VIDEO: At Campaign Launch, Richard Cordray Refuses To Comment On Bill O’Neill’s Demeaning Remarks On Women

Just minutes after launching his campaign for Ohio governor, Washington D.C. bureaucrat Richard Cordray failed a major leadership test by refusing to condemn his close political ally Bill O’Neill’s demeaning comments on women. While taking questions from the media, Cordray was asked by a reporter about his relationship with O’Neill, who received a firestorm of criticism and calls to drop out for a highly offensive Facebook post he published in November. But instead of taking the opportunity to condemn O’Neill’s actions, Cordray refused to comment, claiming “I don’t have much of anything to say about that today.”

Cordray’s refusal to condemn O’Neill’s conduct makes him the only Ohio Democrat running for governor that isn’t willing to do so. All four of his opponents – Nan Whaley, Joe Schiavoni, Betty Sutton, and Connie Pillich – swiftly denounced O’Neill and called on him to drop out of the race weeks ago, but Cordray is still silent and refuses to explain why.

When given the opportunity to show leadership and denounce O’Neill’s offensive and inexcusable conduct, Cordray was unwilling to do so. Right out of the gate, Richard Cordray has failed a major test of leadership, further proving that he is unfit to lead Ohio as governor.

RICHARD CORDRAY: “I don’t have much of anything to say about that today. I’m not here to talk about other candidates or other office holders, I’m here to talk about what I intend to do and what I bring to the table as a candidate for governor, and that’s the focus for today.”