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Breaking News: Columbus Dispatch Letter: Amy Acton is a Liar! 
State Representative Beth Lear wrote a letter to the editor that ran in the Columbus Dispatch, and every Ohio voter should read it before casting a ballot.
Representative Lear asks a hard question that much of the political class would rather avoid. Should a candidate's personal story, however painful, shield her public record from scrutiny? Her answer is no, and she makes her case with the record Amy Acton built as Ohio's Director of Health.
Ohio families remember that record because they lived through it. Children lost months of learning when classrooms closed, and parents watched jobs and family businesses disappear. Hospitals and nursing homes kept families away from loved ones in their final days.
Representative Lear saw that damage up close, and she did something about it. She joint-sponsored the Never Alone Act so that no one in Ohio could ever again be forced to suffer and die alone. Her full letter is below.
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When choosing a Governor, should a person's childhood trauma be considered?
The political universe is abuzz about the commercial showing Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's mother claiming Amy is a liar. People have come unglued and are attacking Amy's mom, the Republican candidate and anyone who dares share the commercial.
Why?
Because the candidate who was accused of lying has childhood trauma and her own mother is accused of supporting the abuser.
Democrats and the media are trying to change the subject from "she's a liar" to "she was abused as a child". It's a masterful attempt to manipulate voters' emotions by making Amy a victim. Her supporters, and some Republicans, want you to believe that if a woman has trauma in her background, questioning her fitness for office is not allowed. Well played – but I'm not buying it.
Amy Acton is running to be Governor. Her character should be questioned. Her opponent's character has been from the beginning, as have his parents, his race and his religion. Acton's campaign still runs a widely debunked ad about a "pump and dump" scheme regarding an Alzheimer's drug which contains lies yet has never been corrected. Apparently only Republicans face scrutiny about political advertising. Ugly truths about a Democrat woman are off the table if you can show she's a victim.
What's the truth?
Acton IS a liar. She proved that as Director of Ohio's Department of Health by grossly exaggerating COVID cases. She lied to Ohioans to justify some of the most draconian lockdown requirements in the United States. Yes, Governor DeWine takes some responsibility, but they were her recommendations and signatures. This included the unconstitutional cancellation of Ohio's in-person primary. Her lies earned her the nickname Female Fauci.
But what about her childhood trauma?
It is tragic, and many of us have experienced it, but frankly voters should be more concerned about the trauma inflicted by her on Ohio's children. Our kids suffered directly due to her horrible decisions, including "massive learning losses" documented by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. These same Ohio children watched parents lose jobs and family businesses close. Child abuse reports to hotline numbers rose and it was reported as a result of forced social isolation and economic stress according to NBC News.
One issue I tackled my first year in the Ohio House of Representatives was a direct result of Acton's deadly policies. A major hospital group even mentioned her by name when explaining their visitation changes were based upon Acton's flatten-the-curve narrative. Hospitals, nursing homes and other congregate care settings were forced to isolate people, even from family. It's why I joint-sponsored The Never Alone Act with help from OAMF, a law that ensures neither Acton nor anyone else in Ohio will be allowed to force Ohioans to suffer and die alone. This elder abuse by itself is enough to disqualify her for office.
Too many of us lost people unnecessarily during COVID. One family close to me tragically lost their son who overdosed when his drug treatment program was shut down by Acton's mandates. Eventually the public pushed back with protests against her. How did she respond? Amy Acton quit. She couldn't handle the pressure and left Ohio with the mess she made. Trauma is always tragic, but it does not give anyone the right to avoid scrutiny during an election. It certainly doesn't give you the right to be Governor when your record is an F for Failure. Stop letting feelings triumph over facts.
Ohioans have already been Amy Acton's victims once. Don't let her victimize us again.
Beth Lear
State Representative
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Every candidate deserves compassion for the hardships of his or her past.
That compassion has no bearing on what a candidate did with public power. As an unelected health director, Amy Acton held enormous power over the daily lives of every family in this state, and Ohio is still paying for how she used it.
Ohio can’t afford this level of crazy in the governor’s office. Amy is not ready for the job."
State Representative Beth Lear wrote a letter to the editor that ran in the Columbus Dispatch, and every Ohio voter should read it before casting a ballot.
Representative Lear asks a hard question that much of the political class would rather avoid. Should a candidate's personal story, however painful, shield her public record from scrutiny? Her answer is no, and she makes her case with the record Amy Acton built as Ohio's Director of Health.
Ohio families remember that record because they lived through it. Children lost months of learning when classrooms closed, and parents watched jobs and family businesses disappear. Hospitals and nursing homes kept families away from loved ones in their final days.
Representative Lear saw that damage up close, and she did something about it. She joint-sponsored the Never Alone Act so that no one in Ohio could ever again be forced to suffer and die alone. Her full letter is below.
————
When choosing a Governor, should a person's childhood trauma be considered?
The political universe is abuzz about the commercial showing Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's mother claiming Amy is a liar. People have come unglued and are attacking Amy's mom, the Republican candidate and anyone who dares share the commercial.
Why?
Because the candidate who was accused of lying has childhood trauma and her own mother is accused of supporting the abuser.
Democrats and the media are trying to change the subject from "she's a liar" to "she was abused as a child". It's a masterful attempt to manipulate voters' emotions by making Amy a victim. Her supporters, and some Republicans, want you to believe that if a woman has trauma in her background, questioning her fitness for office is not allowed. Well played – but I'm not buying it.
Amy Acton is running to be Governor. Her character should be questioned. Her opponent's character has been from the beginning, as have his parents, his race and his religion. Acton's campaign still runs a widely debunked ad about a "pump and dump" scheme regarding an Alzheimer's drug which contains lies yet has never been corrected. Apparently only Republicans face scrutiny about political advertising. Ugly truths about a Democrat woman are off the table if you can show she's a victim.
What's the truth?
Acton IS a liar. She proved that as Director of Ohio's Department of Health by grossly exaggerating COVID cases. She lied to Ohioans to justify some of the most draconian lockdown requirements in the United States. Yes, Governor DeWine takes some responsibility, but they were her recommendations and signatures. This included the unconstitutional cancellation of Ohio's in-person primary. Her lies earned her the nickname Female Fauci.
But what about her childhood trauma?
It is tragic, and many of us have experienced it, but frankly voters should be more concerned about the trauma inflicted by her on Ohio's children. Our kids suffered directly due to her horrible decisions, including "massive learning losses" documented by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. These same Ohio children watched parents lose jobs and family businesses close. Child abuse reports to hotline numbers rose and it was reported as a result of forced social isolation and economic stress according to NBC News.
One issue I tackled my first year in the Ohio House of Representatives was a direct result of Acton's deadly policies. A major hospital group even mentioned her by name when explaining their visitation changes were based upon Acton's flatten-the-curve narrative. Hospitals, nursing homes and other congregate care settings were forced to isolate people, even from family. It's why I joint-sponsored The Never Alone Act with help from OAMF, a law that ensures neither Acton nor anyone else in Ohio will be allowed to force Ohioans to suffer and die alone. This elder abuse by itself is enough to disqualify her for office.
Too many of us lost people unnecessarily during COVID. One family close to me tragically lost their son who overdosed when his drug treatment program was shut down by Acton's mandates. Eventually the public pushed back with protests against her. How did she respond? Amy Acton quit. She couldn't handle the pressure and left Ohio with the mess she made. Trauma is always tragic, but it does not give anyone the right to avoid scrutiny during an election. It certainly doesn't give you the right to be Governor when your record is an F for Failure. Stop letting feelings triumph over facts.
Ohioans have already been Amy Acton's victims once. Don't let her victimize us again.
Beth Lear
State Representative
————
Every candidate deserves compassion for the hardships of his or her past.
That compassion has no bearing on what a candidate did with public power. As an unelected health director, Amy Acton held enormous power over the daily lives of every family in this state, and Ohio is still paying for how she used it.
Ohio can’t afford this level of crazy in the governor’s office. Amy is not ready for the job."