CLARINGTON, Ohio -- In the midst of a heated general election cycle, Ohio's Democratic Party chairman is admitting he used some "colorful language" during a political event in Monroe County Monday night.
As the United Steelworkers union was announcing its endorsement for a number of Ohio Democrats, including Gov. Ted Strickland, Chris Redfern used a variation of the F-word to describe opponents to his party's agenda.
A NEWS9 reporting crew was invited into the union hall in Clarington for the endorsement announcement, and the camera was rolling as Redfern leveled the expletive at critics in the Tea Party, who, in his words, believe health care is a privilege, not a right.
"If your kids are going to graduate from college, now he or she gets health care, your heath care, while he or she looks for a new job," Redfern said. "It's in the very base terms we win these arguments. Every time one of these (expletive deleted) says, excuse my language..."
When NEWS9 contacted Redfern for an explanation of his comment, he was under the impression that the endorsement announcement was a private event.
Redfern also said he saw both the NEWS9 reporter and videographer, but did not see the reporter holding a microphone and assumed his comments were not being recorded.
NEWS9 also sought clarification on a remark United Steelworkers Assistant District Director Dave Caldwell made during the endorsement event.
Caldwell was accusing Republicans of trying to distract voters from economic issues by playing up social issues, especially gay marriage.
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