Prison inmates should not hold public office

On July 24, Rep. James Traficant was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives after… On July 24, Rep. James Traficant was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives after being convicted of bribery, tax evasion and racketeering. But it wasn’t until he was safely locked away in a prison cell that something interesting began to grow from the not-so-unusual mix of politics, money and corruption. Traficant – with help from supporters – is now pushing the limits of a prisoner’s rights to an extent that is not just strange, but downright comical.

Traficant is running for re-election.

There is a lengthy list of obstacles in his way, the most notable being the simple fact that the man is in jail. Few states would seriously entertain the notion of voting for a convicted criminal, but the citizens of Ohio are a very forgiving people.

The Federal Election Commission reported this week that between July 1 and Sept. 30, Traficant’s campaign received $26,308 in donations from Ohio voters.

There has been much debate in the past decade about what rights prison inmates should retain or be denied. So far, this discussion has centered mostly on cable television and weight rooms. The opposition has grown very concerned that people who are being punished for crimes against society can spend time watching SportsCenter and getting bulked up.

Traficant’s situation puts a new spin on a somewhat aging controversy. Prison inmates are stripped of their most basic freedoms. These include traveling, eating good food and picking up soap in the shower. But for some reason, a man can run for public office with a darkened cell for a campaign headquarters.

Certainly prisoners are entitled to some limited rights. Safety and sanitary conditions should be a concern, but running for the U.S. House does not fit that description. It’s absurd. Besides, operating a political campaign from prison is difficult, but holding a position in the House while serving an eight-year term is impossible.

If Traficant wants to read and write books, do crossword puzzles and play imagination games all day, so be it. But the great state of Ohio probably has a few non-incarcerated citizens who would be better suited for public office. Traficant has proven himself worthy of the House and the Big House, but he can’t hold a seat in both.