Josh Mandel Ohio Rep candidate is attacked by his own family

Ohio Senatorial candidate, Josh Mandel, is on the Republican ticket this election, running against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown. Mandel is the current Ohio State Treasurer. This election, he’s been taking fire from a somewhat surprising source — his own family! The candidate’s in-laws are publicly attacking him for his stance on gay marriage. Raw Story reports on a letter printed in the Cleveland Jewish News:

In the letter, Mandel’s relatives criticize his opposition to same-sex marriage and his stated belief that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the military policy overturned by Obama that prevented gays from serving openly in the military, should be reinstated. On both points, the letter turns personal, noting how Mandel’s anti-gay policies would directly affect members of his family.

Here’s the text of the letter, courtesy of The Cleveland Leader:

Open Letter to Josh Mandel,
Republican 
Candidate for U.S. Senator from Ohio
Dear Josh,

Four years ago you came into our family. We still remember the excitement surrounding your wedding, and how happy our family members were as they described it afterwards. So we were deeply saddened when you announced during your October 18th debate with Senator Sherrod Brown that you believe only some people should share this right to marry the person they love, while others should not.


Your cousins, Ellen Ratner and Cholene Espinoza, are among the many wonderful couples whose rights you do not recognize. They were married almost eight years ago in Massachusetts, at a time when it was the only state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. Their wedding, like yours, was a beautiful and happy occasion for all of us in our family. It hurts us that you would embrace discrimination against them and countless other loving couples in Ohio and around the country.

We are equally distressed by your belief that gay men and women should not be allowed to serve openly in the military. Like you, Cholene spent many years in the armed forces. A graduate of the Air Force Academy and an accomplished pilot, she became the second woman in history to fly the U-2 reconnaissance plane. And yet, you have argued that she, like many gay and lesbian soldiers, should be forced to live a life of secrecy and lies.

Josh, as you know, our roots are deep in the Cleveland area and we have friends and family we love throughout Ohio. This family is sprawling and diverse, but it has always believed strongly in the values of equality and inclusiveness. Your discriminatory stance violates these core values of our family. Nevertheless we hope that over time, as you advance in years and wisdom, you will come to embrace the values of inclusiveness and equality as well.

Your cousins,

Michael Ratner, Bruce Ratner, Karen Ranucci, Pamela Lipkin, Rebecca 
Ratner, Elizabeth Ratner, Patrick Markee, Jacob Ratner, Ana Ratner

The letter is both saddening and happy to read, showing the separation in this family and the pro-human rights stance of the majority of them. Let’s be honest — if you oppose same-sex marriage and support Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, you have no good reason for it; it
comes simply from a place of hate.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/06/gop-senate-candidates-in-laws-attack-him-in-ad/