Dispatch SB5 editorial: Playing show but don't tell

The games that some newspaper editorial writers play:

From a questioning report first published by Columbus blogger Plunderbund and circulated in northeastern Ohio by Cleveland Scene, comes word that a Columbus Dispatch editorial on

Sunday shamefully scooped the paper's own excellent staff of political reporters. Here's the summary:

The editorial asserted that two unidentified persons "affiliated" with supporters of the anti-union SB5, including Gov. Kasich., had offered a compromise to unions six weeks ago but, alas,"labor backed away." Heavy back-channel stuff that placed the blame on mulish unions. That was news to even the paper's reporters. And here's the rub:

It turns out that the self-appointed arbiters of the dispute were not anybody from Kasich's office . One was identified as Mike Curtin, former COO of the Dispatch Printing Co., now retired, who continues to speak for the paper. This shabby initiative by an ex-corporate officer without portfolio, not only embarrasses the Dispatch but also undeservedly burdens the reporting staff with the notion that it doesn't know what the hell is going on in somebody's back channel.

By the way, the same editorial board endorsed Kasich over Ted Strickland. .

SB5 referendum drive soaring

FROM TODAY'S COLUMBUS DISPATCH:

"We Are Ohio, the coalition of union supporters that wants to overturn Ohio's new collective-bargaining law, has collected 714,137 signatures, more than triple the number needed to get a referendum on the November ballot.

"Spokeswoman Melissa Fazekas said the group's internal sampling shows the validation rate on those signatures is above 60 pct, and they have met the criteria for collecting names in 44 of Ohio'a 88 counties. Signature collecting will continue for the next two weeks, leading up to the June 30 deadline to turn in petitions."

The coalition needed 231,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

As we trudge on, should we have a moment of silence for Planet Kasich?.