As Boss Finney and his gang at COAST start to lose their relevance with the truth being spread that Issue 9 isn't just about the streetcar, it's about all passenger rail, some big names have come out against the ridiculous charter amendment while Finney and friends get desperate trying to smear the other side.On 10/20/2009, COAST treasurer Mark Miller was a guest on Bill Cunningham's 700 WLW show. At around 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the show, they got on the subject of Issue 9. Click here to download and listen.
Mark Miller was caught clearly lying in the interview when he claimed that the train at the Cincinnati Zoo was not "passenger rail transportation." However, as the Enquirer has already shown us, it clearly is. Cunningham struck down Miller and the COAST backed charter amendment when he said:
Mark Miller was caught clearly lying in the interview when he claimed that the train at the Cincinnati Zoo was not "passenger rail transportation." However, as the Enquirer has already shown us, it clearly is. Cunningham struck down Miller and the COAST backed charter amendment when he said:"...it seems to me as of late that referendum and the initiative process is not the way to run a government."
Willie goes on to talk about how elected representatives should be the ones investigating proposals and projects before spending money and not special interest groups who "go out and buy the signatures." Mark Miller agrees with Willie after that, but doesn't realize that Cunningham was criticizing the way special interest groups like COAST operate. Miller continues to stumble over his words throughout the interview before Cunningham declares Issue 9 to be a "stupid idea," and calls Chris Smitherman "a clown."
Meanwhile, other COAST representatives were making up new campaign slogans. Stephan Louis at a debate hosted by the American Association of Architects at the University of Cincinnati compared the referendum process of issue 9 to the act of an "abortion." In the comments section of their blog, COAST supporters have begun adopting this campaign slogan:
Comparing streetcars to abortion and lying about the true effects of Issue 9 is what COAST's campaign has come down to in the final days leading up to the election. Even Bill Cunningham, who "thinks the Over-The-Rhine trolley is a bad idea" has called out Issue 9 for what it really is and stood against it. Let's vote down Issue 9 and do Cincinnati a favor, just as Mark Miller said in his WLW interview: "...then COAST has to shut up and go away."
Comparing streetcars to abortion and lying about the true effects of Issue 9 is what COAST's campaign has come down to in the final days leading up to the election. Even Bill Cunningham, who "thinks the Over-The-Rhine trolley is a bad idea" has called out Issue 9 for what it really is and stood against it. Let's vote down Issue 9 and do Cincinnati a favor, just as Mark Miller said in his WLW interview: "...then COAST has to shut up and go away."
Cartoon by Nicholas Sweeney