Riding in Republican Cars

All politicians catch a certain amount of flak from the public; it's one of those jobs in which criticism is expected, just as with reporters, attorneys and debt collectors, to name a few.

But Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper and Cincinnati City Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz always seem to get an extra heaping of abuse. For Pepper, he's frequently called a DINO (or Democrat In Name Only) by his critics. Ghiz gets the opposite complaint, as some people refer to her as a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

Pepper and Ghiz are friends and both are — generally speaking — conservative on fiscal issues and more liberal on social issues, which many polls indicate reflect the views of most Americans. Still, the nicknames obviously rankle the pair, and advisers have tried to help them avoid adding more fuel to the political fire.

Alas, young love isn’t always so practical.

During the recent Ridge Days parade in Pleasant Ridge, Democrat Pepper appeared in a Republican’s vehicle, and not just any Republican. The Pepper contingent was carried in the truck owned by Scott Gehring, an aide in Ghiz’s council office who also is president of the Blue Chip Young Republicans club. In an act of fraternization that’s sure to drive true believers crazy, Gehring is engaged to Jen Winkelman, a Democrat who is an aide in Pepper’s commission office.

Campaign workers for candidates from both parties were heard grumbling about the turn of events as word spread through the parade crowd.

Pepper laughs at the chatter about a Democrat using the truck of a politically active young Republican, one who even ran unsuccessfully for state representative last year.

“Jen showed up with Scott, and we found out we didn’t have a car available for the parade,” Pepper says.

The commissioner gave Winkelman praise for taking the initiative to suggest using her boyfriend’s truck to carry campaign workers while he walked the parade route.

“I knew nothing about whose vehicle it was,” Pepper says. “I usually just show up at these things, walk and shake hands. I leave those details to my staff.”

On a brighter note, if Gehring and Winkelman’s romance goes well, Cincinnati might have found its own version of James Carville and Mary Matalin.

UPDATE: As it turns out, Gehring and Winkelman eloped this past weekend to Las Vegas, Gehring called to say. Congratulations to the new couple.

— Kevin Osborne
(Photo: Vt.news.vt.edu)

Comments

[Dave]

“Jen showed up with Scott, and we found out we didn’t have a car available for the parade,” Pepper says.

If you believe that then I have a bridge I want to sell you. Cheap.

[Not buying it]

Of course David Pepper's staff is so incompetent that they'd show up to a parade without making provisions for a car. Everyone does that!

And what sheer luck young Scott Gehring had a vehicle available fit for the occasion! Amazing coincidence.

Sorry, but I don't think anyone's buying it.

[Anonymous]

They are no Matalin & Carville except in their own delusions.

This is not a meeting of equals.

Jen pulls Scott's strings, just like David Pepper pulls Leslie Ghiz's strings. (Why else is Ghiz backing the Pepper-Portune plan to raise taxes?)

Doesn't Jen work for David Pepper, whose Daddy Pepper was lobbying Council for One Million Dollars to The Slave Museum?

Didn't Monzel stop the Daddy Pepper plan?

Didn't Monzel "leave" the Fascist Five in the process, resulting in all sorts of fascist backlashing?

Didn't CityBeat report that Gehring was probably the one sending out emails to his little Republican Club and lying about Monzel in retaliation?

Didn't CityBeat then report that there were letters forged by the same likely suspects?

Who stands to gain more from inner-Republican fighting? Pepper or Ghiz?

Would Carville and Matalin be so stupid, so sloppy? I doubt it.

[Caleb]

Anonymous,

Those are some nasty, unfounded comments. Knowing Jen, she is way too sweet to do any of that.

[Action News]

I'm not sure if I can think of anything more childish than expecting Democrats and Republicans to not getting married or riding in each others' cars. Even if they are politicians.

"United we stand, divided we fall." It would do good for the public (and politicians) to pay particular attention to the second half of that phrase.

[Norm DePlume]

Shame on them! Imagine... Democrats and Republicans working together like colleagues, rather then pointing their fingers and spouting bile like two pro wrestlers in a steel cage match. What's next? Civil discourse? Cooperation? Or [shudder] actually getting something done?

Shame! Shame!

[A Concerned Reader]

Lighten up, y'all.

This seems like a warm and fuzzy little piece but you commenters are taking it way too seriously. WTF?

[Not the Mamma Cass!]

It wouldn't be the first time the former editor of the Yale Daily News feigned ignorance (lied) about something and the media rolled over for him.

It comes to easily for him, and they don't seem to mind.

[ScooterTooter]

Why is this news?

[Not buying it]

I don't think people are complaining that Gehring is married to a Democrat, or goes driving with one sometimes. The issue is members of a Republican club don't like seeing their President assisting Democratic campaigns. And somehow, I don't think members of the Young Dems would appreciate it if their club's President was helping a Republican candidate. Gehring is constantly embarrassing his club with his behavior.

Discretion......

[stogielover]

Is there even a club left to embarrass? The meeting we had the other night was attended by barely a handful of people. From what I have heard, the party is busy setting up an alternative club to take over for the Blue Chips.

[Nacho]

Mmmmm...blue chips. Good with cheesy nacho dip.

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