logical. INCLUDING Kasich THE A-HOLE WHO OPEN IS MOUTH WITHOUT THINKING. NO BUSINESS BEING A LEADER/ YOUR STATE WILL BE IN TROUBLE

  20. John Luma - Jun 24, 2010 at 12:18 PM

    Another sports article that is much ado about NOTHING. Kasich is right — hundreds of millions unemployed and the media spends time highlighting whether a gazillionaire basketball player is going to stay or leave his home team? I’d vote for the guy just for his guts to acknowledge how stupid the whole concern is. Three cheers for a leader who doesn’t kiss the public’s behind about a sports fan’s issue! LeBron’s staying in Ohio will have a minute effect on the jobs created or lost there.

  21. Seth Peacock - Jun 24, 2010 at 1:42 PM

    DOH!

  22. wesley - Jun 24, 2010 at 2:56 PM

    I completely agree – Everyone’s worried about keeping Lebron, but how about keeping some jobs? Lebron is a nice guy and a good basketball player. Period. There are a lot of guys in the ‘hood who are excellent in basketball and only finished high school. Lebron’s not so damn special. Stop treating him like Jesus.
    To davidc45629: you hit the nail on the head.

  23. Wesley - Jun 24, 2010 at 3:05 PM

    Maybe you should learn to at least use the language properly (i.e. grammar and syntax) before calling others idiots… ? Maybe?
    As for all the jobs LeBron brings, hasn’t Cleveland’s economic situation WORSENED during his tenure?
    When he “arrived” did they hire twelve more people at the Q for $7 an hour? Nice. Guess things are turning around after all…

  24. Pamela D Roorbach - Jun 24, 2010 at 6:45 PM

    You have got to be kidding. Basketball is a game. The players get millions. I play $12000 a year for health insurance and the current government has cost me half my retirement and you are worried about a basketball player. The government is becoming a democratic socialist country and you are worried about a basketball player. What about putting this kind of interest in the Constitution and the government how this country is destroying it. We need to focus on jobs, the economy and integrity in government. OMG, I can’t believe this is even hitting the papers.

  25. PDRoorbach - Jun 24, 2010 at 6:48 PM

    Two thumbs up for you!

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